”I can see Bette doing that for sure,” Alice gave a rise smile.  ”She would move her world for you, if that is what you wanted.”

”Yeah, I know. When it comes to living her life, she definitely knows what she wants and how to get it. But I also know that Angie and I are the priority in her life.” Tina took a long pause, ”I guess I am worrying too much… You know after Angie’s friend’s mother died; it got real for us,” a single tear made its way down her face.  ”Our time together is limited, and we don’t want to waste another minute of it.”

Alice sighed, ”Yeah, I know. I think all the talk about death triggered me this year around the anniversary of Dana’s death… I mean, it is always a little hard around that time, but this year… I don’t know it was different.” Alice looked down at her coffee and took a long pause.  ”So, what happened in New York… the Kelly thing,” Alice lifted her head with the inquiry.  ”Bette mentioned you and Kelly exchanged words… Boy I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall.” Alice gave her a smile that did not reach her eyes.

Tina gave a soft chuckle as she nodded her head with an acknowledgement not to push anymore about Dana, ”It really wasn’t anything. She was just being an ass… We know now that she knew more about this lost painting than she was letting on… She is such a pathological liar.” Tina said through clenched teeth, thinking back at the words that Kelly used to debase Bette. She stared out at the sun and shadows as they danced across the tops of the houses. It was going to be another warm day, she thought as she restored the feeling of calm. ”It’s hard to tell what she knew about the painting. But she was sure interested in what Bette was doing… And good God, she was spewing venom about her. I was so pissed off, but I didn’t want to let on that she got to me. You know how she can easily slip on being charming like it is a second skin.” She glanced at Alice, who nodded, ”That day, however, it was not working. I wanted to smack her, right there… that would have felt so good… And, I guess, it would have given me the opportunity to defend Bette, protect her so to speak… Redeem myself all at the same time.” Tina let out in a long unbroken breath. ”But I wanted her to tip her hand… I figured if she knew she got to me, she would keep poking at me instead of revealing some tidbits about her intent.” Tina looked over at Alice, ”But in the end, she didn’t say much.”