Kit came by after Tina changed Angie after her morning bath. Angie was in the pool, playing with a few toys, as Kit went near the pool while Tina was giving her last minute instructions. Tina gave Angie a kiss to the forehead as Kit and Angie followed her outside.

            “Tina, do you think you should follow Bette?” Kit asked.

            “Why not?”

            “Nothing’s going to happen to them.” Kit assured her. “Maybe they just need to talk.”

            “I want to know what Bette has to say.”

            “Maybe you weren’t meant to hear it—yet.”

            “What’s that supposed to mean, Kit? What shouldn’t I hear?”

            “I don’t know.”

            Tina hated herself for snapping at Kit just like that. She had nothing to do with how anxious she felt about Bette being out of the house so early. What was Bette up to, anyway? Was she having second thoughts? Did she want Jodi back? It was so unlike Bette to commit to something and run away without much of an explanation. She was worrying Tina, she was worrying Angelica, and it made Tina wonder if ever she said anything wrong or untoward lately.

            Tina waved goodbye as she started the engine. Kit and Angie waved back as she drove off. It was noon, the sun was high up, and the cool breeze during the early morning was slowing down. At the back of her mind, Tina was wondering what Bette didn’t want to say to her.

            “You weren’t very nice to Tina.” Bette said to Jenny, eyeing her and waiting for a reaction. Jenny raised both eyebrows, leaned back, and chuckled while watching Bette play with her flip-flops. The waves slowed down and the sea was calmer than it was during the morning. The case was missing one-third of its contents. Both of them were now licking popsicles. Bette had a grape one, while Jenny had a lemon popsicle. The beach was still empty.

            “She was a hypocrite.” Jenny said, nodding slightly. “Just because someone cheated on you doesn’t mean that you should cheat on them with someone else. She left you for a man.”

            “But that was her prerogative. She didn’t get what I was supposed to give her. I didn’t take care of her like I was supposed to. I didn’t listen to her.” Bette answered. Jenny watched the brunette lick her popsicle regretfully and put an arm around her. Jenny regretted not being Bette’s friend sooner. When she wasn’t being a bossy bitch, she was actually a good person. Just like Tina. Jenny smiled at the thought that she knew she and Bette were having.