Kit nodded, and then thought aloud, “Why don’t you go now?  That way you’ll have enough time to find the address and everything.  Can be confusing sometimes…the addresses here in New York.”

Shane smiled, “Yeah, you’re right Kit.  I’ll go. Will you be alright here?”

“Don’t worry about us, girl. Angie and I will be just fine. Call me when you think you’ll be returning here, particularly if it’s late, like midnight or later, ok?  The code for the elevator may change right around that time,” she added.  “And don’t worry about how late it may get when you’re able to get back here. Bette and Tina gave me the remote, which I leave next to my bedside.  So I can buzz you up anytime you get back here.”  The code that unlocked the elevator rotated to a random number every day, between midnight and the early morning, as a precaution.

As Shane left, Kit consulted her watch.  It was nearly time for Angie’s snack.  After that, she and Angie could pop over to see Jacques.

She smiled and shook her head. Bette was always picking up “stray cats,” especially around the holidays.  Probably couldn’t bear to hear anyone spending the holidays alone.  Hmm…could be because she herself had spent several Thanksgiving days alone, having been abandoned by Kit, and then contending with warring parents on her own.  It was something Kit regretted deeply, and which she sought to make amends to Bette for.  In fact, Kit thought Bette had stitched their network of friends in LA such that it stayed glued together, through thick and thin, partly through this compulsion to gather them together, either for the weekly “family night” gatherings, but especially for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

As Bette clicked out, Tina stirred in her sleep. After talking with Angie, the blonde had fallen asleep, tired but happy about the full day she and Bette had enjoyed in and around the resort.

She tightened her embrace now subconsciously, then gave Bette a kiss on the brunette’s shoulder. “Everything ok, baby?”

“Yeah, everything’s ok, T,” Bette answered quietly.  She turned to face Tina and kissed her nose.  “At least with Angie and everybody in our house.  But Kit said Jacques and Joel may have split up.”  She decided to bring up Jason’s mom later, when Tina was more awake. There were things about it that they’d have to talk about.