They sat in silence for some time, drinking coffee with fresh cinnamon scones when Courtney smiled and asked unexpectedly, “So Bette…what is your relationship with Tina? You surely don’t look like sisters.”

“Well,” Bette looked at Tina, unsure what to say when a tall and pretty young girl walked through the front door and yelled, “Mom, I’m home…I’m going to my room.”

“Jennifer, honey, come here for a minute…there’s someone I want you to meet,” Courtney said, getting up and going after her daughter.

“I have to do my homework…” Bette and Tina heard them talking and looked at each other.

Bette took Tina’s hand and asked her in whisper, “What should we say about who we are to each other if she asks again?”

“I hope even in these parts of the country there are people who are open minded and liberal. I’m your partner, babe and I’m not ashamed or afraid to say it.”

Bette smiled and nodded in silent agreement. At that moment Courtney and Jennifer walked into the room.

“Honey, this is Tina Kennard and Bette Porter,” Courtney introduced them to her daughter and Bette noticed that Jennifer’s eyes went wide at the introduction but it was for such a fleeting moment that Bette attributed it to her exhaustion and a very emotional day they had so far.

“Remember that little red book that great-grandma gave you for your birthday?” Courtney continued and Jennifer nodded, “Well, that book belonged to Tina’s grandmother and it’s her dying wish to have it back.”

Jennifer sighed and said with apologetic smile, “I’m sorry but I don’t have it anymore.”

Bette’s heart fell as she thought in desperation, ‘She threw it away’.

“Well, where is it?” Courtney asked impatiently.

“I…I threw it away,” Jennifer answered after a slight hesitation, “It was half filled with writings I couldn’t read anyway and…and I just threw it away.”

“Well, I’m sorry, ladies…I told you that Jennifer didn’t cared that much about it,” Courtney looked at Bette and saw her upset face, “Oh dear, you seem so devastated by that…I know how much it might have meant to your grandmother.”

“She’s not my grandmother and Tina is not my sister,” Bette said absently, trying to keep herself from crying.