Chapter 28

Tina flopped down on Angelica’s bed close to Bette and allowed tears to roll down her cheeks while the events of the night sank in. She put her head in her hands and leaned her elbows on her knees in what could only be described as a pose of defeat.

“I can’t believe what just happened,” Tina said as Bette wrapped her arms around her in comfort. She pulled her over so that Tina was fully in her arms and resting her head on Bette’s shoulder.

“She’ll come around.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that.”

“Tina,” Bette said kissing the top of her head and rubbing Tina’s back in an effort to calm her down. “She can’t stay mad forever.”

“She’s our daughter, she can last a long time!”

Bette kissed Tina’s head one more time and then released her to get up off the bed.

“Where are you going?”

“To get a glass of wine to calm down,” Bette said as she made her way to Tina’s kitchen without hesitation. She opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of wine, the same vintage that they had shared earlier in the night. Bette took out two wine glasses and started to open the wine when Tina sat down on the counter top next to where Bette had lined the glasses up and began to pour the wine into them.

“And to top off this lovely fucking evening I have to admit you look better in my jeans then I do,” Tina said sadly and sighing while rolling her eyes. She dabbed her eyes with a tissue and mustered a small smile when Bette chuckled softly at Tina’s revelation.

“Oh stop, you sound pathetic.”

“Thanks Bette, that would be because I am pathetic.”

“No you are not,” Bette said as she looked up and gently brushed her lips against Tina’s. “It’s not that bad, she’ll cool down at Cathy’s and when she comes home, we’ll talk to her.”

“Maybe we need to give it a rest for the night,” Tina suggested as she picked up a full glass of wine from the counter and took a deep sip savoring the taste.

“I don’t think we can just leave it like this,” Bette said as she corked the remaining wine and put it back into Tina’s refrigerator.

“She’s not likely to listen right now and frankly, I don’t have it in me to go through that again tonight.”

Bette moved from standing before the refrigerator to between Tina’s open legs. She leaned into a hug and let her lips gently graze over Tina’s skin on her neck and then pulled back to look into her eyes.

“We just need to give her some time,” Tina said as she put her hand in Bette’s hair and kissed her forehead as Bette leaned into her.

“Maybe I should go before she gets home?”

“You’re not going now and leaving me alone to worry about her reaction by myself! Maybe we should go get her while we’re both still here? I mean, it’s late and Cathy’s house is no place for her to be in this state. I think she should be here if she’s going to be spouting off because she’s pissed.”

“So we go get her then?” Bette said skeptical of Tina’s suggestion.

“Damn Bette, I have no clue anymore. We can’t seem to get it right where she’s concerned these days.”

“We’re doing a good job,” Bette said casually.

“Really? I’d hate to see what a bad job is if this is good.”

Bette chuckled and finished a good portion of her glass of wine before she set it down and smiled at Tina.

“I’m think I’m going to go next door and get her,” Tina said hesitantly.

“I’m telling you she needs her space,” Bette warned. “Let her cool down at Cathy’s for a bit.”

“What good does that do? She’ll just get angry again when she comes back and sees us.”

“Frankly I think we all need a little time apart. You’re upset and that will likely upset her and just escalate things. Give her a little while at Cathy’s to get her feet back and then when she comes home we can talk to her.”

“I am upset, our daughter hates us and made it perfectly clear she now doesn’t want us together regardless of what she’s said all these years. I hate when she storms out and cuts conversation off.”

“It’s frustrating,” Bette agreed.

“It’s so you it isn’t even funny!”

“I do not do that,” Bette said shocked at Tina’s accusation.

“Really?” Tina arched her brow in challenge. “You’re all about that reaction Babe.”

“Maybe in the past…” Bette’s voice trailed off knowing that her recent outburst with Alice mirrored that of Angelica’s just a short time ago.

“Uh huh,” Tina said as she smiled and downed the rest of her glass of wine.

“Don’t gloat, it’s very unbecoming,” Bette said as she fought to hide her smile forming.

“Uh-huh.”

“So what do you want to do about Boo?” Bette said to change the subject and focus back on Angelica and the current situation.

“Call and make sure Cathy’s mom is ok with her being there for a little while so she can cool down. I’m sure she’s wondering what’s going on since Angie barreled over there this late at night.”

“I think that’s a good idea, go ahead and call Tina,” Bette stated as if she were talking to a member of her staff at the gallery.

“Me?”

“You live next door to the woman. You obviously know her better!”

“Ugh,” Tina said rubbing her temples in an effort to ward off a pending headache. “Fine, can you hand me the phone?”

