Helena arrived before Bette  so she seated herself at a small table by the window.   Helena was always prompt, in fact early most times and Bette was habitually late for everything.  It didn’t seem to bother either of them; they were familiar with each others habits and overlooked many of those they didn’t like.  

“Well, how’s my girl doing, hmmm?”  Helena asked as she gracefully stood up and pecked Bette lovingly on the cheek.

“I’m good.  You’ll be happy to know that I’m off to the gym after we have lunch”. 

“Well, cut my legs and call me shorty” grinned Helena. Bette raised her eyebrows at her friend’s humor and softly laughed.    When Bette sat down, they both turned toward the window and stared at the rain tapping the large windows in syncopated rhythms.

They shared a light meal and easy conversation until Bette noticed tears welling in Helena‘s eyes. 

“Hel?” she questioned softly.   

Helena looked directly at Bette and the tears began to fall.  “I’m sorry for doing this during our lunch together.  It’s just so hard sometimes to keep going without Darby.  I’m always wondering what we would be doing ifyou know, she were still alive.  I know we had our share of problems but what I wouldn’t do to have her back again.   Helena‘s shoulders slumped and her eyes became despondent.

Just then Helena‘s cell phone rang.  She looked at the caller id, rolled her blurry eyes and cleared her throat.

“Hello Mummy” she sang sweetly.   Her eyes rolled slowly while listening to the voice on the other end.

“Ah, just having a bite with Bette” she stated plainly trying to release the lingering agony that was still clutching her heart.   . “OK, hang on.” handing the phone to Bette.

“Peggy, how are you?” Bette questioned playing with the remaining sunflower seeds and mushrooms left on her plate from lunch. “Well, I don’t know about that, you know I’m still taking my time here.  Have you forgotten? The last time you had a brilliant idea, your daughter rejected my efforts and sent me a packing!”  Bette smirked.

 Helena looked directly at Bette and playfully rolled her eyes.  She couldn’t believe how much she had come to adore the woman across the table from her.  From the time Bette moved to LA and they became reacquainted, they spent hours taking aimless walks together in silence.  Occasionally, soft delicate sniffles or loud, outright sobs were heard.  Those walks were less frequent now but when they did occur, the silence was sometimes broken with hearty laughter.   Helena felt terrible seeing Bette in so much pain and often cringed at the horrible beginning they shared before establishing a valued friendship. Bette was no doubt getting better emotionally and resuming a new life, but it had been a long and painful road for her.  Returning to the moment, Helena raised her eyebrows, refocused her thoughts and tuned in again to the phone conversation that Bette was having with her mum.