It had been years since Tina had left Bette.  They were still friends but after Bettes infidelity they never could piece their relationship back together.  They kept in constant contact and Angelica came to stay with Bette every other week as agreed upon in the custody agreement.  She had a string of lovers that she enjoyed from time to time but she never could find a steady relationship that meant as much to her as Tina did.  Things in Bette’s life were pretty much the same besides that.  Jenny and Shane still lived next door and Bette was still in the art business.  She didn’t have a steady gig at any one gallery though.  Her experience and expertise allowed her to work for several different galleries at any one time, giving her flexibility to work on her schedule.  She was beginning to grow bored with life.  She was basically doing the same things every day with the same people.  The only excitement that came to her life was when Angelica came to visit and filled her home with her toddler energy. 

One summer, however, Bette had the thrill of a life time. 

The lady in the home across the street passed away.  Her son put the house up for sale.  A family moved in shortly after.  They seemed like a nice family.  They were mixed with the father being African American and the mother Caucasian.  They reminded Bette very much of her family when she was a child.  They had a teenage daughter that could have easily been mistaken for Bette’s niece or even daughter.  She seemed to be about the age of 17 or 18.  She was tall and thin.  She had the body of a dancer. 

One day Bette’s door bell rang.  She was at her computer working.  She went to the door and opened it.

Bette:  “Hello”

Girl:  “Hi my name is Samantha.  Me and my family just moved in across the street.”

Bette:  “Oh yes.  Hi I’m Bette.  Welcome to the neighborhood.”

Samantha:  “Thanks.  UmMy mother sent me to ask you if you knew then the garbage pick up was and when recycle day was.”

Bette:  “Oh,  trash pick up is every Tuesday morning.  And can and paper pick up is every other Thursday.  So next Thursday is the next pick up.”