While Bette was talking and smoking with Shane, Tina was talking with Helen. After the first awkward minutes of seeing her again, they both jumped in their old routine like the old friends they were.

So, you offered Bette a job? Asked Tina, playing with a straw, not looking at Helen.

Yeah, she is very good at what she does answered Helen, smiling, noticing Tinas shyness.

Yes she is added Tina, looking up at Helen.

Helen smiled widely at Tina, making her blush a little. Noticing the blush, Helen taking Tinas arm leaded her to the end of the bar.

I guess Bette told you about our talk she said, looking at Tina, shyly for the first time.

Yeah, she didanswered Tina, unable to hold Helens stare.

And? How do you feel? Helen was looking around, scared, worried about Tinas possible answer.

Tina, looked up from her hands as she was playing with a straw, after a few seconds she said, not in a whisper but almost.

Everything makes much more sense now

Helen listened to Tinas words and then, after taking a few seconds herself to marinate the meaning of the words said,

I.., I didnt know what to say didnt want to lose you

Tina, looking at the pool, watching some of the guest playing in the pool, not really seeing them, added,

We were young

Yeah, but still today I sometimes wonder, what if added Helen, turning to look at the pool, not standing looking at Tina.

I know nodded Tina, looking back at Helen, observing her face, trying to read it.

I know what you mean, I didnt know it then, but after meeting Betteafter finding out that I was ***** sometimessometimes Ive thought about you realizing that I was in love with you back thenI loved you I didnt know it was love but I know that I loved you then

Tinas words were not a declaration of love, were just a sweet old memory. Helen, nodding, closed her eyes just for a few seconds, remembering.

But I guess there is no point in what ifs Helen added, sighing.

***

Alice was drinking her third margarita, watching Tinas talk with Helen, trying to read their faces, their bodies. Dana, at her side was dancing with Harrison who was getting much more attention than her.
Turning to look at Alice, Dana noticed Alices eyebrow, so moving closely, she clumsily put her arm around her.

Will you dance with me?

Alice turned to look at Dana, shaking her head.

Something is going on around there, something big look look at their hands they arent even looking at each other Alice said, taking the last sip of her drink.

“What? How you know? asked Dana, playfully caressing Alices arm.

“I just know ok (Alice looked around), besides, where the ***** is Bette?…and Shane?”

“Probably hooking up with the most gorgeous chick in the party answered Dana, looking around.

“No, (Alice said, shaking her head), that one is talking with Tina, remembered?” Alice said, looking back at Tina.

Yeah, rightgod she is gorgeoushave you noticed her accent? innocently asked Dana.

Dane! (Alice said, turning to look at her), I might be drunk but am not deaf

“Bette was right continued Dana, nodding.

About? asked Alice, walking towards the bar.

There are ***** English chicks after all finished Dana.

***

Bette was almost at the pool when Harrison, taking her hand, asked,

I need a pair of scissors

Bette, confused, looked at him for a few seconds and then, nodding, turned and walked back inside. She walked to the kitchen, and opening every drawer started looking for them. She could not find them so after a few minutes a tiny ligh in her mind guided her towards the bathroom.
She entered the bathroom and went right to the cabinet with the first aid things, were she was sure was going to find them. As she was looking around, as the small window was opened, she heard a laugh. It was unmistakenly Tinas laughter. There was no doubt, she could notice, recognize it anywherethe long light giggleclosing her eyes she could see the look on Tinas face while laughinghow she closed her eyes, how her lips usually draw a big warm smile, releasing all the joy she was feeling.

Knowing that Tina was at the other side of the window, Bette, leaned and resting her face on the cold wall, close her eyes, loving the feeling of just imagining Tina laughing.

***

Tina felt her stomach lighting, the knot she has been feeling vanishing. She was enjoying Helens company, wasnt feeling treatened, it was being much easier that she expected. Helen changed the topic, asking Tina about the pregnancy. Tina shared the latest news, the secret that Bette and her were keeping from her friends, telling Helen all about it, making her laugh, laughing herself at it.

Without much thinking, Helen placed her hand on Tinas belly, something Tina was already used to, as all her friends were always doing that, as if touching her now prominent belly was something that calmed them.

You know, Ive never been touched so muchIm a babe magnetall the women I met want to touch my belly Tina said, giggling.

Am sure is not just because of the belly Murph Helen didnt meant to, but she was already flirting with Tina.

Tina, nodding, let a chuckled escaped her mouth, loving the attention. Placing her hand on her belly she added (just as Bette was leaning on the bathrooms wall, listening to them)

But the most amazing feeling of all is watching Bette look at me, feeling her stare, feeling her reaching for my belly in her sleepI love noticing her looking at me, and I love it even more feeling her unable to stop watching me is like starting all over again

Tina sighed, taking a few seconds before continuing.

but but sometimes am afraid is just because of the pregnancy and that once is over we will go back to our old routine

Helen, nodding, placed her hand on Tinas belly again, sighing before saying,

I told you Murph its not just your belly what makes everybody wanting to touch you is the look in your eyes is the way you walk, is your smile is your big heart

Bette nodding, was feeling warm tears rolling down her cheeks. Hating the fact that it was Helen the one telling Tina all those things but feelking unable to move, needing to continue listening to what they were saying.

Yeah.god! (Tina said, cleaning the tear that was running down her cheek), these hormones are going to kill me one minute am laughing like a kid the next am crying this is stupid

Nah, is call being pregnant giggled Helen, smiling at Tina.

Yeah wellthanks

Its ok, Ive done nothing answered Helen, shaking her head.

Am glad you are here Ive missed you Murph Tina said, pulling Helen into a hug.

They hugged for a long minute and when Helen broke it she said, whispering to Tinas ear (making Bette listening easier)

And about old routinesI dont think you have to worry about thatI dont know Bette very well but I guess, from what Ive known her that she learnt her lesson

Tina, looking at Helen, said, her tone harsher that she intented,

I dont want to be a learnt lesson

Helen, smiling sweetly, nodded,

Let me finish Murph what I mean is that Bette might not say that she loves you often but believe me when I say she does love youand not because you are pregnant because she cant stop it she needs to love you to be alive her whole life gravitates around you am sure in a way she hates that fact I think thats probably one of the reasons she did what she did because she was feeling somehow that she was losing you and for her, losing you meant losing herself so she did the most drastic thing shed imagine

“You mean she did it all on purpose? asked Tina, not sure if being angry or just confuse.

No, not at allI think she had no idea what she was doingI think she did what she did because she wanted to destroy herself before youd destroy her. Losing you means the end of her, Tee

God, what it has to be all that dramatic? Shighed Tina.

Helen chuckled at Tinas words.

Because not all of us are as practical as you are Murph I think Bette has finally got to the point where she is able to live with the knowledge, the acceptance that you have that power over her, that you can turn her world up and down, and that letting the world to know that, doesnt make her less strong or weaker

Bette, in the bathroom, astonished, was moving her head, feeling the clouds in her head vanish, feeling confused, thankful and needing a chocolate cookie like breathing.

God Murph, and you said you dont know her you might know her better than I do kindly smiled Tina, moving towards the bar.

Yeah well, once I found out you were her girlfriend, I urged my people to investigate her even better winked Helen, following Tinas steps.