Life for Tina

Fall in Vermont was simply heaven. No wonder people flocked from around the country and world to experience it. Crisp mornings, sunny afternoons, chilly nights and dazzling color from the trees. This had been the perfect place for Tina to start over. Leaving L.A. was a good decision she thought to herself as she opened the store for the day. It's hard to believe it's been four years.. "and so many miles" she whispered to herself.

Thoughts of Bette overwhelmed her some days. Seeing something really beautiful outside or hearing the New York customers talk about an art event all brought back memories good and bad. After Bette had been unfaithful how could she stay in L.A.? Bette had been generous in settling the finances between them. She begged Tina to stay but she had go. Bette only knew that Tina had moved to Hawaii and that was true for awhile but three years ago she saw an ad for country store for sale and off to Vermont she went. The store allowed her to explore her passion for cooking and what she knew about business and marketing.

Spring Hollow was a warm community with lots of transplanted artist, and city folk. She had made some great new friends Spring Hollow felt like home. The only person she kept in touch with from the old gang was Alice who was enjoying life with Dana. Alice loved traveling to all the matches and Dana had been doing really well. Alice was bragging a couple of weeks ago about Dana being ranked #6 in the World she had become a tennis celebrity. Alice was even talking about perhaps wanting to start a family with Dana. Imagine them as parents - too funny! It made Tina laugh out loud. Two hours before opening and Tina loved working quietly in the store before her staff arrived. In an hour Sammy would be here and Rachel too local students that were such great helpers.

Alice had also given Tina the scoop on Shane who had a nice hair studio of her own now but still had not settled down with anyone. Kit bought the Planet after Marina left and Jenny had gone to Europe to write after breaking up with Tim. But then there was Bette. Alice always tried not to mention her but she would slip (supposedly) every so often and say something about her. Tina's silence always said - stop right there Alice. She'd seen in a magazine that Bette opened a gallery in L.A. and in Rome and lived between both places. She had some Italian bombshell on her arm in the picture - of course she had moved on. But not Tina, she had seen other women (especially in Hawaii) but Spring Hollow was a small town with few options. Darwin had been a nice distraction for a short time but she was so much younger than Tina and that felt strange. It had ended well and they were still on friendly terms. But now she had found a new love, and Jessie was the center of her universe.

Life for Bette

October in L.A. was a good time of year. The summer heat had cooled down and most of the crazy tourists were gone so you could actually go to Santa Monica with out all the crowds. Bette woke up early she had to get ready for her trip with Kit. Bette had heard about a new artist that she wanted to meet in New York and spending time with Kit would be good. With all her traveling she did not have enough time with her big Sister these days. Bette took a deep breath and laid back down on the pillow - it's October she thought, Tina's birthday was in a few days. How could she ever forget, seven years of celebrating and surprising Tina had not been erased by the last four years without her? There were women and more women but only for a short time and she had spent the last year totally alone.