The Adventures Of Bette Porter And Sissee Gardner Schmidt After Howie (Part 3, Chapter 3)
PART THREE: SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

Chapter 3

Amazing.

We let ourselves in and gave hugs all around, as well as exclamations of being surprised and delighted, as Terry closed the door saying his vehicle would lead the way.

And so we caravanned out of Orange Grove to Santa Barbara. Bette and I sat together in the very back of the stretch on soft, leather seats while the others were lined up to our right, on one long leather seat with a glorious glass bar across from them lit up by fanciful neon.

Shane seemed to be the designated bartender and while she poured a California domestic champagne, Alice explained what they were doing there.

“Here’s how it happened,’ she began with a cute smile and her quirky mannerisms. “Terry asked Tina to get some of Bette’s friends together for moral support, so naturally she asked us. How could we resist when he‘s paying for everything? My God, we’re all staying at the San Ysidro Ranch up in Santa Barbara. Can you believe he’s got ten cottages rented? I Googled it and they cost from $3000 to $5000 each for the weekend?” She took in a breath. “I’ve never stayed anywhere in my life for that kind of money!

“Anyway, it’s tucked up in those Montecito foothills with spectacular gardens and a view of the ocean. Oh, and Tina said we’re supposed to keep you pumped up about this skydive, like keep cheering you on but personally I can’t believe that you’d do such a dangerous thing. My God! You could get killed!”

“Don’t say that about my baby sister,” said Kit. “I don’t want anything to happen to her.”

“Okay, knock it off, guys.” said. Shane. “We’re here to encourage them, not scare the shit out of them.”

“I think it’s exciting,” Jenny chimed in. “It reminds me of Repunzel. You know, that Grimm’s fairy tale?”

Helena looked at Jenny, who was sitting next to her. “Now how in God’s name can skydiving possibly equate to a German fairy tale?”

“The prince climbed UP her hair,” added Alice with sarcasm. “Don’t you remember, ‘Repunzel, Repunzel let down your hair so that I can climb the golden stair’. He climbed UP to the tower, for crap’s sake!”