Bette walked over to the table and grabbed Tina’s cell phone, handing it to her, then taking the wine bottle out of the refrigerator and adding some wine to her glass and finishing the entire glass with two long sips.

“Hey Jane, it’s Tina next door,” Tina started the conversation. “I just wanted to make sure Angelica was there and relatively ok?”

Bette listened intently to Tina’s end of the conversation replaying in her mind her daughter’s anger and last statement. She began to pace the kitchen as Tina’s voice faded into the background and she became lost in the memories of pain they had put one another through.

She thought about seeing Tina sitting in their bedroom after the miscarriage, completely shattered, and all alone having heard the most devastating news of her life. Bette blinked back tears, shaking her head at the obvious areas where she had made mistakes.

“I just didn’t want her to hang out there too long, but I appreciate the offer to let her stay and cool down,” Tina continued the conversation. “I’d like her to come home within the hour though.”

Bette thought back to Dana’s engagement party and seeing Tina enter The Planet with Helena on her arm and a dress that accented her pregnant body. There was no need to hide it anymore given that Helena had broken the news to Bette that her ex-wife was pregnant. Bette was so withdrawn from Tina’s life that she didn’t know it, how blind could she have been to not notice any changes?

“Thanks for your help Jane,” Tina said to end the conversation. “Thanks for sending her home soon.”

Tina shut her phone and watched as Bette mindlessly paced the floor deep in her own thoughts.

“She’s going to send her home within the hour. Are you ok?”

“Yeah,” Bette said in a tone that was anything but convincing. “She’s so right.”

“What?”

“We’ve hurt each other so much in the past. Why were we so cruel to one another?”

“Come here,” Tina remained sitting on the counter but extended her arms to welcome Bette into them. Bette walked into the open embrace and laid her head on Tina’s shoulder. “We also had some of the most amazing times too Bette and that counts for something.”

“I suppose,” Bette said blinking back tears.

“Don’t suppose, just know,” Tina said as she tilted Bette’s head toward her and gently kissed her lips.




Cathy sat on her bed with Angelica and handed her a tissue as her tears fell freely.

“I can’t believe what they were saying,” Angelica said as she sniffed and wiped her eyes once again. “Mama B cheated on Mom, Mom cheated with some guy of all things! I don’t ever want to see either of them again!”

“You can’t mean that,” Cathy said trying to help Angelica in her time of need. “They’re your moms and you love them.”

“I did,” Angelica said with a hardened heart. “I never thought I’d say I was glad that they aren’t together but I am! All they ever seem to do is hurt each other!”

“It doesn’t look like that from the outside Angie.”

“What do you know?” Angelica shot back at her friend and then immediately felt badly given the look that crossed Cathy’s face. “I’m sorry, I’m just upset.”

“I know but don’t take it out on me, I’m just trying to help.”

“Sorry,” Angelica said sincerely. “Can I borrow your phone?”

“Sure, who are you calling?”

“My Aunt Shane,” Angelica said as she struggled to remember the number. “I want her to come get me and take me back to her house.”

“She won’t do that without permission,” Cathy pointed out being familiar with Shane and her obedience of the rules set for Angelica.

“She will if it’s an emergency.”

“Angie,” Cathy handed Angelica the phone. “I think you should go talk to your moms instead of asking your Aunt to come get you.”

“Are you crazy? You’re supposed to be my best friend and always on my side Cathy!”

“I know and I don’t want you to be mad at me, but you asked to know all of this. What does it matter anyway?”

“How can you ask me that?”

“I just don’t understand what the past has to do with how good of parents you have?” Cathy said timidly seeing how upset Angelica was getting. “They’re good moms and you can tell they love you.”

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore with you,” Angelica said in anger waiting for Shane to pick her phone up.

“Hello?”

“Aunt Shane?”

“Hey PJ, what’s up?” Shane sounded worried at the tone of Angelica’s voice.

“I got in a fight with my moms and I want to go to your house.”

“Where are you?” Shane asked as she looked quickly at the called id not recognizing the number.

“My friend Cathy’s house next door to Mom’s house.”

“Are you ok?”

“No,” Angelica said growing impatient. “I told you we had a fight.”

“OK, look Angie,” Shane said as she helped Alice into bed and covered her up putting a bucket near the edge of the bed. “I’m at Al’s right now helping her. Give me a minute to get her settled and I’ll call you back ok?”

“Fine,” Angelica said as she wiped a fresh set of tears away.

