“But what I did to her in Paris, and all the stress accompanying our move, then all the push-pull of setting yourself on a path in New York – all that really took a toll on her, and I think it triggered something,” Bette said reflectively.

Shane was in awe of her friend.  Tina had shared some of her own private thoughts with her and Alice when they had gone to New York to visit her, following a panicked call to Kit, who then called the girls, the night Bette had left.  While Tina didn’t describe it the way Bette just did, they had guessed Tina was just beginning to explore something major affecting her psyche.  They were glad she was seeing a therapist to help her address whatever that was.  Tina had also told them that she and Bette had began to see the therapist to help them work through some relationship issues.  Shane and Alice were shocked to hear they had had any issues, “you two are meant for each other Tina,” they said simultaneously.

Shane reached out to Bette. Then sat back down on her side of the Jacuzzi.  Darkness had fallen, and the moon hung low over the horizon.

Bette fell silent again.  Shane looked at the clock.  Her tummy was grumbling.  Fruit was not her thing.

“Umm… Bette, I don’t know what you do for food in this fancy place, but I gotta say I am starving.”

Bette shook her head and chuckled.  She stood up, reached behind her to pull a towel from the rack, and wrapped it around her.  She handed Shane one also.

“The nice thing about this place is shoes are optional,” she said, as she stepped out of the Jacuzzi, heading towards the outdoor shower.  Shane shook her head at the hedonism latent in this place. “But clothes aren’t,” Bette smiled.  “And the food is exceptional.”

Later, after dinner, they slowly traversed a footbridge suspended between the two halves of the resort, and which crossed a long stretch of the sea.  They were heading towards the lounge-slash-bar.  Shane was fully sated by the steak, “that you inhaled,” Bette said, as she shook her head.  With food in her belly, Shane felt brave enough to stop Bette to ask something that had been bugging her.