A month after Angelica’s birth

Only part of The Planet was open for business.  There was outdoor seating and a path leading from the coffee bar to the patio.  Every few steps were signs that said, Pardon the Mess.  A New Planet Coming to Your Universe.   There was a skeleton crew and a few regular customers, but it was still busy.  On the patio at one large table were Dana and Alice, Shane and Carmen, and Bette holding Angelica.  The table was covered with coffee mugs, cappuccino cups, and baskets of various breads.

“We’ve got everything set up at Tina’s new place.  I think she’s fairly acclimated now.  If you guys could spare some time to see her...” Bette began.

“God, Bette, you don’t have to ask,” Shane interrupted.  “We’ve been waiting for the word.”

“It took some time to get it all together.”

Kit walked over and took the empty seat next to her half-sister.  She played with Angelica’s tiny toes. 

“You know what I think, Bette?  I think we should put together some kind of schedule.  That way Tina’s not freakin’ with all of us there at the same time.”

“That’s a good idea, Al.  You guys don’t have to go by everyday.”

“Sure we do.  We love, Tee,” Alice said.

Kit’s clipboard where she was keeping track of ordering and inventory was on the table.  She picked it up and looked at Shane and Carmen, “Okay?”

Shane turned to Carmen, “What do you think about Noon to 2?” 

Carmen stared into Shane’s eyes.  “Do you think we can make it out of bed before 11:15?”

“Yeah.”

“Really?  We didn’t today.”  Carmen brushed the bangs out of Shane’s eyes.  “We didn’t yesterday.  We didn’t the day before.”  She reached for some part of Shane’s body under the table and Shane jumped, grabbed Carmen’s hand and put it on the table.

“How about from 1 – 2?”  Shane suggested and Carmen nodded before kissing Shane’s cheek.

“Does that interfere with Tina’s lunch,” Carmen asked stupidly.

“No,” Bette whispered.

“Carmen, she’s hooked up to an IV.  She’s being fed intravenously,” Shane explained.

“Oh, yeah.  That’s right.  I forgot.  Sorry.”

“Dana and Alice?”  Kit continued with the schedule.

“Honey, do you want to do it together or separately?”

“I guess separately,” Dana commented, then sipped her coffee.