Bette stood in the middle of the living room, taking stock of her surroundings. The slow hum of the refrigerator and a passing car was all she could hear at the moment.

Her eyes swept around the room, settling on the empty crib. If she closed her eyes and focused real hard, Bette swore she still could hear Angelica’s laughter.

“You’re losing your mind,” she said out loud to shake off the melancholy.

She made her way to the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of wine and returned to the dining table, where stacks of paper begged for her attention. Taking a sip of her wine, Bette allowed the full flavor to sink in as she began to tackle her work.

Even with the soft sounds of the royal philharmonic orchestra as her company, the brunette found her thoughts wandering away from the present. A dull thud formed as she remembered.

Their relationship was never meant to end. Yet, despite their vows to each other, it had dissolved right in front of their eyes. The last nail on the coffin was her working for the CAC.

Impressions in Winter, my ass. More like winter of discontent, Bette mused bitterly.

Just as quickly the thought appeared, she dispelled it and focused her attention on her work. The students depended on her to offer honest criticism and she would do everyone no good if she faltered.

A few hours passed before she had trudged through the stack in front of her, a relieved sigh signaling the end. She lived for art, but today, she just wasn’t feeling it. Perhaps the season has changed for her.

Finding an empty glass in front of her, Bette rose from her seat to get a refill. She leaned against the countertop, allowing her earlier thoughts to return to the previous night. Tina had left in the cover of the night feigning ill after another bout of heated sex, one of the many silent arrangements between them. It wasn’t ideal, but she had no illusions about them despite her own desire of seeing them become a family again. Their coupling was simple, and it catered to their baser instincts.