Tina nodded as she twirled a noodle around a chopstick.  “There’s something else I wanted to talk with you about.  I’m in kind of a bind.  One, I’m not sure how to ask and two, I don’t know how we can do this logistically.”

Bette’s interest was piqued.  “What?”

“Jared Jackoway, the guy at Alice’s magazine, the one I’m subletting from is putting his big exposé on hold.  He’s coming back from San Diego over a month early.”

Bette’s eyes lit up.  She knew that Tina hadn’t really started hunting for an apartment of her own.  “Uh-huh?”

“I’m wondering if I can move back in for a while.”

It was all she could do not to burst into a huge grin.  Instead, her face remained flat, revealing nothing.  “Tina, you know you don’t have to ask something like that.  That house is ours.  I’m not going to say you’re welcome to move in because you’re not a guest.  You should be there.”

“I—I just don’t want to give you or anyone the wrong idea.”

“I’m the only one who should matter in this, Tina.  Honestly, how Shane or Dana or Alice or any of our friends feel about the two of us in the same house is irrelevant.”

The waiter walked over to their table, interrupting their conversation.  “Is there anything else you ladies would like?  Another pot of tea?”

“We’re fine,” Bette said without looking at him.  The waiter hustled away, realizing immediately that he was in the way.

“I was actually thinking Suzanne and Dan Foxworthy,” Tina continued.

“It’s our life, Tina, not theirs.”

“Well, they might think it’s not a good idea.”

“So?  So what if they don’t like it?  You need a place to stay; you have a home; you’re moving back into it; I want you to move back in.  This is what works for us.  It’s not their business.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“I’ll pack up my stuff and move on Satur…”

“Bette,” a woman called out as she walked around a couple of tables on the patio to get to them.  “I left a message with James.”  She bent to kiss first one cheek, than the other.