The next morning is almost as dark as the previous night is. The sky is covered in thick layers of clouds and the raindrops that falls almost will you back to sleep. It is the last Saturday morning in November and the Peabody Porter home is bathed in darkness. I quietly close the door behind as I go into the steaming hot shower. I let the water fall over me for a while just enjoying the feeling. I dry myself before I slip into my sweaters and a t-shirt. I tip toe out of the bedroom and into the cold living room. I set up the heat and a pot on the coffee maker. The rain is pouring down and I switch on all the lights to get a comfy feeling. I’ve been seated for a while when I hear padding in the living room, I curiously glance at the entrance to see who are accompanying me. Dana is standing in her PJ smiling slightly at me. “How are you feeling honey?” I say clapping my lap. “Better!” the natural color is definitive back. It doesn’t seem to be any fever left either. After a couple of minutes chatting she goes into the living room to play with Lego. I pour myself another cup and sit back and watch her.

It takes another hour before Peggy joins us, I give them some breakfast and they are occupied for another hour. Helena is awake when I walk in, “Good morning baby!” I say joining her in bed. “Just morning” she replies in a hoarse voice. “Look like someone is feeling under the weather today” my lips find her forehead. “I’m fine” she swats my hand away. “It was bound to happen you know, taking care of us others” I tell her sliding off the bed. “Well, I am superwoman” she exclaims smiling at me. “Well, today you’re under my care” I smile at her. “Help me Nurse Bette!” she says laughs at me. I look at her with mock hurt. “I’m gonna take a shower and join you in the living room” she gets up and I disappear into the kitchen to make her some tea.

Helena is dozing on the couch and the twins are playing in their room. I on the other hand am working on my computer. Our anniversary is coming up and I want us to do something nice. The problem is that we have practically tried everything. As I Google back and forth I decide on a fancy hotel in Monaco. It should be interesting since neither of us have been here before. I send an e-mail before I turn of the computer.

The cordless are ringing some where and I find in our library. “Hi sis it’s me, how are you feeling” Kit is on the phone. “I’m good Kit, the twins are fine. It’s Helena’s turn” I hear Kit chuckle into the phone, “Well Bette having kids in kindergarten kinda makes you available for all germs”. I smile at the ever so true sentence. “Yeah so true, so what’s hanging there sis?” I understand that Kit has a mission with this phone call. “Well, I wanted to give you hands up on Tina and Henry. They have taken out trial separation” her voice evens out. “Ooh!” I say trying to connect brain and mouth. “Yep, no one understands anything” she tells me. “So you don’t know more?” I inquire sitting back in the couch. “Alice told me this morning. It might have gone wrong about the time you and Helena came back” I can hear that she is serious. “Shit! Keep me posted all right!” I tell her, we chat some more but my head are another place.

Helena is in the kitchen and I smile at her appearance. “How are you feeling?” I gather her in my arms, when I release her she mouth to me, “I’ve been better, I think I’m gonna take a nap”. I nod my head deciding that I can talk with her afterwards, when she hopefully feels a little better. “”Come on, I’ll tuck you in” I nudge her lovingly. She disappear into the room and I am about to follow as the doorbell rings, I tell Helena that I’ll be there. I reach for the doorknob and surprise takes me as Tina’s red rimmed eyes are staring back at me