Tina lent forward and kissed Bette on the lips. As she eased away and touched Bette’s face she looked at the bedside clock

“What time is your mom coming over ?”

“9 “

“I don’t want to panic you but its 20 to 9 “

“Oh shit – come on – lets get in the shower “

++

Bette was just adding water to the coffee machine when the front door bell sounded. She finished pouring water and turned the machine on – at least that was done and the bakery order had been delivered and accepted by Tina wearing nothing but a towel – that had been a cheap thrill for the driver. Tina was now in the bedroom getting dressed. Bette went to the front door and as expected her mother was standing there

“Hello mom “

“Bette – you look flushed “

“Come in – Tina and I over slept – it never occurred to us to set an alarm so we have been chasing around for 20 minutes “

“Sweetie -you shouldn’t be hurrying around – I am family – I am happy to make breakfast for us”

“Its okay – I ordered fresh croissants which have arrived and we have coffee brewing and we have some of the fruit juice that we all like. “

“I should have brought breakfast over “

“Nonsense – we can stretch ourselves to brew some coffee “

Elizabeth stopped and put her hands on Bette’s arms “You do look a lot better “

“I feel it “

“Any adverse effects ?”

“I still have problems hearing very soft or low sounds. I have changed the tone on my mobile to the loudest one I can find because I just couldn’t hear the other ones. There are a few little things but the progress that I have made since I came out of hospital is pretty impressive “

“You look lovely darling “

“I feel like I am getting back a lot of my strengths “

“Its lovely to see – I was so worried “

“I know that I scared a lot of people. I hope that you can see that I am getting back to my best “

“I do – how is Tina ?”