Fan Fiction
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Love’s Recovery
Chapter 22
Maxine waited at a smaller table at The Planet for Bette to arrive. After the disastrous dinner at her beach house, she thought that a more neutral place might better serve her purpose of fostering a relationship with her daughter.
She checked her watch again, Bette was 7 minutes late, and while normally that wasn’t such a big deal, Maxine felt she had a 50/50 shot of Bette actually showing up which made Bette’s tardiness concerning.
Bette frantically walked in, placing her hand on the counter and ordering her coffee while her eyes searched the tables. She immediately found Maxine, directed the staff to bring her coffee over to the table, and began her journey through the restaurant.
“You came,” Maxine stood to greet Bette, gesturing for her to sit across from her. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“Thank Tina,” Bette said casually smiling at the young woman that brought her mug of coffee to the table. “The truth of the matter is I wouldn’t be here had she not convinced me to be. Sorry I was late; the traffic is horrible at this time of the day.”
“I’d love to thank Tina, but you won’t let me talk to her.”
“That’s not up for negotiation Maxine,” Bette felt it best to continue to emphasize her healthy boundaries. “What can I do for you today?”
“I was hoping after last week’s terrible dinner that we could try again. That night you mentioned meeting here as a neutral location, so here we are. I invited you here to just talk Bette, I have no expectation of how this will go.”
“Ok,” Bette took a deep breath to reign in her annoyance, “what do you want to talk about?”
“I’d like to get to know you, if you’ll let me.”
“And the big question of that night was how could we do that when I won’t discuss Tina and Angie with you, and that hasn’t changed.”
“Neutral ground,” Maxine slid a picture in front of Bette of a painting that she had been working on the previous week. “I made some progress on this piece.”
Bette’s eyes skimmed over the glossy photo, taking in the detail of colors and fluidity of the water in the painting. Maxine watched Bette’s facial features soften, her eyes careful catalog each detail, and she knew in her heart that Bette loved the piece.
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Martha3128 says
At last, Bette is allowing herself to relax with Maxine and just go with the flow. Too bad it takes a family emergency to get to accept the good will of others. She still needs to hear Maxine’s story. This was the first time that anyone had said Melvin had been abusive. I’m not sure Bette understands the extent of Melvin’s abuse. And once she hears it, will she accept that Melvin was not the man she thought he was?
I love the fact that Maxine called Alice when she knew Kit was not available. Maxine seems to be familiar with what goes on in an emergency room. And she seems to know how to clam Bette down. Good thing Tina is not hurt very bad.
Good chapter….great story line for this book. I hooked into this story and am anxiously waiting for the next chapter….
Bibi28 says
Great story Gumby!!!
Glad that Tina isn’t that bad injured and that Angelica wasn’t hurt at all.
Good to see Bette a little bit more relaxed with Maxine and that Maxine seems to respect the boundaries Bette set.
Looking forward to the next chapter!
SassyGran says
So happy to be back in this story!
Loving the way Bette is opening up to listen to Maxine.
I think she will need a lot of support when she finds out the extent of Melvin’s abuse.
Thanks for posting, more please, can’t get enough of this story
SG
Zhenya says
Thank you for the chapter!
So, i see Bette and Maxine maybe became closer on one step.
Waiting for the next!
Spumoni says
`I remember this story quite well and am so happy to see updates.
Bibi28 says
Hi Gumby,
I hope life is treating you well!
It has been a few months after your last post. And with this terrible COVID-19, i wanted to know if you are ok.
Please stay save and healthy ????
SassyGran says
Hi Gumby,
Been a while, not 10 years I know but..?
Wondering how you are doing in these challenging times?
Hoping you are safe and well and perhaps considering an update?
SG
Bibi28 says
Hi Gumby,
Checking in again with you. It has been a long time you posted. I hope you are ok!
It has been a few crazy months and sadly it will be a long time before life will go back to how it used to be or a bit like it used to be. Please let us know you are ok!
Bibi28 says
Hey Gumby,
Checking in again, it’s been almost two years since the last chapter.
I hope life treats you well and you are okay. I really hope you will update this story and finish it.
SassyGran says
Hi Gumby,
Close on three years now and still hoping you are OK and that we may get an update to complete this great story.
Hope everything is OK
SG