“I’m happy for you baby sis. You just keep working at it. I won’t interfere but you know I am always here for you if you need a shoulder or another kick in the pants.” Bette laughs at that and hugs her sister.

“Thank you sis. I will remember that. Hey can you help me take this meat over to the table?”

Kit takes one of the serving trays and Bette follows with the other. Bette calls to the kids, and lets everyone know that it’s time to eat. Collectively they have prepared a feast. Everyone helped themselves with generous portions. A bit later Alice and Bette are in the kitchen getting more drinks.

“Gosh Porter we haven’t talked since you left for Monterey. I thought you were going to spend more time with me?” Alice didn’t sound like she was whining just missing her friend.

“Al. I’m really sorry about that. Everything just started happening so fast between Tina and me. We’ve just been so focused on us and Angie. I didn’t mean to totally abandon you. How are you doing? Any new word from Tasha?”

“You never get used to them being gone but I’m accepting it more now. At least I’m not dwelling on all the bad things that could happen. I just think about the good things that we have to look forward to. She’s still doing that intensive training so she can’t communicate too often but she has called me a couple of times. She really believes in what she’s doing to defend our country so I just have to support her. It just gets really lonely you know.”

“I know honey. Things are settling down a bit more now for Tina and me. We’re moving hers and Angie’s stuff tomorrow.”

“I know she asked for Shane and I to help.”

“Oh good. Can you guys do it?”

“Yeah I’ll come over here in the morning and ride with Shane so we can take her truck. Tina says we’re not moving any furniture so it’ll be mostly clothes and kitchen stuff. She says you don’t have too many pots and pans? Somehow that doesn’t come as any big surprise to me.” Alice teased.