“Well, I was actually thinking about inviting them tomorrow for dinner. Since we are so ahead of the schedule I have the rest of the week off, and Dana will be back tomorrow morning also. This way we can get everybody together at once. I think Bette had enough to deal with for one day and I don’t want to burden her with more surprises.”

Bette waited quietly during this whole conversation between Alice and Tina, enjoying their friendly banter and the easiness that she felt with these two women. ‘Maybe life here is not that bad,’ she thought, stealing curious glances at Tina.

“So Bette, are you ready for another little adventure?” Alice smiled mischievously, anticipating more fun at Bette’s expense.

“Depends on what you are suggesting,” Bette answered, smiling back. She suddenly felt happy, free and ready for many surprises that this new life had in store for her…even if it was only for three months. She didn’t know where those feelings came from but she welcomed them as a relief from the stress and confusion she felt earlier.

“Well, as Tina mentioned we can go to her house in Los Angeles, have lunch and just chill out there.”

“Chill out?” Bette asked, trying to make sense of all the new words and expressions she’d heard so far.

“It just means resting and hanging out,” Tina smiled, well aware of Bette’s confusion.

“Oh, I’m sorry…sometimes it seems to me that you speak different language,” Bette smiled shyly, “So how are we going to travel to Los Angeles?”

“Your carriage is waiting outside, milady,” Alice said, pointing theatrically outside the window.

Bette looked outside and for a moment stared at the self-driving automobile that she noticed there earlier. Suddenly, she felt very nervous and asked, terrified and excited at the same time, “Are you expecting me to get into that?”

“Don’t worry, Bette,” Alice said, clearly enjoying the situation, “Tina will be driving and she drives sooooo slow that you will feel like you are actually riding in a carriage. It will take us forever to get home but at least we’ll be safe.”

“Don’t listen to her,” Tina laughed, hitting Alice on her arm playfully, “I don’t drive that slow but I will be your driver or coachman, if you wish and with me you will be safe, which I can’t say about Alice.”