“I’m sorry, but I thought that—.”

“Shut up,” Dana whispered. She leaned forward and kissed her sensually. Alice moaned softly against Dana’s lips and ran her fingers through her hair.

****

“Thanks for meeting me here.” Shane took a drink of her pop. Carmen stood in line waiting to order.

“I thought I meet you here because someone owes me an apology.” She looked at Shane, and Shane sighed.

“I’m sorry for pushing you away last night. It was wrong of me because all you were doing was trying to help me.” Carmen nodded.

“Apology accepted.” Shane smiled and nudged Carmen.

“Thank you,” Carmen smiled back and looked over at the table.

 “How’s he doing?” Shane looked at Shay sitting at the table, eating.

“He’s good, but he’s not talking to me. I guess—this isn’t where he wants to be.” She looked over at him again. “What am I going to do Carmen? I have to get him into school, but I don’t have any of his papers.”

“Hey—,” Carmen turned and faced Shane. “You can do this okay. You shouldn’t beat yourself up about this. I think that you should take him to the school on Monday and talked to the principal. Maybe he or she will have some kind of understanding with you.” Shane took a deep breath and looked at Shay again.

“He doesn’t deserve this at all.”

****

            Bette answered her door, and Kit was on her doorstep. She walked away from the door, and Kit walked in.

“She left you didn’t she?”

Bette nodded. “Yes—she left me.” She sat down on the couch and rubbed her head. “I don’t know why she would do this.”

“C’mon now, don’t play dumb Bette. You know why she left you.” Bette looked up at Kit.

“I never told her about Devon and I. I couldn’t do it.”

“She probably got fed up with you trying to control everything in her universe. You know that you are a control freak.”

“Are you here to talk to me or criticize me?”

Kit sighed. “I’m sorry baby girl, but you have to change some things in your life. You trying to be the head honcho of everything isn’t going to work all the time. You need to learn how to take a step back and be a follower.” She took a seat next to her sister. “For once in your life, listen to your big sister. I do know what I’m talking about.” Bette smiled softly, and Kit grabbed her hand. “You’re going to be just fine Bette. It’ll be rough like before, but I know that you’re strong. You’re a Porter—we always get through rough times. I love you.”