“No of course not Papi.  George Bush.” she added drolly.

The table laughed at the confusion.

“So, Tina, I hear you are thinking about having a baby” Al exclaimed casually.

Tina choked on her drink and, once recovered, turned her head to glare at Helena.

Helena raised her hands in defense. “Don’t look at me. She eavesdropped when we talked about it the other day!”

“Tina what’s the big deal?  We’ve been through this before.”

Bette felt compelled to jump into the conversation. “Its not quite the same, Alice” 

Alice looked at Bette and saw the challenge in her eyes.

“Your right.  I’m sorry.  But I just think it’s so neat.  Tina, you’re like the earth mother of the group.”

Tina laughed in spite of her annoyance that her recent decision had become fodder for discussion.  “Alice I don’t think that one baby qualifies me for that title.”

“I know but it seems like you were pregnant forever.”

“I bet you were beautiful pregnant, Tina” Papi gave her a charming grin.

“She was.”

The table looked at Bette and Helena as they answered in tandem.  Tina was glad for the darkened room to hide her blush and suspected that Helena and Bette felt the same. Papi just looked from Helena to Tina and Bette in confusion.

“Papi, drop the shovel.  I’ll fill you in later.”  Alice promised. “Oh look, here come Kit and Shane.” She announced, hoping to create a distraction.

The two arrivals pulled a couple of chairs over to the table.

“Hey, guys, what’s up?” Shane asked as she squeezed a chair next to Alice.

“Well, we were just talking about Tina getting pregnant”

“Alice, knock it off” Bette stepped in.

“Bette?” Kit looked to her sister for answers.

“Don’t look at me.  Tina’s on her own.  I have a new partner remember?”

Bette had never meant for that to come out as it did but the silence at the table was palpable and one look at Tina’s clenched jaw told her that she had hurt her friend.  She reached across the table to squeeze Tina’s hand and silently apologize for her statement but missed as Tina chose that moment to abruptly stand.