Bette shook her arms out, loosening up as she fell in with the rest of the group, enjoying the fluid motion and rhythm her legs and arms were making at long last.  Her mood was lifting quickly as her body took over as she continued to warm up, automatically moving in sync with the group as it lengthened its stride in unison once they all cleared the bunches of other joggers in the path.   She let her mind wander as it reconnected with her body, exulted to be outdoors, grateful to be breathing in air that wasn’t pumped in by airconditioning.  As she jogged easily behind the group, she looked up from the path, gazing out across the great lawn, and smiled to herself – Manhattan at night …  just a special place, and regulars knew the reservoir jog path was one of the best places to enjoy this unique view of the city, especially as night set in, and lights were switched on all around the city, lending a magical, twinkling sheen all around.

Tina loved running around the reservoir also.  Bette recalled how, early on after returning from Paris after they’d reunited following a lengthy separation, their runs around the reservoir had been one of their favorite things to do together, a highlight of their respective days.  Sometimes, as they jogged they’d talked about how their days had gone; other times they bounced ideas about projects at work off of each other, getting advice from the other.  But often they’d run in silence, just enjoying being with the other, stealing glances at each other, smiling, winking, touching hands, blowing each other kisses.  She loved watching Tina move during those runs, felt the familiar tingle when the blonde smiled at her, ached to kiss her once they’d gotten back to their old apartment … and Tina had told her countless times, that the blonde had felt the same towards her.     

Bette swallowed as she remembered Tina, the image of her beautiful face floating into Bette’s consciousness for perhaps the hundredth time that day.   They hadn’t seen each other since Sylvia’s memorial.  Tina had left for Charlotte to visit with her mom and Paul, taking Angelica with her.  And then from Charlotte, Tina drove to Charleston to visit a set where the on-site producer was reportedly having problems getting the director to finish filming.   She’d left Angie with her mom and Paul, who’d hired a nanny for Angie’s stay. Tina had returned to Charlotte last night, and she and Angelica were supposed to be heading back to New York tomorrow.