Alice threw her hands in the air, “Okay, fine Bette but I tried, I give up, and now I am going to go have fun and get good and drunk.”

“That’s great Al, let’s go have fun.”

A few minutes later the food was done and dinner was served.  Everyone sat around the patio talking and laughing.  Alice playfully started asking Tina some questions, “So Mrs. Kinnard, tell us all about life in the land of heteroburbia.”   Bette jumped in, “Hey Al, that’s Ms. DuJour to you.” And with that Tina and Bette burst out laughing until tears were rolling down their cheeks.

Shane joined in:  “Hey, guys this sounds like a very funny joke at Alice’s expense, I want in.” 

Bette answered, “Sorry Shane you just had to be there”

Alice didn’t give up that easily.  “Okay, fair enough.  So Tina why don’t you tell us about yourself”

Bette jumped in again, “Alice you may not know it but that question might have lethal consequences, right Tina?”

Tina looked at Bette and again they burst out laughing.

Kit spoke this time.  “I guess that’s another one of those you had to be there things.”

Tina responded quickly so as not to offend anyone, “I’m sorry, it’s just that the day I walked into my interview with Bette the very first question Bette asked was very similar to what Alice just asked and well, I guess I was nervous and well I sort of spewed my whole life story at Bette in about 2 minutes and had pretty much blown the interview until your very kind and patient sister gave me a second chance and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Bette and Tina shared a very sweet smile while the others took in the moment and the genuineness of the woman.

Bette broke the silence, “Don’t kid yourself Kinnard, you had me at Hello.  Who wants dessert?”

Dessert was served and everyone was enjoying light conversation.  Alice looked at Tina and said, “You know Tina I think this is the best pie I have ever tasted.”

“Thanks Alice, it’s an old family recipe.”

“You really are a regular little Martha Stewart, aren’t you?”

Bette and Tina immediately looked at each other and tried to suppress the laugh but couldn’t

Bette said laughing, “Alice you just can’t win can you?” and with that the two woman were laughing and leaning into each other like teen agers.”

Bette pulled herself together and started to tell them.  “Guys it just…Tina can I share this one?”

“Sure, Ba, Bette.”

Bette was taken aback by Tina’s near slip for a second but recovered quickly, putting the thought out of her mind.

“Okay, well this is really rather serious as I’m thinking about it.  Um, well let’s see.  It’s just that Tina had mentioned to me that she always hates it when people assume that because she fits the mold of a Soccer mom, Martha Stewart type, suburban housewife, she is a certain type of person and has lived a certain type of life, when in fact she has lived a pretty nontraditional lifestyle.  And…and in many ways she’s spent a lot of her life feeling like she’s on the outside looking in”

Shane was the first to respond.  “Wow that is pretty heavy.  You know Tina, I guess I’m guilty of that, but I promise you it only lasted about a minute.”

“That’s okay, Shane.  I’m pretty use to it.  As a matter of fact, I don’t know when the last time I felt more comfortable or so welcome by people.  I really appreciate it.”

Alice was getting pretty drunk by this time, and she blurted out, “Shit Tina, What the fuck’s not to love about you.  You’re like the cutest thing ever.”

Tina blushed, and shyly said, “Thanks Alice, that really means a lot”

“So, do we get the life story now?”

Helena added smiling, “Yes Tina, we’d love to hear your story”

Bette caught the look that Helena was giving Tina and walked over to sit next to Tina on the lounge chair.  Tina looked up and smiled at Bette which just about melted Bette on the spot.

Tina cleared her throat and took a deep breath, “Well let’s see…”

Shane jumped up … “Hold that thought!  We need drinks.”