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    Can Love Really Conquer All?Chapter 2-Slowly Moving Forward

    Tina is sitting on the sofa at Alices. It is getting close to 12:00 a.m. and she is thinking about what she needs to do to try and find her self and to start moving forward with her life. It has been two weeks since her world fell apart. She decided that this had been the longest 14 days she had ever had to endure in her entire life. She hasnt heard from Bette since the day that Bette had come to Alices apartment and promised her she would give her time. Alice had been really sweet to her ever since shed been there. She had taken her to the house to pick up some of her things and held her while she cried there. She still hadnt told Alice exactly what happened the night that she left Bette but she had told her an abbreviated version of her seeing Bette and Candace at the opening and about her confronting Bette. She didnt know what Alice would think if she knew about the physical part of the fight and them having dysfunctional *****. Alice had told Dana and Shane about Bettes affair with Candace and that Tina was staying with her. Dana and Shane had come to see Tina. They had hugged her and told her how sorry they were and asked if they could do anything for her. Tina really appreciated that they care about her but she knows this situation has to be hard on them because Bette is their friend too. She knew that they were upset at what Bette had done but they loved her and wouldnt ever turn their back on her. She gets up and is headed towards the bathroom to brush her teeth and get ready for bed when she hears Alices come in to the apartment. Alice had been out for the evening with Dana and Shane. They had asked her if she wanted to go but she just wasnt ready to go out and be in a noisy public place.

    Alice (checking the sofa to see if Tina is sleeping there): Tina?

    Tina (from the bathroom): Im in here.

    Alice: You feeling okay?

    Tina: Yeah. Im just getting ready for bed.

    Alice: We had a good time tonight but we wished you had come with us.

    Tina: I just didnt think I could deal with all the noise and people.

    Alice: Tina I know its going to be hard but you are going to have go out some time.

    Tina: I know but (Alice interrupts her)

    Alice: Is it because you are afraid you might see Bette?

    Tina: That is part of it. I needed some private time to think about what I need to do and try to move forward with my life.

    Alice: Are you thinking of moving back in with Bette?

    Tina: No! You know I havent even seen her or talked to her since the night she was here. Are you ready for me to move out?

    Alice: No. You can stay as long as you want. I guess I just thought, well, I thoughtyou know Bettes been your whole world for 7 years, that maybe you might have found something within yourself to forgive Bette.

    Tina: I just dont know if I can ever do that. I have realized, though, in these two weeks that somewhere along the line when we trying to get pregnant and I quit my job I changed. I think I lost site of who I am. At this point I just know that something changed. Apparently, I wasnt enough for Bette anymore. I never thought that Bette would ever cheat on me. I thought our love was invincible. What a fool I was!

    Alice: Tina youre not a fool. I think Bette is. Dana, Shane and I have seen the love between the two of you. Weve watched you guys together for the last seven years and I know that Bette loves you. I cant tell you why Bette cheated. I wish I had an answer as to why, but only Bette can provide that.

    Tina: I am not sure there are any words that she could say that could make me understand. I love her and I probably always will but sometimes love is just not enough.

    Alice: I think you should just give it some more time. Maybe with time you will be able to at least see her and you can talk things over.

    Tina (ignoring Alices last words): I have made a decision about part of my future.

    Alice: What part?

    Tina: Ive decided that sitting here feeling sorry for myself isnt going to get my life back on track. Im going in the morning and try to touch base with some of my old contacts in the development business and see if I can get a job. I really enjoyed volunteering with Oscar, but I need something that is going to pay the bills. Besides if I can get a job it will occupy my time and thoughts. I would like to stay here a while longer so I can save up a little money so I can start looking for a place of my own.

    Alice (looking puzzled): I thought that Bette told you to take all the money you needed.

    Tina: She did. I just took enough to get me by and I will put that back in the account when I get paid. I dont want her to support me. We are not together anymore so she shouldnt pay my way.

    Alice: Well, its a first step.

    Tina: Yeah, a good step I think.

    Alice (hesitantly): Youre not completely closing the door on you and Bette getting back together are you?

    Tina (a flash of Bette flashes into her mind): Honestly?

    Alice: Yes

    Tina: I cant completely close the door. My love for her is still here (points to her heart).

    Alice: Good.

