Chapter Ten

Bette called James and told him she wouldn’t be in and he wouldn’t be able to reach her.  She turned off her phone; she had done enough talking for one morning.  She was half way home before she realized Tina had ridden with her.  Well, Tina was a grown woman and hadn’t needed Bette for anything for weeks now, she could find her own way home.  There was nothing she could do for Tina or their relationship.  All she could do now is try to take care of herself.  Bette rushed into the house, changed clothes and was back in the car in record time.  It was a beautiful day; she had the top down and was headed for the coast highway.  Bette loved to drive; it had always been her form of therapy.

She had driven for quite a while before turning back toward home; she wanted to talk to Kit.  She called and asked her to meet her at The Planet around 4:00.  When she arrived Kit was at one of the tables in the back.  They spent the next hour talking about everything that had happened.

‘So what now?’

‘It’s up to Tina now, I don’t know what else to do.  I just hope she talks to someone.’

‘How about I talk to you.’

Neither of them had seen Tina walk in.  Kit got up and hugged her and whispered, ‘the first step is the hardest and you’ve already done that by coming here.’  And she left them alone.

‘Tina, can I get you something?’

‘I’d rather go some place private so we can talk, could we go around to the house?’

‘Sure.’

* * * * *

Bette unlocked the door and stepped aside waiting for Tina to go in.  Tina was looking around as if she hadn’t been here in ages.

‘Tina?’

‘Do you know what it was like to come in this dark, empty house, alone after I lost the baby?’

‘I’m sorry I wasn’t with you?’

‘Why were you late that day?’

‘Faye Buckley stopped me as I was leaving the CAC.’

‘You never told me that.’

‘You didn’t need to hear about that, you had enough to deal with.’