"Denise! You made it!"
"Hey, Pamela! I wouldn't miss it for the world. Where's Roxy?"
"You know…busy with grand opening stuff. Can you believe it? We are at the grand opening of Roxy's bar. I am so proud of that girl."
Pamela didn't see the figure walk up behind her.
"So am I."
Startled, she jumped three feet in the air before seeing who it was.
"BETTY! Hey! How are you?"
"Well, I suppose you could say I'm as good as can be expected, but this day ain't about me. I had to come back and see Roxy and what she did to my bar."
"Oh. I hope you aren't disappointed. I mean…this place is a total turn-around from the Hump Bar."
"Oh, you dear sweet girl. You don't have to be worried about me. If I was concerned about what Roxy was going to do with this place, I wouldn't have given it to her. Plus, she ain't no dim-wit. She called me before she finalized the plans. I think it's a wonderful idea, but if you'll excuse me ladies…I'm going in back to find the lady of the hour."
Both Pamela and Denise watched as Betty walked behind back to find Roxy.
"So, Denise. Have you heard from Claudia Joy? We've all been a little worried about her, and I know how close you two always were."
"Yeah, you know, she took Emily to go stay up north with her family for a little while. She felt a little guilty about leaving because the Brigadier General, of course, needed to stay, but she felt that Emily daughter didn't need to be face-to-face with the haunting reminders on base. I heard Emily might stay up north when Claudia Joy comes back…possibly next week."
"The poor woman has gone through a lot. All those nasty rumors had finally begun to settle down, and things were starting to calm down a little bit, and then she loses a daughter and a dear friend, but she always was a strong one. If you talk to her again, let her know we're all thinking about her back here on base."
"I will. She asks about you guys all the time."
"So, I never did ask…how is Jeremy?"
"Well, he and Amanda were getting pretty close for awhile there. She had just broken up with him before the accident, and it nearly broke his heart. To hear that, well, she wouldn't be coming home any more…it was devastating. He's starting to come around, though."
Roxy starts to approach from behind the bar when she sees tears streaming down the faces of her good friends once again.
"What's the matter, ya'll? Not enjoying my party?"
Both gave a little chuckle before wrapping Roxy in a group hug.
"Of course. Of course we're enjoying your party."
