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    Ashes, ashes… Chapter 19

    Story written on January 2, 2006 by fanficchick.
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    21 votes, average: 5.00 out of 521 votes, average: 5.00 out of 521 votes, average: 5.00 out of 521 votes, average: 5.00 out of 521 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5 (21 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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    Genre(s):
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    Character(s): N/A
    Number of Comments: 32
    Words: 5042
    Story Shortlink: https://lesfan.com/?p=58753
    Author Notes:

    .

    “So…  you’re not moving?” Alice asked hopefully, pouring cream into her coffee.

     

    “I didn’t say that,” Bette replied, blowing across the top of her steaming shot of espresso.

     

    “Then… you are moving?”

     

    “I didn’t say that either,” Bette clarified, taking a sip.

     

    “Christ on a cracker, Bette.  Say something, will you?  Neither of us is getting any younger,” Alice huffed, her patience worn.

     

    Bette sighed and leaned back in her chair.  “It’s not that simple.”

     

    “Yeah.  I kind of figured.”

     

    “I’m seeing someone.  Professionally.  A therapist,” Bette reluctantly admitted.

     

    “That’s great!”

     

    “Why is it that any time I tell someone I’m in therapy, they strike up the band and do cartwheels?  Does everyone think I need mental health counseling, or only my good friends?”

     

    “People care about you, that’s all,” Alice soothed. 

     

    “Right.”

     

    “Okay.  You’re seeing a shrink.  Are you back to Foxworthy?”

     

    “No.  Her name is Katherine Hammond.  She’s in a practice that specializes in family therapy.”

     

    “How long have you been lying on her couch?”

     

    Bette smiled at Alice‘s irreverence.  “Once a week for a month.”

     

    “Then that’s the reason you’re still in town?” Alice asked, trying to piece together the puzzle of Bette’s complete turnaround from rushing out of the city to lingering long past her self-imposed deadline for departure.

     

    “Yes and no.”

     

    “Have you always been this obtuse, or am I just noticing this now?” Alice frowned.

     

    “I told you, it’s complicated.”

     

    “Try me.  Use smaller words if you think it will help.”

     

    Bette stared down into her empty cup for a long moment to collect her thoughts.  How could she sum up even a few of the revelations she’d had in the past few weeks?  How could she explain to Alice that for the first time since Angelica’s death, she was really allowing herself to not only think about, but feel the impact of her daughter’s loss.

     

    “Bette?” Alice asked gently, resting her hand on her friend’s forearm.

     

    “I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching.  And it’s been very important.  But… excruciating,” Bette said, her voice nearly lost in the clatter and chatter of The Planet’s morning crowd.

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    Comments

    1. If Ilene C called me (like that would happen) and asked me, “of all the hundreds of authors on this site, who do you think I should hire to write for the show?” I would be standing up and screaming at the top of my lungs, “FANFICCHICK, FANFICCHICK, FANFICCHICK!!!!!!!”

    2. FFC…I don’t how you do it, chapter after chapter is brilliant. The dialogue is spot on. Alice is really funny in a clever and cheeky way but sweet as well. You write and I’ll read.

    3. Yes, completely I second Seahurst! You and IC need to get together for a conference like now…… And As always another excellent post. You are indeed one spectacular writer tackling one very difficult topic. Bravo!!!

    4. helena can’t tell tina because it might ruin everything, especially now, when bette might call…oh, please let B&T talk nice and work things out..i’m dying in here for them to be together…love this story, so poignant, tender and sad

    6. whoops, that last one got away from me. What I meant to say was that I’d rather see Tina with Helena than Bette. It must be your masterful writing!

    7. I agree with Natalia13, I hope Tina and Helena wind up together, but I am glad that Bette is working through her issues and they will hopefully come to a resolution.

    14. Very well done. Even, balanced attention and approach to all sides and parties to the story. Polished. Each chapter a discrete story of its own, yet integrated into the whole as well. …I’ll gladly contribute to a ticket to Vancouver for you.

    20. still reading girl. and your killing me in the most painful i can imagine. but your writing is something that i cant get enough of. left us hanging but ill be here for the next one. thanks.

    21. Gosh ffc this is so difficult to experience through your writing. I get this God awful feeling in the pit of my stomach and I can’t help but wonder what it is that makes me so sympathetic to a fictional character. Tina is so strong, much stronger than Bette, something that I have always admired in the character. And it’s an aspect of her you always manage to capture so well. Even when her heart has been broken. So keep going take this where ever you like, I will gladly follow. Thanks

    22. Is it sad that I actually went “Yes!” when I saw you had posted? *g*Oh my sweetheart Brit, will you have your heart broken once again? *cries* This is fantastic, I can’t wait to read Bette’s conversation with Tina.

    24. Another post! Cartwheels and Handstands! Again, it was beautiful.Alice’s “small words” line was a LOL. How you capture each character so perfectly is amazing. It’s life on the page.”Use small words”

    25. This story is one of the best on the site. I don’t know what you have in store for these characters but where ever you take them will be a joyful journey and the pleasure will be all mine to read about it. thanks so much for sharing!!!

    26. Excellent update – although I find Bette’s abandonment of Tina very difficult to understand and maybe a little too pat – I mean it’s a stretch for me to believe she didn’t know she was running away until she went to therapy?? and she didn’t know how deeply that would injure Tina. Hope you can explain this more.

    27. Excellent chapter..i was like yay Helena didnt say it..phew! but i think she will say it…when she sees that Bette is starting to approach Tina. Post soon.

    29. I know I sound like a broken record when I tell you how brilliant I think this story is. But it’s BRILLIANT! Thanks for all of the recent chapters–it’s like Christmas all over again!

    31. Helena knows she’s on the way out and Bette’s on the way in. Of course, you said it so much better. You have me balanced between equal measures of hope and dread. Thanks for another brilliant chapter.

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