No one knows how to push each others buttons like family. And no one but family can push those buttons on auto-pilot, without the slightest recognition that they’re doing it, often for reasons that have nothing to do with the issue at hand.

“Thanks for swinging by,” Kit greeted Bette warmly as they stepped into the office at The Planet.

“You said it was important.” Bette watched Kit close the door. “Tina is still with Alice.”

“I would have let you know that this could wait until tomorrow if you’d told me you were at the hospital.” Kit sensed she was in the middle of a minefield and had no idea how she’d gotten there. “How are they?”

“Dana won’t see anyone,” Bette was visibly shaken, “and Alice is bouncing off the walls. She can’t sleep and she won’t leave the hospital.”

“Is there anything we can do for them? Anything at all?” The question itself felt feeble to Kit.

“Let them know we’re here for them,” Bette winced as she flashed on Alice’s collapse when she and Tina found her at the hospital a couple of hours earlier. “Make sure Alice is eating and has the basic necessities I suppose. She thinks Dana may be released on Monday.”

“Should we get the house ready? Who is looking after Dave?”

“Harrison, but Alice is going to ask Shane to help.” Bette took a breath. “I know your concern for Dana and Alice is genuine, but I don’t think this is why you asked me to come. What’s going on?”

Kit briefly considered backing out, but fought it off. She sipped her iced tea and gathered her thoughts.

“I want to tell you about something I did,” she began, “because I don’t want to keep secrets and I don’t want you to hear it from anyone else.” She saw Bette’s eyes cloud over as she jumped to conclusions. “I need you to listen to the whole story before you go off…”

 “I’d imagine I know the whole story,” Bette barked. “It’s the same one I’ve been hearing forever.”

“Yes, I did slip, but it wasn’t the same…”

“You drank Kit. How is that not the same?” Bette’s defiant tone cut her sister to the core. “It was the scene…people were feeling good…you just found yourself going with the flow, right?”