Tina was so eager to start searching the premises for any clues of Bette’s presence that she immediately went into the Bette’s bedroom, the first place that she herself would use to hide anything special. Alice followed right after her, “Tina, slow down. We have plenty of time to figure it out.”

“I know but I need to do something, to feel something so I won’t lose any hope. I just need to get busy…” Tina stood in the middle of the bedroom, glancing around, not knowing where to start. She looked like a lost puppy and Alice sighed, “Okay, let me get the girls.”

They spent most of the afternoon searching through the mansion, looking for clues or any visible changes. Nothing seemed to draw their attention and Tina was getting frustrated. They also went outside to the grove to look at the oaks. There were no carvings or nothing else unusual that looked like something Bette would leave there for her.

Tina leaned on a tree and sighed, “Nothing.”

“It doesn’t mean anything,” Shane removed some loosen piece of bark and smiled. “Do you know that oaks grow about two feet a year and their life span is over 200 years? Even if Bette carved something there, by now it’s probably way up high for you to see.”

“Since when do you know so much about trees?” Carmen smiled at her girlfriend.

“I slept with a botanist once and trees were her favorite subject to talk about after sex,” Shane shrugged and winked at her friends, making them laugh. Tina smiled too, wiping away tears. Shane looked up and offered, “I can climb up and see if there’s anything there.”

“I appreciate your offer, Shane but I’m sure Bette might be aware of the changes that was going to happen in 120 years that separate us. I doubt she would send me a sign I might not eve find. If all else fail, then we can revisit the grove again.”

After they returned to the house, Tina sat down on a sofa and closed her eyes. Damn, what’s going on there, Bette? Are you safe? Are you even alive?

“What are you thinking?” Alice’s kind voice registered through her rumbling thoughts and Tina opened her eyes.