"Lara, I don’t quite know how to respond, except to say I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn and didn’t think at all how my words may have impacted you." Bette stopped short of commenting on Lara’s characterization of her personality.

Lara nodded stiffly. She remained silent, afraid of another angry outburst if she responded.

Bette thought for a moment. Her face softened with a sad smile. "You’re right Lara—we have never been friends- at least not in the truest sense of the word. And I do have a habit of limiting my emotional investment to a very small group. I guess that could make me seem cold or indifferent to other people. It’s not intentional."

Lara started to reply but bit her lip instead. With an exasperated sigh she leaned back and ran her fingers through her hair. "It’s okay Bette. I’m not making a bid to become your friend. I just resent the implication that some people’s pain is more substantial than others are. I also have a helluva lot of guilt going on at the moment regarding not being here when Dana—," Lara’s voice broke slightly. She swallowed and continued. "I can’t forgive myself for being away when Dana died, and that coupled with your comments combined for an outburst that may have been a little more acidic than necessary. Listen, I’ve gotta run, tell Kit bye for me, ok?" Lara folded her napkin by her salad plate and stood, shouldering her backpack as she did so.

Bette nodded watching Lara closely. Lara’s face clearly showed the anguish and struggle of a person who was dealing with a weighty problem, but as she started for the door, Bette saw a mask of control slip into place. Lara even managed to smile at the waitresses who waved at her before she exited.

When Kit returned a few minutes later, she found Bette lost in thought. "What’s up baby girl? You look awfully serious."

Bette took a sip of coffee. "Kit, what do the kitchen staff think of Lara?"

Kit blinked at the unexpected question. "They love her."

"But, she’s their manager, right? Not everyone loves their manager." Bette reasoned.

Kit nodded. "Lara has a way of making the jerks look like jerks, even to themselves. Plus she’s pretty fair-minded, so the staff tends to respect her decisions. And, she’s passionate about cooking, so her enthusiasm rubs off. Why do you ask?"

Bette set her coffee down and absently traced the lip of the cup with her finger. "We had a conversation earlier that made me realize there’s a lot more to Lara Perkins than meets the eye."