    Tina: I am going to go to bed. If I dont see you in the morning you will know I am hitting the studios. Goodnight.

    Alice: Goodnight.

    Bette is sleeping on the sofa in the living room and she dreams that Tina walked in the front door. The dream brought her instantly awake and she gets up and walks through the house even though she knows that Tina is not really there. She stops in the door way of the bedroom and wishes she could see Tina stretched out in their bed. She would join her and make love to her all night long. She would prove to her that she loves her. The past 2 weeks have been awful without Tina. She has been working long hours to take up most of her time even though she really didnt need to because things had quieted down since the Provocations opening. She has spent her time alternating between berating herself over what she had done and working on figuring out why she did what she did. She had actually made an appointment with Dan Foxworthy and had gone to see him. He basically told her that she is the one that has to figure why she did what she did, however, he will help her find her way through it. She was surprised to find herself thinking that as much as she hated going to therapy that it might be therapy that helps her find a way to get Tina back in her life. She wishes that she could call Tina and let her know that she is seeing Dan Foxworthy and working on finding out what went wrong. She has picked up the phone many times to call her but then remembers her promise to Tina that she would give her time. She instead picks up the phone and calls Alice. She has talked to her a couple of times just to check to see how Tina is doing.

    Bette (talking into the phone when Alice answers): Hey. Can you talk?

    Alice (on the other end of the phone): Yeah Tina just went to bed on the sofa.

    Bette: How is she?

    Alice: Shes okay. Shes better than she was.

    Bette: Im glad. Alice has shehas she talked to you about what her plans are?

    Alice: Please dont ask me about details. I am trying to stay sort of neutral in this. I dont want Tina thinking that I am betraying her friendship by giving you information.

    Bette: Im sorry. I just had hoped that maybe she was getting close to the point of being able to see me or talk to me.

    Alice: Bette, you promised her time. You have to give her that.

    Bette: I know. But you know that waiting is not one of the best things I do.

    Alice (laughs): No kidding!

    Bette: Thanks for letting her stay there and allowing me to checkup on her. I would go crazy if I didnt have any idea where she was and how she was doing.

    Alice: I love both of you. You, Tina, Dana, Shane and I are a family.

    Bette: We are kind of a family arent we?

    Alice: Sure we are.

    Bette: Will you call me if Tina needs anything?

    Alice: Bette

    Bette: I know. I know. You are staying neutral. I will call you later on the week to check on her. Bye.

    Alice: Bye

    Bette goes back in and lies down on the sofa. She had been sleeping on that sofa ever since she found out that Tina left her. She thinks about when her next appointment is to see Dan Foxworthy. The quicker she figures things out about what happened the quicker she can work on getting Tina home and them both sleeping in their bed. Bette rolled over on her side to go to sleep but before she closed her eyes to drift off to sleep she spoke.

    Bette (wishing Tina could hear these words): Goodnight Tina. I love you and always will.

    Tina has been out most of the day hunting for a job. She had touched base with several of her contacts in the development business and had landed a job back at the development company she worked for before. It wasnt as high up as before but it was a good place to start and the possibility if she wanted it, to head up a new part of the development company they had just set up. She was lucky because the chief executive officer there remembered her and the work she had done for them in the past. She goes back to Alices with a new attitude. It felt good to have done something productive for her. She had forgotten what it felt like to be independent.

    Tina (seeing Alice sitting on the sofa reading a book): Hey.

    Alice: Hey yourself. What is that on your face?

    Tina (wiping at her face): I dont know. Whats on there?

    Alice (laughs): There is nothing on there. You are smiling.

    Tina: Oh.

    Alice: Its been a while since Ive seen that. So does that smile mean you found a job?

    Tina (smiling again): Yeah it does. The company I worked before had an opening and they remembered the work I did for them before. There actually had two openings and gave me the option of which one I wanted to take. One of them is not as high up in the company as I was before but I think it would be a good job. The other would be heading up development in a newly formed division of the company.

    Alice: Thats great. So which one are you going to take? Im sure the second one pays more and you would be the boss.

    Tina: Yes but the second one has a catch.

    Alice: Whats that?

    Tina: I would have to move to New York.

    Alice: Would you consider doing that?

