Bette looked closer at the miniature as she turned it around. Something didn’t seem right and Bette frowned. Then it hit her…there was no inscription.

“Is there’s something wrong, Elizabeth?”

“No, no…just some memories,” Bette smiled.

“Happy memories, I hope?”

“Yes, very happy,” Bette traced her own image with her finger, thinking about the day when Tina showed it to her for the first time. She realized that she couldn’t let Christina know about that, at least not yet. “I remember that day as if it happened just yesterday. Do you know that I wore that dress because I knew how much you liked it?”

“Yes, I thought so,” Christina smiled back. “That’s why I painted it because I wanted to preserve our memory forever. It was intended as your birthday present.”

Bette looked at the miniature one more time and gave it back to her friend, “I want you to keep it…for now.”

“For now?” Christina looked at her questionably.

“I’ll explain later,” Bette smiled shyly.

“Ok…do you mind helping me get up? I need to get more comfortable on my sofa because this baby has been pretty restless lately.” Christina stretched her arm out and Bette helped her up.

“Of course…is everything okay with your pregnancy?”

“Oh yes, Daniel has been very attentive and the local doctor visits very often to make sure that I have plenty of rest and everything is going well.”

“Oh I’m so glad.”

They slowly walked toward the house and Bette put the cloak tighter around her body to make sure that nobody could see her face. They went directly to Christina’s tea room where she sat down on a sofa. Bette sat down beside her as Christina stretched her legs and sighed happily.

“I can’t wait for the baby to be born. I look and feel like a whale.”

“You look beautiful, Christina.”

“Thank you. I’m due next month…how long are you staying?”

“I have to stay three months.”

“Have to?”

“Long story and we have plenty of time for that.”

“Do your parents know you’re back?”

“Not yet.”

“Are you going to tell them?”