“No doubt …” said Bette

The three of them looked up as the door to the café opened and Tina and Lisa walked in with Lottie in tow, Lottie made straight for the counter to order their coffees,

“Oh wonderful …” mumbled Alice, “just what I need,”

They took a seat through in the sunnier side of the cafe, Lisa walked right past the table where Alice sat with Bette and Shane, successfully avoiding eye contact with any one of them, Lottie paused at the edge of their table with Tina to say hello,

“Hey …” said Tina, perching for a moment in Bette’s lap, “why’s everybody look so serious?”

She’d been with patients all morning and Bette hadn’t had the chance to call and tell her, Bette pulled the magazine towards her, clearly displaying it’s bright front cover adorned with a shiny photograph of Helena and Mandy … looking cosy,

“Oh my God …” said Lottie, unable to contain her surprise as she peered over Alice’s shoulder … “that’s Helena … and Amanda Wakefield …”

Tina looked at her puzzled, “You didn’t know that?” she asked, surprised, thinking of how many times Lottie had been privy to their discussions regarding Helena’s ex Mandy …

Lottie shook her head, “Mandy/Amanda … I guess I never put the two together …” she paused, “I never even knew Amanda Wakefield was gay …”

Tina sighed, “Exactly …”

Bette took up the explanation, “She’s out and everything … she just always chose to keep her private life ‘private’” stressed Bette, “the last thing Mandy would ever do is a ‘kiss-and-tell’”

“Then what’s this?” asked Lottie, looking at something which sure looked like a kiss-and-tell to her,

“That’s Jenny …” said Tina

“… and my mistake for ever inviting her to have coffee with us …” added Bette sadly

“Don’t be silly …” came Helena’s voice from above their heads as they all bent over the sullied magazine article, “*my* mistake for thinking she could ever be trusted not to bite on a juicy story …” she added, taking her seat at their table,

Bette looked at her apologetically, feeling guilty for encouraging Helena to join her in New York when she’d met up with Jenny,