    Tina: I am going to consider it. They told me I could let them know in a couple of weeks if I want that job. In the mean time they are going to let me start work on the other job because they really need someone whos qualified to do the job.

    Alice: Wow. I am a little surprised that you would even consider it. But given what has happened in the last couple of weeks I guess I shouldnt be.

    Tina: Yeah. I think it might make it easier to get over not being with Bette. If I am here then there will be a chance that we might run into each other.

    Alice: Maybe that is what needs to happen.

    Tina: I know I am going to have to see her and to talk to her sometime. It still hurts too much to even consider doing that. I am going to take the time they offered me to decide about the job in New York. I promise you I wont make a hasty decision. It could change the course of my life forever.

    Alice: I am glad to hear that. (looks at her watch) *****! I was supposed to meet Dana at the Planet 5 minutes ago. See you later.

    Tina: Okay

    Alice leaves the apartment and heads straight over to see Bette at the CAC. Bette is sitting at her desk in her office. Alice notices that she looks tired and sad.

    Alice (stepping in to Bettes office): Hey.

    Bette (looks up and sees Alice entering her office): Hey. What are you doing here? Is Tina alright?

    Alice: Relax Bette, she is fine. You dont look fine though.

    Bette: It is so hard being without her. I didnt realize, until it was too late, that I was taking her love for granted and that she was everything to me. So what brings you here?

    Alice: I know I said I would stay neutral in this but I have to tell you something about Tina and her plans. She would kill me if she knew I was here and may never speak to me if she finds out.

    Bette: What are her plans?

    Alice: She went job hunting today and got offered two jobs. She is starting one of them soon and they gave her a couple of weeks to decide if she wants to take the other one.

    Bette: Im not surprised about her going back to work. She headed up a development company before and she was good at what she did.

    Alice: The job they are letting her think about is in New York.

    Bette: New York? Is she considering it?

    Alice (hesitantly): Yes she is.

    Bette (starting to cry): She must really hate me if she is considering moving to New York. I broke her heart and destroyed her life and mine.

    Alice: She hasnt made up her mind yet. She promised that she would not rush into a decision. I just thought that you should know.

    Bette: Do you think I should go and see her and make her talk to me?

    Alice (strongly): NO! She is not ready and you might push her into making a decision that shes not ready to make.

    Bette: I have to do something. I cant let her leave. I need time to make her see that we belong together.

    Alice: You are going to have to trust that Tina will make the right decision for herself and ultimately for you. I know she still loves you but right now her hurt and pride are overriding that love.

    Bette: Did she say that she still loves me?

    Alice: Yes.

    Bette: Then I am going to do whatever it takes to get her back.

    Alice leaves and Bette picks up the phone and calls Dan Foxworthys office. She speaks to his appointment clerk and tells her she needs to get in to see him as soon as possible. The clerk tells her he had a cancellation so he can see her this afternoon if she can make it over there within the next 30 minutes. She says she will be there in about 20 minutes. Bette arrives at his office and sits down on the sofa.

    Dan F: How are you today Bette?

    Bette: Worried

    Dan F: About?

    Bette: I heard today that Tina got offered a job in New York.

    Dan F: I see.

    Bette: I wanted to rush right over and make her talk to me but my friend Alice made me see that I might just push her away further.

    Dan F: Are you prepared to deal with whatever decision Tina makes?

    Bette: I wont have a choice.

    Dan F: You always have a choice. I think today you made the right choice by listening to your friend. I am not sure a month ago that you would have made that choice. You are here working to find out what went wrong within yourself that drove you to have an affair. I think you have been making progress in that direction. You are a lot more open to therapy than ever before and I think you realize that the Bette that had to be in total control of everything has at least partly disappeared.

    Bette: Youre right. I just dont know what I will do if I lose Tina.

    Dan F: You still havent talked to her?

    Bette: No. I havent pushed because I made that promise to her that Id give her time.

    Dan F: Just remember that you are making progress and taking steps in getting your life straightened out. That is the most important thing you can be doing for both you and Tina right now.

    Bette left Dan Foxworthys office thinking that they both have started slowly moving forward in their lives again with each of them taking a different path. For Tina that path is a new job and for her it is her figuring out what went wrong. She can only pray that as they slowly move forward further that their paths can become one again.

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