Summary of the previous chapter: Bette and Tina go out for dinner and start to talk.
It started a couple of weeks before you saw us. Every morning I would sit at the Planet and watch you and our friends leave to do the things in your lives. I didnt have anywhere to go. Helena starting coming to the Planet. We started talking. It felt good to have someone listen to me. You were always so busy and so stressed, Helena made me feel like she had all of the time in the world to give to me.

Before I knew it, I found myself pouring my heart out to her. The day you found us, was the only time we were together like that. It started innocently enough. I was rubbing the back of my neck; she asked what was wrong. I told her about my shoulder tension. She told me that she gave the worlds best massages.

She persuaded me to call work and tell them I didnt feel up to coming in. Helena offered to give me one of her great massages and suggested we go to our house so that I could lie down.
It seemed innocent enough. She started massaging my neck, my shoulders and asked me if I minded lying on the bed so that she could work more comfortably. The massage felt good, I got so relaxed, I almost feel asleep. Before I realized it, Helena had taken off her clothes and was in bed with me. She started kissing me and telling me how beautiful I was. The woman played to every one of my vulnerabilities, I can see that now. When you walked in, it was still foreplay. We never had *****, Bette, I swear.

Would you have gone through with it if I hadnt come home early.

Tina buries her face in her hands and answers quietly. I dont know.

They sit for a moment in contemplative silence until Tina speaks again. I know now that she was just using me to hurt you. She knew that you were leaving work early and she manipulated the situation so that you would find us together.

Everything she said, everything she did was just bullshit to set me up to hurt you. I am such a fool.

Bette moves over to sit beside Tina and takes Tina into her arms. You arent a fool. You are *****; you are beautiful; and I am so sorry that I forgot to tell you that often enough. Im the fool for making you feel that you needed to get compliments from Helena because you werent getting them from me.

I am a fool, Bette. I believed the things she was saying to me.

They are true, T. You are beautiful, you are *****.

There were other things, Bette. She told me about overhearing you say that you were going to buy me a Louis Vuitton purse, but since I couldnt even carry a baby inside of me for nine months, how could you expect me to carry an expensive purse outside of me.

Tina! I would never say such things. How could you believe that?

I dont know, Bette. I am still so hurt and angry about losing the baby. Ive focused a lot of anger on you, somehow I made myself believe that if you had just been there at that doctors appointment with me, the outcome would have been different. Then you handled everything so, nonchalantly. I was falling apart and I never saw you grieve for our son.

Tina, I hurt for the loss of our son.

I believe you, Bette. I never said I was rational; I am just telling you how I was feeling and how easy it was for me to let myself get manipulated by Helena.

Bette continues to hold Tina as they both process the feelings that have been elicited by Tinas confession. Bette is trying so hard to change, to be who she thinks Tina wants, but she can feel the anger rise within her. Her Zen-like calmness is giving way to the desire to hurt Helena and hurt her badly.

Im gonna take Mona for a walk. She tells Tina.

Im sorry, Bette.

Im sorry, too, baby. Right now, I just need to calm down because I am feeling very angry and myself and down right homicidal toward a certain Ms. Peabody.

Bette returns from her walk with Mona and sits with Tina who continues to feel so badly about what has happened.

Bette turns to Tina, would you help me if I did something that might get back at Helena just a little bit?

Gladly!
There might be long term consequences.
Such as?

Will you bear with me, another week or so Tina? Can you give me the space I need for just a little while longer?

Yes, baby.
Tina has no idea what Bette is planning.
Bette has no idea if her plan will work.