“Bette. Thank you for coming.”

An awkward silence settled over the table. This was nothing like their easy familiarity from years ago, or even the tentative reconnection they’d shared during the crisis with Darren. This felt like three people who barely knew each other, trying to figure out how to exist in the same space.

“How’s the new school, Carson?” Bette asked, clearly choosing the safest topic available.

“It’s good. Different, but good. I joined the paleontology club, and yesterday we learned about how scientists can tell what dinosaurs ate by looking at their teeth. Did you know that T-Rex had teeth that were six inches long?”

“I didn’t know that. That’s pretty impressive.”

“And there’s a girl in my class named Emma who’s really nice. She’s lived in New York for a few years now so she knows everything about the city. She told me there’s a place called the Museum of Natural History that has real dinosaur skeletons.”

“There is. It’s one of the best museums in the world.”

Carson nodded thoughtfully. “That sounds really cool.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between them. Finally, Bette spoke again.

“How’s the job? At Presbyterian?”

“Challenging. Good challenging. I’m working in pediatric cardiac care, and the resources there are incredible. Yesterday we had a case that would have been impossible to handle at my old hospital.”

“You always were good in crisis situations.”

“I had to be.”

Another silence, but this one felt less loaded. Carson excused himself to use the bathroom, leaving Tina and Bette alone for the first time.

“He’s grown up a lot,” Bette said, watching Carson navigate his way through the coffee shop.

“He’s had to. The whole situation with Darren, the move… he’s been incredibly resilient.”

“How’s he really doing? With everything?”

“Better than I expected. He misses his grandparents, but he’s adapting. Kids are amazing that way.”

“And how are you really doing?”

The question was asked gently, and Tina heard genuine concern in it. For a moment, it felt like old times, when they could ask each other anything and expect an honest answer.

“I’m scared,” Tina admitted. “But I’m also… hopeful. For the first time in years, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”