Bette also missed the spontaneity. There were severel moments where either Bette or Tina would get something for the other. Bette would pick a nice elegant flower
from one of her lunch walks and shyly give it to T, knowing that Tina would whisper that it would have been best to let it grow. Or getting truffles for no reason, getting a record or
book just to see the simple delight on T’s face. It was definetly different not having someone to share theses things, but Bette grew stronger each day and soon established a
routine that was normal for most days. She would get up early enough to take Angie to her painting classes…then she comes back to the house. There Bette picks out her clothing
for the day, drapes them on the bed and then goes into the bathroom. It is still large but this does not bother Bette anymore. She showers, using apple shampoo and outrageous
conditioner…the body soap feels nice on her skin. refreshed she dresses and takes out the sandwhich she made the night before and heads out to her office. Bette is able to
retire soon…only she is plannig to finish out the year. They have been frugal for ages and Bette and Angelica have a nice cusion to settle on. What’s on Bette’s mind is what to do
when she is actually retired….her plans always included T. Angelica would be a real teen and then gone off to live her own life. So Bette thinks about this and wanders what type
of things she plans to do. After working for a few hours she phones her sister, who insists on daily calls in the afternoon. Bette complies and feels comforted by the fact that Kit
does not ask how she’s coping. Bette likes to think of it as moving on, thinking to fill the void.

 The one thing Bette had not gotten used to was being a single mom. There was always T to fill the hours Bette would be gone. Now compromise and planning were
imperative to living. Bette had to plan her schedule ahead and think about how this or that would affect Angelica. It was hard. But now opening in her door to the bedroom Bette
just felt tired…..and seeing the empty bed felt lonely. So pattering a few steps to Angelica’s door she opened it quietly. Angelica was still awake, reading a well-used dog-eared
edition of “War and Peace”…a book Angelica had read numerous times, often commenting she always found something different in each reading. In fact Angie had an infatuation
with Russian Literature…sh epored over Gogol, loved Chekhov and puzzled over tolstoy…peeling layers while reading. Tina had often made reading lists of lesser known russian
books for Angie, but this of course is not mentioned. Bette asks if she can come in….Angies nods moving over. Bette sits on the edge and asks about Angelica’s day. Angelica
mentions a girl wwhom she had befriended…a who “ate with her mouth open but spoke so politely” Bette chuckled then asked very quietly if it was alright if she just rested by
angie for a few mintues. “of course mom”………..she snuggles under the blankets and almost cries out with joy. It felt so good to lay beside someone. Soon Bette is fast asleep…and
Angelica turns off the light and wraps her arms and legs around Bette, loving and hating the world.