Chuckling, Bette headed to the pool, only to stop at the doorway. There they were, her family. The serenity that mere thought had conjured was a welcomed change for her. A gentle smile graced her features, and Bette knew, things were going to go smoothly from that point on.

She sat down at the edge of the pool next to Kit, watching as Angus, Alice and Shay crowded around Angelica like a human shield. The scenario was too perfect to pass up, and Bette chose to bask in the moment instead of worrying about Angie getting sunburned.

“I haven’t heard you laugh so much in a long time,” Kit said quietly.

“I haven’t had much to laugh about in a long time,” Bette admitted.

“You have Angelica now, you have your new job, your health,” Kit pointed it out.

“I know,” Bette smiled at the thought of her daughter. “And I’m content. I have everything I need.”

Kit held her breath. It was time to bite the bullet. “What about what you want, Bette?”

“You can’t always have what you want, but you always have what you need,” Bette began. “And that is enough for me. Having Angie in my life is so fulfilling that I don’t want anything else.”

“Bette,” Kit snaked her arm around Bette’s shoulder. “Don’t you want to share all of it with someone?”

“I am, with Angie,” Bette shot back. She knew where this conversation was headed.

“I love you, baby girl, you know that, right?” Kit smiled to forestall Bette’s retort. “You’re too beautiful of a soul to keep to yourself.”

“Kit, you’re biased,” Bette teased. “But you know better than that. How can I share when I don’t have a heart to give?”

“That’s not true, Bette,” Kit chastised her baby sister. “Tell me you don’t believe that.”

Bette removed her feet from the pool, grabbing a towel from a nearby lounge chair to dry off. “I’m going to go get us some drinks.”

Kit huffed in frustration. She lowered her head and closed her eyes, trying to forget ever seeing the pain in Bette’s eyes. It was not until a pair of hands rested on her knees did she look up.

“You OK?” Angus gently massaged her knees.

The older Porter nodded, not trusting her voice just yet.

“Give her some time and space to work things out,” he offered. “Come on, I think Alice is about to start a dunking contest with Shay. We better go save Angelica.”