Kit shrugged. “I don’t know. If you want to see some of the old group while you’re in town -”

“Tina made a dinner reservation. I know you wanted to spend some time with Angie today. Do you think you could take her shopping? Then maybe grab something to eat later and drop her back to the hotel?” Tina and I should be back by 9.”

“Absolutely. I was going to say, if you were looking for some of the old group, Helena is sitting right over there.”

“Where? I didn’t see her.” Bette let her eyes wander over the assembled patrons and still couldn’t see her.

“Right there, by the window.”

Bette craned her neck and gave a start. “You’re kidding,” she said in a disbelieving tone.

“Mmhmm. Why don’t you go on over? I’m sure you two have a lot of catching up to do,” Kit said with a hint of irony as she led Angie to her office.

Bette was left standing there, looking the woman that was supposed to be Helena over from a distance. Gone were the designer clothes, the salon-perfect hair, and the flawlessly made up face. Just then Helena looked up and her eyes met Bette’s. She beckoned her over with a smile.

Bette returned the smile and made her way over to the table, steeling herself for this interaction. Don’t say anything impolite, she told herself. Don’t ask what happened. Be pleasant and happy to see her.

“Helena, hi,” Bette said as she approached.

Helena stood and pulled Bette into a hug. “Come here, you.”

“Oh…” Bette returned the vigorous hug loosely and gave Helena a slight pat on the back.

“Hi,” Bette repeated. “I thought that was you, but I wasn’t sure.”

“I don’t blame you for being surprised,” Helena said cheerfully. She sat back down and gestured to Bette to take the seat opposite. Bette did so with misgivings. She and Helena had never been close, and their conversations alone were often rather stilted when no one else was around to move the talk forward.

“It’s not that,” Bette said coolly as she sat down. “I just haven’t seen you for awhile.”

“And the last time you saw me, I didn’t look like this,” Helena said teasingly. “It’s alright. I know I look different. Aren’t you going to ask why?”