She laughed out loud at something Bette said, " Of course I will figure out a way to compensate you … and I do know your advice doesn’t come cheap."

Tina blushed, "Are you sure just one night of love with me will do?"

"I can offer you significantly more, you know," she started to say, and then paused as she heard noise in the background, "Yeah … I hear them… I’ll call you later, and you can talk to Angie, too, ok?  I’m crazy about you, too, baby.  And thanks … for everything."

Tina was lost in a reverie when Christy strolled to the table, "Hey Tina!…Tina?"

"Oh, hey Christy!  So how was your lunch?"

"It was great!," Christy responded enthusiastically, as she bent over to rub Angelica fondly on her forearm and cheek.  The toddler giggled in response.  She continued, "It was nice to catch up with them.  A couple of them have changed quite a bit from college, although it’s been barely two years since then for most of us."

Tina smirked and nodded.  "Yeah … that can happen sometimes when you enter the big, bad world."

Christy smiled, "I’ve been really lucky with you and Angie, Tina.  And with Bette.  Treating me so well.  The three of you are almost like my family.  Sometimes, I feel closer to you than to my real family."

Tina gave her a fond smile, "And we’ve been so lucky with you, Christy. Angelica and I wouldn’t have made it through those rocky months without you.  I’m so glad you answered the ad."

"Well… thank you for taking me with you to LA.  You’re right.  I did need to get away from New York.  I wasn’t getting anywhere with the thesis, and now, having taken a bit of a break from just pounding away at it, I’m beginning to get a couple of fresh ideas!," she responded.  Angelica was raising her hands at Christy, signaling she wanted to get out from her high chair.   Christy looked over at Tina, who nodded her head.

As Christy unsnapped the ties around Angelica she asked, "Look, Tina you really won’t have to hurry back to the hotel on the night of the sandbar opening, you know.  I can join my friends much later that night…"

Tina shook her head, "I’m not much of a night owl anymore, Christy.  As you can tell Bette and I really prefer to stay in, even on New Year’s Eve.  These bars … they’re really not our scene…"