Lara, seated a bit apart, offers a small smile before glancing toward Dana. “Yeah…lucky them.” She pushes her chair back with a soft scrape and stands, excusing herself from the happy chaos.

Unaware of Lara’s departure, Bette and Tina continue their flirtatious banter. Tina offers Bette another piece of her chocolate cake, topped with rich raspberry frosting, as everyone else settles into cozy conversation. The sounds of plates being cleared and glasses clinking punctuate the cheerful dinner…….

***

Later, Bette drives her SUV through the streets of West Hollywood while Tina sits in the passenger seat, the soft glow of her phone lighting up her face. In the backseat, Mickey and Angie whisper secretly, their heads close together like partners in crime.

Tina’s lips curve into a gentle smile as she scrolls through her screen. ”I’m thinking about maybe setting up a meeting with a realtor next week, baby…” She looks up at Bette. ”Unless you wanna just go with yours, just let her handle everything?”

Bette keeps her eyes fixed on the road, her fingers gripping the leather steering wheel as she shakes her head. ”No, that’s fine, we can reach out to another agent…” She glances sideways, her hand finding Tina’s thigh. ”Whatever you wanna do, baby…”

Tina’s smile deepens. ”K…” She returns to her phone. ”I’ll get Dena to make me a list of top agents. It can be her first real test as my personal assistant…”

Bette’s eyebrows arch in amusement, her voice rich with humor. ”Dena? The kid you’ve been complaining about for the past few weeks?”

Tina chuckles and raises her hand in surrender. ”Trust me, I know… It’s a long story…”

”Mommy?” Angie’s small voice pipes up from the backseat, cutting through the intimate bubble of the front seat.

”Yeah, honey?” Tina half-turns, her attention divided between her daughter and the glowing screen in her hand.

”Are we ever gonna go back to Florida?” Angie asks, her voice tinged with the particular wistfulness only children can master.

Tina finally looks up, twisting further in her seat. ”Well, we live here now, baby…”

”I know…but like will we go back to visit…ya know like my old friends and stuff?” Angie persists, her eyes, so like Bette’s, wide and hopeful in the dim light.