“Hey, Alice how is she today,” I feel a hand on my shoulder.

“Bette, I’m so glad to see you,” I get to my feet, pulling her in for a hug. “I actually just woke up, I haven’twell the doctor is in talking to her right now.”

We sit, she pats my knee, “You know you really need to start taking better care of yourself. Dana needs you, yes, but she needs you healthy.”

I sigh, shaking my head, “I know, but you can’t expect me to not be here”

“I know if this was, god forbid, Tina or Angelica, I don’t now what I would do. I know this has to be ***** on you, Al, but you know we’re there for you right? Everybody, Me, Tina, Shane, Jenny, Carmen, even Lara.if you need anything.”

I smile, feeling comfort in her words, “Thanks. You really don’t know how much that helps.”

She pulls a bag from her bag, “Now, Kit sent me over with specific instructions for you to consume every morsel of food contained in this bag.”

I laugh, prying the bag open, “Is that so?”

Bette nods, “Yes, now eat up.”

I finish my meal over light conversation with Bette. For ten minutes, I can pretend like things are normal. Like we aren’t sitting in a hospital waiting room and that every meal I have eaten in the past month hasn’t come from a bag. For a moment, there’s normalcy in my life.

“Ms. Pieszecki,” I hear the nurse call my name. “You can go back in now.”

I look at Bette, “I’d better go. Do you want to come see her? I know she’d love to see you.”

Bette gathers her things, “You know, I’ll come back later. I need to get home and besides I’m sure she probably needs to talk to you with after talking to the doctor.”

We again share a hug, “Thank you Bette. For the food, but for everything elseI can’t tell you how much this little bit of time helps.”

She rubs my back, sensing how emotional I am becoming, “Hey, it’s ok. I know you’d do the same. You just hang in there. She’s going to be fine. She has you right? What else does she need.”