Tina exchanges a loaded glance with Bette, a silent conversation passing between them as she exhales a soft sigh. ”Um, I don’t know, honey…. maybe one day…”

”What about Dani? Are you ever gonna see her again? She was your friend…” Angie’s innocent question lands like a stone in still water.

Tina’s smile turns brittle around the edges. ”Well, Dani was a different kind of friend, honey…so no, I won’t be seeing Dani…” She twists further, making direct eye contact with her daughter. ”But we’ll see what we can do about seeing your friends, maybe we’ll do a FaceTime call or something one weekend…”

Angie nods. ”Alright…”

Tina settles back into her seat, the leather creaking softly beneath her. She watches Bette’s profile, strong jaw, high cheekbones, determined mouth, as she smoothly changes lanes, one hand on the wheel while the other remains on Tina’s thigh. She lifts Bette’s hand, bringing it to her lips for a gentle kiss that leaves a faint lipstick mark.

Bette turns, their eyes meeting in the half-light of the car, exchanging reassuring smiles that acknowledge the weight of their daughter’s questions about Tina and Angie’s former life in Florida, questions that hover in the space between them like ghosts from another time….

***

One week later, Tina walks into the Rivera Crown Estates, the glass doors whooshing closed behind her. She glances around the busy office, modern furniture and tasteful abstract art adorning cream-colored walls as she approaches the receptionist, a young woman with immaculate red nails tapping at her keyboard.

”Hi, how can I help you this evening?” The receptionist asks, her professional smile revealing perfect white teeth.

”I’ m Tina Kennard…I’ m here to see Kelly Green?” Tina tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, adjusting the strap of her purse.

The receptionist’s eyes light with recognition. ”Right…. I was just about to call you; Kelly actually went into labor this morning…”

Tina gasps, her eyes widening. ” Oh…wow…”

”Yeah, it’ s been crazy around here as you can imagine…” The receptionist says, gesturing to the flurry of activity behind her. ”But we have another agent all lined up. She should be with you in just a moment if you want to have a seat?”