“Did you say something?” Alice turned around and asked.

“No,” Helena answered quickly, leaving the bags on the kitchen countertop. “Bette.”

“Helena,” Bette nodded. An unspoken truce was called. “Alice.”

“If Mohammad won’t come to the mountain, then the mountain will come to Mohammad,” Alice stifled the urge to stick her tongue out. She had important people to impress. “Where’s Angie?”

Bette’s laugh was like music to their ears. “She’s playing with Kit and Angus.”

“Are you sure you’re OK with us here? I know how much you cherish your time with Porter 2.0,” Alice queried.

“Alice, it’s fine.”

“Don’t say I didn’t ask,” Alice threw over her shoulder. “I’ve got a baby to spoil and some grease to burn off.”

“She just got up, she might be a little cranky,” Bette said to Alice’s retreating back.

The two remaining women in the kitchen worked in silence, emptying the BBQ supplies and preparing the drinks. Both were wracking their brains trying to come up with a suitable conversation starter.

“You look happier today.”

Bette whipped around and stared at the Brit. While a truce of sorts had been called, she did not expect the woman to try to reach out to her so soon. “I am. Having Angelica with me helps.”

“I know the feeling,” Helena smiled.

The brunette was cautious to accept the olive branch. “You must miss your children a lot.”

“I do,” Helena sighed. “It would be so much easier if I was living in New York but I’m just sick of winter.”

Bette nodded. “New York winters can be harsh.”

“Compared to LA weather? It’s downright brutal,” Helena exclaimed.

“What’s brutal?” Kit asked as she walked into the kitchen with Angus and Angelica in tow. “My Boo wants her Mama B.”

“Mama B misses you, too, babycakes,” Bette gave her daughter an Eskimo kiss, much to the girl’s delight.

“There you are,” Alice laughed as Angelica squealed when she realized all the attention was on her.

“There will be no peace in this house today,” Bette said dramatically.

Alice glared at her friend, finishing it off with a dirty look before following Kit and Angus out to the pool. “When you’re done poking fun at me, get your ass to the pool.”