Tina smiled weakly and obeyed, she walked over to the bed and sat down and allowed Bette’s warm embrace to comfort her pain even if it were just for the moment.

Tina: “Thank you for being here, you have no idea how much it means to me” she pulled away and took another deep breath. “We have a long day ahead of us”

Memories, sadness and worries swirled around the room all morning. Ben was starting his retreat, he spent the better part of the morning sitting outside on the curb of the parking lot. The day was dreary and cold, but the grey sky somehow offered him comfort. Tina knew he wasn’t going to open up at least not yet. She figured she would offer her shoulder later when they would both need it

Around two o’clock they all climbed into Tina’s rental car, Ben drove of course due to the fact he is the only one that has driven in snow in the past year. Ben chose the back roads as apposed to the highway, as they drove Tina leaned her head back and stared out the window letting thoughts and memories invade her tired mind. The scenery was so different from LA, long country roads were lined with old houses and farms. The world seemed different, time seemed to catching up. Tina remembered the last time she was here, it seemed like ages ago. She was seventeen and it was her last trip to the east before starting her senior year of high school. She almost didn’t even make it to see her grandmother but after hearing the disappointment in the old woman’s voice she knew she had to visit. If you ever met granny Hazel you would see exactly where Tina had gotten her innocent and caring nature. Tina was the oldest grandchild therefor she instantly received special treatment. Typically this caused some of her cousins to act jealous, it was even worse when Ben was born because he was the baby of the group. As the years went by the family gatherings became a rare occurance. Tina didn’t mind though, she loved visiting with just her grandmother. She always told the same stories and showed the same pictures but Tina enjoyed them more and more every time. She laughed at the memory of the time she walked in to her grandmothers apartment and found her watching Jerry Springer, laughing hysterically.

Ben: “What’s so funny?” he asked

Ben’s question snapped Tina out of her thoughts.

Tina: “Did you ever watch Jerry Springer with grandma?”

Ben: “Yeah, she thought it was hilarious.” he chuckled.

Tina: “god she was crazy” she smiled

Ben: “Yeah, do you remember what we used to call her?”

Tina: “How could I forget, Hot Rod Haze” he laughter growing.

Ben: “The woman would go seventy in a thirty five mile an hour zone” he said to Bette looking in the rear view.

Bette: “Well I guess it blows the stereotype of old people being slow drivers out of the water.” she smiled.

Tina: “She was a riot” her smile faded, the realization of them never seeing her again was starting to sink in for both of them.

Ben pulled in to the driveway of their father’s childhood home and parked the car.

Ben: “Looks like everyone’s here.” he turned to Bette and Tina. “So um, should I say Bette’s your friend or..”

Tina: “Don’t worry I’ll handle it.” she smiled and squeezed Bette’s hand.

Ben: “So are you scared to meet the family?”

Bette: “Petrified” she smiled.

They all laughed off their nervousness and climbed out of the car and in to the bitter cold, making their way to the door.