“The schedule starts in the morning.”  Bette stood, pressed Angelica a bit closer to her, then turned and walked out of the room.

* * * * *

Alice didn’t bother knocking.  Over the past few weeks, Alice had really grown to depend on Shane and Carmen for relationship questions regarding Dana.  She and Dana were still kind of new and Shane and Carmen were just beginning.  Problems kept coming up between she and Dana and it helped her to talk it through with them.

“Yo, peeps.”

Alice walked through the living room, past the dining room, and into the kitchen.  She opened the fridge, took out a box of Tropicana orange juice and reached for a glass in the dish drainer.  She shrugged, deciding not to dirty another glass, opened the spout of the box, and guzzled a good eight ounces.  Alice closed the spout, put the box back in the refrigerator and shouted again, “Shane?  Carmen?”

Glancing outside, she saw a lamp on in the shed, but no one was on the deck.  She walked back through the house, down the hall to Shane’s bedroom and as she opened the door said, “I’m coming in, stop fucking.”  She walked in and found them on top of the sheets completely nude and fast asleep.  Alice pushed Shane’s legs over and sat down.  “You guys, I’ve fucked up again.  Man, I can’t get this more wrong if I tried.”  She waited for them to answer.  “A crisis moment.  If you could pay attention.”  Shane groaned in her sleep and pulled Carmen against her.  Alice looked at Carmen’s ass and saw a handprint.  She lifted Shane’s hand and rested it on Carmen’s butt.  “It’s a match.”  She sat for a while longer, then stood up.  “All right, later.”  She stepped over the torn T-shirt and thong and walked out.  As she closed the door, Alice muttered, “Freakazoids.”

* * * * *

Bette and Dr. McPherson walked down the corridor toward Tina’s room.  She carried Angelica in a product she had fallen in love with, the Ultimate Baby Wrap and not only did it provide Angelica with security and safety, but it did wonders for Bette’s back since she was carrying the baby almost always. 

Dr. McPherson listened to Bette and answered her questions.  He politely and thoroughly explained procedures, treatments, and the various medications that Tina would receive via fluids. 

They reached the threshold of Tina’s room and Dr. McPherson stood back and guided Bette through the door first.  Bette froze within the frame of the door and stared at the bed where Tina lay.  Day after day, she was here with her partner, but whenever she walked in the room, even if she’d only stepped away to buy a bottled water or speak to a nurse, when she returned, Tina’s condition took her by surprise.