Bette opened her eyes. ‘Still here,’ she thought. She sat up and looked into the mirror. ‘What the fuck, Porter?’ Bette looked into her own eyes. She looks over at the bottle of pills on the nightstand. Slowly, Bette sits up and picks up the bottle. She stares at it intently. She shakes her head. Something within her is telling her not to do it. She looks at the pictures beside her on the bed. Bette puts the bottle on the bed. She gently touches the photographs. “What am I supposed to do without you?” Bette starts to cry. She looks back at her reflection in the mirror. “What am I supposed to do?” Tears run down her face.

——

Tina exhales as the Peabody jet levels off as it heads to Portland. She looks down in her lap at the picture of herself and Bette from several years ago. She grabbed it from their house as she gathered up a bag for her trip. ‘God, how to we get back to there?’ she wonders to herself. Gently, she touches Bette’s face in the picture. “I love you so much, baby.” Tears start to roll down Tina’s face. “I am so sorry about all of this.” She gently rubs her thumb over Bette’s face again. “I will make this up to you. I promise.”


The phone in the jet rings. Tina picks it up. “Hello?”


“Yes, Tina? This is Peggy. I take it that the accommodations for your flight were acceptable.”


“Yes, Peggy. Thanks again for helping with this.”


“Well, as I said, Bette means a lot to me. I want to help in anyway I can. I am surprised that you are the one going to Portland though, dear. I expected that Kit would go to see about her sister.” Peggy could not for the life of her figure out this Tina woman. First Bette, then Helena, then Bette, then some man. ‘Does this woman have any idea what she wants?’ Peggy thought.


“Well, yes. ” Tina sighed. She didn’t really want to get into all of the details of things with Peggy. “For personal reasons Kit was unable to travel, so here I am.” Tina sighed again. “Bette is very important to me Peggy. I love her. Nothing will ever change that.”


“Very interesting, dear. Anyway, I have arranged with the hotel to have a room key available for you at the desk when you arrive. All of the information that you need should be available at the front desk. Please let me know if there is anything else you need. Tell Bette that she owes me a drink and a talk when all of this blows over.”


Tina thought to herself that if Peggy felt as if things would blow over then maybe there really was hope. “I will let her know that, Peggy. I’m sure that she would love to spend some time with you soon.”


“Lovely, dear. Well, take care.”


“Goodbye, Peggy.”


Tina was amazed at Peggy Peabody’s abilities. First the jet. Now, a private car was driving her to the hotel where Bette was registered. Tina began to feel a sense of panic.
‘What if something is wrong? What if she’s done something drastic? What if I get there and she’s gone?’ “What if I get there and she’s there?” Tina said aloud. “What do I do? What do I say?”


Inside the hotel lobby, Tina walks up to the front desk. “Hello. I am joining my friend who already has a room here.”


The concierge looks at Tina. “She is expecting you?”


“Yes.” Tina lies. “I believe that she has arranged for a room key to be waiting for me. The room is registered to Porter. Bette Porter. My name is Tina Kennard.” Tina began to feel a sense of nervousness.


“Would you like for me to call Ms. Porter for you, Ms. Kennard?” The concierge looked at his computer and picked up the telephone. Tina thought that her heart was going to beat out of her chest.


“Well, no. I believe that she may be in a meeting and I don’t want to interrupt her. Is there a key here for me?” Tina said. ‘Oh god, let there be a key,’ she thought.


The concierge replaced the telephone and looked at his computer again. He raises his eyebrows. Turning around, he locates the room key card. “Oh, yes, Ms. Kennard. Sorry about the delay there.” The man hands the card to Tina. “May we collect your bags for you?”


“No thank you. I can manage.” Tina begins to breathe again and turns for the elevator. As she reaches the elevator doors, they open and she enters. Inside, she begins to talk to herself quietly. “Okay, calm down Kennard, calm down.” Tina jumps at the sound of the bellman.


“Which floor, ma’am?” Tina quickly looks at the room keycard.


“Tenth.”


As the elevator ascends, Tina has to tell herself to breathe.

——

Bette is again looking out of the window. She does not seem to register the view outside. The lights are off in her room and it is dark. She moves from the window, with a drink in one hand and her photographs in the other. She again has been drinking all day. Bette stops by the desk, and places her glass on the surface. She moves over to the bed and picks up the pill bottle. As she walks back to the desk she looks longingly at her pictures. Bette begins to cry again and almost collapses but catches herself by clutching the desk. Her sobs increase and she slowly slides down the wall to the floor. She curls up and sobs loudly. Minutes later, Bette’s cries subside and she lays motionless on the floor. The room is dark and quiet.

——

Tina exits the elevator and tries to get her bearings. Looking at the directions on the wall, she heads in the direction of Bette’s room. Arriving at the door, she stops to collect herself. Tina cannot decide if she should knock or not. She pulls the keycard from her purse and stares at it. Her hand is shaking as she holds the card tightly. Exhaling, Tina raises her right hand and gently knocks on the door. “Bette?” she says nervously. “Bette? Please open the door.”


No answer. Tina leans forward to see if she can hear anything. She knocks again. “Bette? It’s Tina. Please open the door.”


No answer.


Tina inhales sharply. “Okay, here goes.” She inserts the keycard into the lock and turns the doorknob. The room is dark and she walks in slowly. “Bette? Are you here?”