“Hi, Liz, how have you been?” She asked as they both looked in the direction of the rest of the Kennard family.

“Good. Can I hold the baby?” She asked shyly as she leaned over and peeked into the stroller.

“Yeah.” Bette smiled and agreed immediately. She carefully reached in and picked up Ariana gently cradling her head as she removed her from the stroller.

“She’s beautiful.” Liz said as she cradled the baby in her arms and smiled down at the sleeping girl.

“Thank you.” Bette whispered as she leaned over Liz’s shoulder and smiled down at the baby. Bette and Liz were so wrapped up in the baby that neither one of them noticed that the rest of the family had gathered their things and had made their way over to where the two women stood.

“Hello, Bette.” Mrs. Kennard spoke Bette’s name in a formal tone.

“Hello, Mrs. Kennard.” Bette answered in the same tone, her polite smile pasted back onto her face. “How was your flight?” She asked not really wanting to know.

“It was dreadful. We’re ready to get some food and some rest.” Bette smiled and took the baby back from Liz. “Would you like to meet your grand daughter?” She asked.

“Well that is why I came all of this way. Here let me see her.” Tina’s mother held out her hands to accept the baby and Bette placed her gently into the older woman’s arms.

“Well, Tina, she is beautiful.” Tina beamed at her mother and then walked over to where she stood holding the baby. “Bette would you do us a huge favor and go and claim our luggage?” Bette sighed knowing that it was more of an order than a request. Slowly she tucked her purse into the stroller and went off toward the baggage claim area.

“I’ll go with you, Bette.” Liz called after the older woman. Bette smiled glad to have at least one friendly face

Alice opened the door to find Dana standing in front of her looking like she had been run over by a truck. She gave her friend a small smile and opened the door wider knowing why Dana was there. She had spent most of the night laying awake next to Dana staring at the ceiling and the walls of Dana’s bedroom noticing for the first time how plain everything was. How different they were. Why she had ever thought that they could mesh into one person. Thinking about everything that had happened in the last few months and whether or not Dana would react well to what she had decided. “Do you want some water or some aspirin or something?” Alice asked sympathetically.