She and Rose linked their right hand pinkies together, as if to shake, giggling.

They got to the landing of the second floor.  They heard laughter spill out of the playroom.  “Christy’s in with them, and I think they’re playing with clay, crayons, giant lego blocks, etc,” Tina explained, motioning to Rose not to worry about Jason.

“Come meet some of our friends,” Tina motioned to Rose, so that they could head towards the terrace to join the other guests who had gathered there.

Five minutes into the easy conversation Rose was having with the group Tina had introduced her to, Luke came up to give Tina a kiss.

“Oh, Luke!,” Tina exclaimed, as she saw Luke walk up to her. “Thanks very much for inviting me, Tina,” Luke was saying as Tina accepted the hug Luke offered.  They embraced warmly.

“We’re just so glad you could join us, Luke,” Tina said as they hugged.  “Well, Thanksgiving is about family, after all,” he chuckled.  He explained he’d already seen Bette, and had brought a few bottles, as well as a turkey that he’d ordered from Todd English. “Wow…must be delicious!,” Tina exclaimed, “Thanks a lot, Luke!”

“Well, don’t thank me too soon, Tina,” he laughed, “Brom may end up here later.  He didn’t sound that
excited about the black-tie event he and his date were supposed to go to.”

Tina shook her head, “Yeah…Brom doesn’t seem the “black-tie” type.”

“I know, right?,” Luke nodded, chuckling as he remembered the scowl on his brother’s face as he left Luke’s apartment, to head back to his own place in order to change into his formal wear.

“So why’d he…,” Tina asked, curious about how Brom ended up agreeing to go to such an event.

“Well, the girl he’s seeing was saying it was one of those quote crème dela crème parties that only the very elite go to unquote, and she wanted to go to it,” Luke said, rolling his eyes.

“Oh, no.  That is not Brom’s style at all,” Tina said, shaking her head.

“Uh-huh.  I give it about two more weeks, max,” Luke said, then exclaimed as he bit into the mousse appetizer Tina offered him, “Oooohhh these are delish!”

“I know, right?,” Tina nodded, “Lara made it up.  Goes so well with champagne, by the way."