“Yes, everything is fine on the work front. What were you going to tell me about Alice?”

They placed their dinner orders and Bette launched into the story. Tina listened in disbelief about how Helena had changed and was sad to hear about the state Alice was in.

“So what can we do?” Bette asked, picking at her salad. “I must have made ten calls. I got nowhere.”

“I have an idea,” Tina said with a smile. “You just leave it to me.”

Bette raised an eyebrow. “Really? You think you can find something for her at the studio?”

“Wait and see,” Tina said mysteriously.

“You are maddening sometimes, you know that?”

Tina’s only reply was a cute smile and lift of her shoulders. “Like I said, leave it to me. Holiday surprises are my specialty. All I ask is that you don’t let on to Alice that I had anything to do with it.”

“That will be easy, considering you won’t tell me anything.”

“Shall we order dessert now?” Tina asked, motioning for the waiter.

“Let’s have it later… back at the hotel.”

“See? There are some things I don’t have to tell you. You can just read my mind.”

***

The next day, Bette awoke to find Tina gone, but a note on the pillow beside her that said, Remember, don’t let on. See you tonight. X

Bette wanted to stay in bed longer and revel in the remnants of last night’s afterglow, but she figured she’d better get out and do some shopping herself. She hadn’t bought any presents yet.

She called Kit and arranged to pick up Angie at The Planet in a few hours so Bette could have some time to pick out some gifts. After she showered and dressed, she ordered up some breakfast from room service and headed out.

It was a productive morning shopping. She found some books and a stuffed tiger for Angie’s toy animal collection at home. For Tina she selected a beautiful vintage key necklace on a fine chain. It was cheesy, but she planned to write something about Tina having the key to her heart on the card. It was true, after all. For Kit, she got a fancy frame for a special picture of the two of them as girls she’d brought with her from New York to give to her sister, and a couple of rare jazz records. She even got Helena a gift – the nicest cruelty free faux leather bag she could find. That dingy canvas tote bag she’d seen Helena carrying was too tragic to go unaddressed.