"No. Of course I don’t mind. You and Faye were obviously very close." She paused before asking, "Will we ever hear from you again?"

"Probably not. But if you ever need help with anything call this number." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. "It’s not my phone number so don’t try to track me down. But it’s a number I keep tabs on. You’ll probably get a recorded message that says the line is being checked for trouble or is disconnected. Just talk over the recording. I’ll get the message."

Bette looked at the card and then back to Richard. "You never cease to...creep me out", she said. Richard sensed that her words were mixed with a certain amount of humor and smiled accordingly. Her smiling eyes approved. She left him there as she sought out privacy to contact Mr. Jenkins.

A short time later Bette returned to the main room and found Tina alone, sitting on the sofa with her head leaned back and eyes closed. Bette looked around with a quick panic. "Tina? Where’s Cora?" Tina’s eyes remained closed. "She and Richard went for a walk on the beach", she said sleepily. "He had some things to tell her. About her father I suppose."

Bette sat next to Tina and rested her head softly against the blonde. "No. He’s not going to say anything about him. He’s got something planned and I think it’s best that we not ask any questions."

"Hmm", Tina yawned. "Sounds nefarious."

"Whatever it is, it’s better than that bastard deserves", Bette sighed.

Tina nodded and looked at her watch, a recent habit that did not go unnoticed by Bette. "Got a hot date?", Bette quipped. Tina smiled. "Yep. And she’s beautiful", she teased. Bette playfully grasped Tina’s wrist and brought it to her lips. She teased the soft skin with her teeth, inciting a tiny giggle from her blonde. At that very moment the doorbell rang. "Go away", Bette’s muffled voice groaned as she devoured her lover. Tina gently, half-heartedly, attempted to curb Bette’s affections. "I think you should get that, Bette."