Bette:  Let’s make this a nice camping trip.  I have a friend who has a three-bedroom luxury cabin.  I’ll see if we can use it. I’ll get them to stock the food and the wine for us. Two dinners, two breakfasts, two lunches and snacks and beverages for three people.  We will check in on Friday evening and check out on Sunday at lunch time. I’ll get a car service to take us and pick us up, that way we can talk and nap on the way.

Tina:  Sounds wonderful… I look forward to a relaxing weekend with my girls.

Bette looked a little surprised.  Tina had not used the term “my girls” in a very long time.  Although she liked the reference, she was not ready for Tina to assume the familiarity of the term just yet.

Tina:  Bette are you okay with me staying here this week?  If you are not, I’ll gladly go to a hotel?

Bette:  I’m glad you are here Tina. I would not have asked you if I were not comfortable having you here.  It’s nice to know that you are looking after Angie through this election.  I have a feeling that Tuesday night is going to be wild and a late night. Win or lose, she is going to need you. Thank you for doing this.

Tina:  I had forgotten the incidental contact I had with Angie when we are living under the same roof. I’ve missed those times.  I just didn’t realize how much.

Bette: Tina, you are welcomed to stay here anytime you like for as long as you like.

Tina:  Thank you, Bette.  It’s very kind of you.  You have always been very generous.

Bette:  I’m going to my office to make those arrangements for the weekend.  Then I’m going to get a shower and get ready for dinner.  We need to be ready by 6:15 to meet the girls at 7:00.

Tina:  No problem, I’ll be ready.  What is the dress code for tonight?

Bette:   Dressy casual.  I’m going to wear something like Angie was wearing – dress slacks, a sweater and heels. I’ll have my jacket with me.

Tina:  Sounds nice.  I’ll be ready on time.

Bette went to her office and found the number for Emma Hansford.  Emma was a psychiatrist whom Bette had befriended many years ago. Bette had used her services after she and Tina had reconciled after her breakup with Jodi Learner.  Emma had shown an interest in dating Bette while she was with Jodi, but Bette had chosen to use her professional services instead.  Over the years, Emma and Bette had become friends.  Emma had married Liz Merritt, and they had a 14-year-old daughter named Suzie. Liz was an executive in the hospitality industry.  She was Corporate Vice President for the company which owned a string of luxury hotels and a larger string of hotel inns which provided long term stays for business people who were out of town for weeks or months at a time.  In various large cities, the corporation had an elite catering services who specialized in large formal parties for weddings, movie openings and other occasions providing gourmet and specialty foods, wines, champaign and liquor.  Liz was in charge of purchasing for all the different divisions.  She worked closely with designers, planners and the catering divisions to provide unique, high-quality products which would appeal to the clientele of the hotels and the catering services and to bargain for the timely delivery and the lowest possible price to insure a profit for the company.  The hospitality business was highly dependent on repeat business and the receipt of consistent good quality products was a must for repeat business.  Liz was excellent at her job and was rewarded handsomely by her company.