Chapter Three

Bette had listened as Tina finished her bath, walked around the house a bit and then finally she heard theirTina’s bedroom door close.   She tried to fall asleep but her mind wouldn’t stop.  So much had happened today and she just couldn’t stop trying to process it all.  After leaving the lawyer’s office this afternoon she had no hope of a future with Tina and only a slight hope of being in her child’s life.  Now, just hours later she knew she would be a part of her daughter’s life and had hope that there could be a future with Tina.  She knew she had a lot to prove; so much she needed to make up to Tina.

After a few hours and still no sign of sleep she got up and sat out by the pool.  Tina had told her to be herself, but she wasn’t sure she knew who she was anymore.  She wasn’t the same person who thought they were falling out of love with Tina.  She knew now she was more in love with Tina than ever.  She wasn’t the same person who had broken their vows.  She knew that was something she would never allow herself to do again.  So who was she?  She wanted to be the woman that stood in this yard a few years ago and made a commitment to Tina.  But she didn’t want to be the pompous, judgmental hypocrite that had ended up falling from grace.  She wasn’t sure how to find herself in time to prove to Tina she was worth another chance.

Tina had been watching Bette from the kitchen for a few minutes.  She wasn’t sure if she should go to her.  She could tell she was crying and even after all these years Bette rarely cried in front of Tina.  She knew withdrawing from each other was one of the reasons they fell apart.  As she walked toward Bette she hoped this was a different Bette, after all she had gotten on her knees today in front of their attorneys and that was so unlike Bette.  She sat down on the lounge next to her and before she could say anything Bette embraced her.  Tina held her until she stopped crying.