I was quite nervous about meeting Bette’s mother. I could not sit still while I waited. I lit some candles, put a Christmas cassette in, smoked a few cigarettes, drank a light vodka tonic and checked and rechecked to make sure everything was just thus and so.

When I finally heard the knock on the door, I jumped to attention and went to open it. There stood two very vivacious women. We had agreed not to dress up because Bette liked the casual Blue Beet so much that she wanted to go back there again. She said her mother would love its bohemian ambiance. Also, the word at the office was that the dress code for the boat parade was to simply dress warm. Even though we were going to a multi-million dollar estate, we would view the event from their spacious patio and dock. Consequently, all three of us had pant suits on with varied Christmas accessories.

Bette stepped in first with a big smile and gave me a cheek to cheek hug. Then she took her mom’s hand and said, “Mother, I’d like you to meet my good friend, Sissee Gardner.”

I extended my hand which Maxine took but she gave it a tug toward her and embraced me warmly saying, “I am delighted to meet you Sissee Gardner and I want you to know I have just spent the last two days hearing all about you!”

I returned her hug with a huge smile and said, “I hope she was kind.” I could smell cigarettes and expensive perfume on her.

“My daughter is very fond of you,” she offered with a twinkle in her eye.

“Please come in and sit down,” I said. Maxine chose to sit on the love seat while Bette followed me into the kitchen to mix the drinks.

She took my hand, looked at the blister that had popped out on the burn and kissed it. I was touched. I whispered that I missed her. She said, “I missed you too, Sis,” while she kissed me in my hair, so as not to leave any lipstick traces, adding, “You have no idea how cold it is in my bed.”

She then whispered something very personal in my ear. It made me blush with pleasure as she took over, filling a glass with ice for her mother, pouring a generous amount of Bushmills into it. When she went to deliver it, I mixed her a vodka tonic and refreshed mine.