With order now restored, Charlotte waited patiently for Bette or Alice to talk. The three women sat in silence just looking at each other. All that could be heard was the sounds of the house: the fridge kicking on, the ticking of the hall clock, and the whining of the air conditioning.    

            No longer able to stay quiet, “Can I have my grits back?” Bette looks longingly at the container in Charlotte‘s hand.

            “After you tell me what this is about.” Charlotte answers.

            “You should throw them away.” Alice chimes in. Bette turns to give Alice a death stare.

            “Tell me what this is about then I will decide what to do with the grits in question.”

            “Ok, it was about 7 and half years ago” Bette starts.

            “Are you going to tell her about the song?” Bette glares at Alice.

            “Alice, I am going to start at the beginning now shut it.”

            “I was just wondering” she sulks.

            “That is it!” Charlotte stands up moves to the sofa, “Bette sit over there,” She points to the love seat she just occupied. Charlotte sits next to Alice, “Now you, stop interrupting.” She looks at Bette, “Continue.”

            “Ok, I was in South Carolina looking at an artist. I was trying to get him to show in my gallery

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            Bette sat in the booth by herself, studying the bowl of goop in front of her. This had not been her morning. She had flown all the way out here, to the middle of nowhere, only to have the artist cancel on her due to “prior obligations”. Now all she wanted was to have a good breakfast and come up with a plan of attack. She didn’t seem to be getting either of those. ‘What on earth?’  Picking up the spoon, she jabs at it and watches it move. She scoops up a spoonful and slowly pours it back into the bowl.

            “Didn’t your mother teach you not to play with you food?”

            Bette didn’t look up but continued to study the mysterious glop, “This is food?”

            The woman laughs, “I heard there was a Yankee in town.” The laughter was beautiful, rich and full of warmth. It was the laugh that made Bette look up, what she saw there astounded her. The sun light cascaded through the diner windows behind the woman, illuminating her shoulder length blond hair. Bette looked deep into the smiling brown eyes and froze.