“Well Tina I hope the food tastes as good as it smells although I know it could never be as good as some of the dinners you prepared for us.”

Tina just smiled, picked up her fork, and put a small bite in her mouth. A few moments later she said, “It’s delicious Bette. If the gang could only see you now they wouldn’t believe it.”

“Tina I don’t think I will ever be ready to face the gang. I think the only reason I could face you was you saw me at my worst when I didn’t have much choice in the matter. It was either that or jail.”

“Bette that’s not what I meant…I’m sorry if I brought up some bad memories for you. Why do you say never to reconnecting with the gang Bette? They love you and still ask Kit about your well being.”

“Tina when I left L.A. I had already used up all the years of friendship and love that we had built over the years. I think they were as glad to see me go as I was to leave. Even friends can only rescue you or put up with outrageous behavior when you show up unannounced in the middle of the night, so many times before the bonds of friendship is stretched, so far that it breaks. I am sure you have heard the story before in your line of work.”

“Bette you would be surprised at how often I see families and friends reconnect with a loved one after rehab. Most patients without a good support system relapse within the first year.”

“What about you Tina, did you reconnect with your family after moving back to North Carolina? I know we didn’t have the same problems, but I am sure you must have needed a strong support system coming back home alone after we broke up and pregnant to start over. It looks like things went well for you. I’m sure Angelica has a great relationship with your family especially living in the same state now.”

“Actually Bette, Angie and I have no contact with my family and no I did not have their support when I moved back home. I thought I would but they made it plain from the start they could not accept my life style choices or my child because she is biracial.