Chapter 9

***Tina***

After dinner Bette spent the night at her home. Jeff was out of town, and given the situation earlier that evening, it was the safest thing to do. The next morning we met for breakfast. The Planet had become one of her routine stops in the morning. First was gym, home after and then the Planet for breakfast before heading to work. I was talking to Shane about Bette’s position and what we would like to do. Shane is a divorce lawyer. Let me give you a brief history about the group I call family. I met Alice in college. We took a criminology class together. She was pre law and I was in my first year of a degree in criminology. We hit it off the first day and we have been friends since. We met Dana on an all women’s cruise. She was one of the speakers. She and Alice have been dating on and off ever since. Shane is a divorce lawyer. She and Alice worked together at a legal aid office before Alice left to join the firm she now works for. Shane also left but they still offer their services on the weekend and once a day during the week.

“I say trimmed.” Alice replied. “Cleaned shaven is too fake and too much just gets in the way.”

“I agree.” Shane concurred. We were having one of our meaningless light conversations. The topic that morning was about hair, pubic hair to be precise. “From experience a little of both is good, trim and shave.”

“Well in my professional opinion, like everything on the body it serves a purpose. Firstly it protects the vulva, not to mention it’s a very painful process. Then there is the subject of whether or not your beautician follows the hygiene standards and the wax used, because you could get a fungal or yeast infection or even herpes. Then of course,”

“Ok ok, a simple I agree would suffice.” Alice interrupted.

“I can’t believe we are having this conversation at eight in the morning.” I added. I looked at the door as Bette walked in. She smiled when her eyes met mine. She spoke to Kit for a while before joining us at the table. After breakfast Shane, Alice and Dana left. I asked Bette to stay back to talk. “Have you decided what you are going to do about Jeff?”