After that comment Dana almost choked on a sip of water while Shane looked up from reading a text message from one of her latest flings.

“MMMMMMM!  Helena this is so good!”

“Imma have to agree with my girl Tina, Helena you can cook!  You know you have to share these recipes with me, right?”

“Thank you you’re too kind.  Please, enjoy and make yourselves at home I’ll be a minute with the entrée’s”

      One entrée and several bottles of wine later (a bottle of grape juice for Bette and Tina), the satiated group exchanged stories and enjoyed each others company.

“That was delicious Helena”

“Yeah, I mean you should open restaurant or something.”

“Thank you Alice”

“So are we like the only ones you invited or did the others not get their invitations?”

“Actually, I don’t have many friends here in LA.  I know a lot of people, but none I would call a friend.  I hope you don’t mind if I call you my friends”

“I do mind that you call us your friends”

“I knew you would be the one Bette”

“Let me finish”

“Please go on”

“I don’t call these women my friends because they’re my family, and I’d like to be the first one to welcome you to the family.”

      Tina had made her fifth trip to the bathroom that night when her phone rang.

“Hello?”

“T?  Did I wake you?”

“No, I was just getting up when you called. I think we have a soccer player on our hands.”

“T?”

“Bette?  What’s wrong?  Why are you crying?”

“T, daddy’s in the hospital and they won’t tell me what’s wrong.”

“What happened?”

“Kit said they were at the restaurant having dinner and then he complained about pain and then passed out.  They’re running tests right now.”

“I’ll be right over, what hospital are you at?”

“No, I don’t want you driving this late.  I just needed to hear your voice”

“It’s going to be okay”

“It only sounds convincing when you say it”

“I’ll see you tomorrow okay?”