(The opening scene is set in New York, January after the Christmas Eve talk of Chapter X. It provides a backstory to what had happened between them, that led to events culminating in their separation, referred to in the previous chapters.)

Dan checked his watch while Bette continued to tap out a message on her mobile.  His office had agreed to this first appointment for Bette and Tina to see him at 1:30 pm, but he had been hesitant about taking the appointment, because this would only give him about 15 minutes to type out his case notes for the 12:15 session with another couple.

But his office said Tina had begged for this slot, because Bette was going to have to leave at 2:30 pm to head to JFK, in order to catch a flight to Munich.  And the only other slot they could have been able to arrange with the couple would have been a week later — but even that would have been a gamble, given Bette’s, Tina’s, and even Dan’s crowded schedule that week. In addition, his office explained to Dan, the appointment with Bette and Tina had already been rescheduled twice.

Tina was desperate not to reschedule again.  So Dan reluctantly agreed.  And here they finally were, in Dan’s office:  everyone, that is, except Tina herself.  Tina called to say she was running late, because her flight coming in from Toronto had been delayed.  Although she said she was now just 5 blocks away, that was 10 minutes ago, and Dan was worried that they wouldn’t be able to get to go through much before Bette would have to leave to catch her own flight out of New York.

So Dan looked at Bette, and began to say, “Ok Bette, was there something that we could start….,” she had glanced up to smile quickly at him when he called her name.

Just then, Tina burst into the office, talking to someone on the phone with exasperation.  “Look Scott, I won’t be able to get that rig for the whole time that you want it.  Can you just ask Karen to put together a proposal, and let me have a look at it?!” she paused for a second, as she shut Dan’s door.  “I don’t care….I gotta go. Just email the proposal, and I’ll have a look at it.”