“I made a turkey breast and some vegetables. I thought it would be nice for Shane to wake up to a home cooked meal.”

Bette raised her eyebrows and looking down at Shane, said, “And you made soup?”

“No, it’s not soup, she just pureed mine—because of my dental…work?”

“My father used to puree my food when I had dental work done, so, I thought it would be better for her.”

“Oh, how nice,” Bette said, motioning her head toward the double doors. “So, do you still want to see the pool,” she asked, before looking back at Tina, “I told Shane I’d show her the pool.”

“Okay, well, you do that—I’m almost done here.”

“I know what a pool looks like,” said Shane, as she blew on her spoon.

Bette, grabbing Shane by the arm, said, “Oh, silly, remember, you said you wanted to see it. You probably don’t remember because of all the drugs they’ve got you on, so—let’s go!”

Bette pulled Shane through the double doors, only releasing her as they made their way down to the pool. Whispering through her teeth, she said, “Do you have something you want to tell me?” Shane put her hands in her pockets and shook her head. “No.”

“Oh, come on, I was there today. You asked for me to pick you up, did you really think they weren’t going to tell me?”

Shrugging, Shane said, “What are you talking about?”

Bette stretched her neck out to make sure Tina was still preoccupied in the house. “The blood work, you—you’re…a match, a perfect match, I mean, Jesus, Shane, did you really think it wouldn’t come out?”

“Okay, what the fuck are you talking about,” She asked, now backing away from Bette.

“Do you really not know or are you fucking with me, because, so help me god, Shane, if you’re fucking with me…”

“Bette, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I thought it was a good thing, if I matched.”

Bette looked for any sign of ulterior motive coming from Shane’s glare, and when she couldn’t find it, she walked over and sat on one of the lounge chairs. “It is a good thing, it’s also an impossible thing. The doctor feels—you would have to be related to Tina for the match to be as close as it is. Now, I don’t know you, Shane, but if you’re looking for something here…”

“Wa, wait a minute, are you saying the tests show that I’m related to Tina, like, we’re—family, related?”

Bette simply nodded, “That would appear to be the case, yes.”

Shane put her hands on her head and began walking around in circles. “Okay, this is just, so fucked. Yeah—no, no, this doesn’t make any sense. This isn’t right, this can’t be right.”

“Okay, calm down…”

“No, this isn’t right, the tests are wrong!”

“Look, no one is championing that cause more than me right about now, believe me, but the tests say what they say, so, there really isn’t anything you can do about it.”

Shane began to mumble as she paced, causing Bette to become concerned. “Hey, hey, calm down, okay, she’ll hear you.”

“You’re Bette Porter, right?”

Bette stood up slowly and following Shane suspiciously with her eyes, answered, “Yes.”

“Well, then, who is she?”

“She’s—Tina.”

“But, she’s your girlfriend…”

“What’s your point?”

Shane reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded, worn piece of paper. She waved it in front of Bette and said, “Here, take it.” Bette reluctantly grabbed the paper from Shane’s hand, and unfolded it.

“Go ahead, read it,” Shane said, looking at Tina through the double doors. “See, now, how can I be related to her, if I’m supposed to be related to—you?”