Tina smiled, "Yeah, we hear that all the time from people who come over," still noncommittal.

Liz waited, but heard nothing more from Tina about the topic.  "Well, actually, " Liz said, hesitatingly, "that patient I had before you… the one who’s under a lot of stress?" Tina nodded.

"Look, I don’t know what to tell her, or how to help her about something. But it has to do with art.  And I’m thinking  you and Bette are the only ones I know that, for sure, know a great deal about it, judging from all that you have, and how you have it hanging in your walls, lit just right, those special niches for the sculpture… And you girls probably have some more stored someplace, right?"

Tina was noncommittal again, smiling back.

"Anyway… would you or Bette please call her or something?  I really wouldn’t ask, under normal circumstances… but I don’t know what else to suggest, right now. I just want to know if someone can help her and her partner deal with stress overall from that particular angle."

Tina scrunched her eyebrows together, "Liz looked really concerned."

"Please, Tina. This is the last chance they have to get pregnant, to be honest.  And I really want them to get their best shot at this," Liz pressed, with a greater sense of urgency than Tina had heard her use.

She scribbled the patient’s name and contact details on the prescription pad by her side.  She handed it to Tina, saying, "I’ll call her in advance, of course….hmmm: maybe even better, she could call you or Bette.  That way you girls will know that it’s all kosher…"

Tina’s eyebrows shot up upon seeing the name of the patient.  "Wow… heavy hitter, Liz."

The doctor nodded, "Look I know both sides well enough by now… She and her partner… you and Bette. I know you girls will be discreet… and I know they trust me enough to know I wouldn’t be suggesting to them to talk to you girls unless I could vouch for you, too."

Tina looked back at her, remained noncommittal for a minute longer, pursing her lips, then finally nodded.  "Alright, Liz, I’ll talk to Bette about it."

"Thanks a lot, Tina," Liz responded, with a huge sigh of relief.