“Climate research fund, Bette?” Jia interrupted, deeply curious, before Rian and Rachel could respond to the brunette’s suggestion.

Jia’s family had long been interested in various environment-related causes. Her grandparents had regularly donated to the One Earth global campaign, and her brother had helped to start a venture fund based out of San Francisco that was focused on green technology.

In fact, one of Bette’s friends, Diane, who’d run in the same green tech venture fund circles that that her brother did, had been the one who’d initially given them the idea of their family foundation supporting some programs that Bette’s foundation had successfully started. Knowing that their grandparents were shortly turning the reins of the foundation to Jia, her brother had advised Jia to consider it as one of the first projects Jia could do after she moved to New York.

Bette cocked her head to one side, and gave Jia a thoughtful look before answering.

“It’s a fund a few billionaire types started discussing recently, ever since we all heard from scientists that the hard-won data and research that the scientific community had been pulling together over the past decade was in danger of being undermined, and their work threatened …”

“And you’re a part of the discussions?” Jia interrupted, again, sounding excited.

Bette paused as a puzzled smile crossed her face. “I’m in the fringes, yes. The foundation’s been doing some work in that area already. So joining up with other foundations, other serious people with clear interest in this area – could be the next step for us …”

“So … erm … could I go, too? To the barbecue, I mean …”

“Course you can!” Bette answered with a bemused smile. It looked as if Jia was committed to the topic on a personal level, too. Indeed, her palpable excitement about possibly doing something in the area seemed to be overshadowing the residual emotions that were apparently triggered by the incident earlier.

“I’ll have to call Logan, then,” Lea cut in. They all turned to look at her with varying expressions of surprise. She shrugged. “I wasn’t sure about whether you could go tonight, Bette, and I’d told Logan that. I’d already said I couldn’t. Still dealing with some things with my ex, as you know. And when I texted Tina, she told me that you said you were tired from that marathon series of meetings with various members of the foundation’s board over the past two days… by the way, you know I’m still sorry I left you to carry that load. Ellie was …”