“It’s Bette! Can I talk to her?”

“Of course.” Tina answered the call and immediately handed the phone to Carson.

“Bette! Guess what? Mom got promoted today! She’s going to be on the trauma team!”

Tina could hear Bette’s congratulations through the phone, warm and genuine. Carson launched into an enthusiastic recap of his day, complete with dramatic reenactments of his successful math test and a detailed description of the book report he was working on.

“Do you want to talk to Mom?” Carson asked eventually. “She’s making her thinking face about my homework.”

“I am not making a thinking face,” Tina protested, but accepted the phone when Carson handed it over.

“Congratulations on the promotion,” Bette said, and Tina could hear the smile in her voice. “That’s incredible.”

“Thank you. I’m excited and terrified in equal measure.”

“You’ll be amazing. You always were good under pressure.”

The casual confidence in Bette’s voice made Tina’s chest warm. “I hope so.”

“I know so.” There was a pause. “I should let you get back to homework supervision.”

“Of course. See you Saturday?”

“Saturday. And Tina? I’m really proud of you. For the promotion, for everything you’ve built here.”

After hanging up, Tina sat staring at her phone, Carson’s voice a distant hum as he continued working on his science project. It had been such a simple conversation, but something about Bette’s tone, the genuine warmth in her congratulations, made Tina feel like maybe, just maybe, they were finding their way back to something real.

Not romantic, not yet – possibly not ever. But real friendship, built on mutual respect and genuine care for each other’s wellbeing.

It wasn’t everything she’d dreamed of when she moved to New York. But it was more than she’d dared hope for after that careful conversation at the coffee shop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bette appeared at the entrance exactly at 10 AM, wearing jeans and a casual sweater that made her look younger, less guarded than she had at their coffee meeting. She smiled when she saw Carson, and Tina felt her heart do a little flip at how genuine that smile was.

“Ready to see some dinosaurs?” Bette asked Carson.

“Yes! Can we see the T-Rex first?”

“We can see whatever you want. I happen to know one of the paleontologists who works here. If you’re really good, maybe we can get a behind-the-scenes tour.”