“I’ll call you right back at this number,” Shane said and hung up.

“Who was that?” Helena asked as she tucked Kristen into bed next to Alice.

“Angelica.”

“Is everything ok?”

“It appears she got in a fight with Bette and Tina and wants me to go get her.”

“Well are you?” Dana asked.

“I’m calling Bette or Tina to figure out what they want me to do.”

“Go get her,” Alice mumbled as she held onto her pillow tight.

“That’s what you would do Al, I tend to think it’s best to involve the moms in cases like these.”

“She called you because she trusts you,” Alice slurred as she struggled to get comfortable and not feel as if the room was spinning at an alarming rate.

“Oh shut it Al!” Helena said surprising everyone. “Shane’s right and should call Bette or Tina before committing to anything for Angelica.”

“Well thank you Helena,” Shane said smiling at her friend’s passionate answer.

“Is it just me or are you yelling?” Alice asked as she shot Helena a nasty look.

Shane laughed as she dialed Tina’s cell phone and waited for her to answer.

“Hey Shane,” Tina answered in a tired voice.

“Wow you don’t sound good,” Shane said as she walked out of Alice’s bedroom and into the hallway. “What’s going on?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Well I’m calling because Angelica called me to come get her at her friend’s house.”

“She what?” Tina said jumping off the counter and raising her voice. She covered the phone with her hand and glared at Bette. “She called Shane to go get her at Cathy’s house.”

“She what?” Bette said surprised.

“Is Bette there?” Shane asked surprised to hear her voice.

“Yes Bette is here.”

“Give me the phone,” Bette said as she reached for it and grabbed it out of Tina’s hand. “She did what?!”

“She called me to come get her at Cathy’s house. She said you got in a fight with her.”

“I can’t believe this!” Bette said in anger.

“Hey, hang on a second Bette. I know you’re angry, but at least she’s reaching out to someone and that’s a good thing.”

“Not us and that’s where I wanted this kept!”

“We’re family,” Shane said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Yes we are and I’m not trying to minimize that Shane. But ya know what the issue is here?” Bette didn’t wait for Shane to answer before she continued her train of thought. “The issue is that Angelica can beg and plead for answers and then when she gets them she acts like the child that she is which should have been a big clue to Tina and I to just continue to ignore the questions!”

“So this is about her wanting to dig up the past?” Shane asked.

“Yes, this has to do with her finding out about Candace and Henry.”

“Ouch, both of those would sting pretty bad.”

“That’s the issue, we went through the sting already Shane. We’re good parents despite our past mistakes!”

“Yes you are Bette, I’m not arguing that fact.”

“What the fuck do we do now?” Bette said looking at Tina who was standing there in disbelief taking in Bette’s side of the conversation.

“I don’t know,” Tina said quietly.

“I’m going over there to drag her ass back here is what we’re doing!”

“Bette, that’s not wise as angry as you are,” Shane tried to reason with her.

“I am the parent Shane! Tina and I are tired of her dictating our actions!”

“I know, but before you run over there calm down. I don’t mind going to get her, but I wouldn’t do that without you knowing about it first.”

“Fuck this!” Bette yelled as her felt her anger further rise.

“Listen Bette, let me go get her and talk to her while you calm down ok?” Shane asked in an effort to run interference between Bette and Angelica while taking some pressure off Tina who would likely need to be the person that did it if Shane didn’t step in. “I’ll talk to her and you talk to Tina and calm down.”

“Shane, so help me she’s really pushing me on this one,” Bette said in a calmer tone.

“Well maybe I can help.”

“You have one shot Shane, then…” Bette’s voice trailed off as Tina put her hand on Bette’s shoulder to offer support.

“Then what?”

“She’ll understand what a big mistake it was for her to push me on this.”

“Got it,” Shane said getting her keys out of her pocket. “I’ll be there in 10 minutes to get her at Cathy’s house.”

Shane clicked the phone shut and informed Helena what was going on and that she’d be leaving to get Angelica at Cathy’s house to talk to her. Shane smiled as Helena yelled after her that she wished her luck and to call if she needed reinforcements.

Shane got in the car and dialed the number that Angelica called from waiting for her to answer. She smiled at Cathy’s voice came over the line.

“Hey Cath, this is Angelica’s Aunt Shane, is she there?”

“Yep,” Cathy handed Angelica the phone along with another tissue.

“Aunt Shane?”

“Hey PJ, I’m on my way to get you ok? Can you just hang tight there? It’ll take me about 10 to get there.”

“Yeah I’ll be here,” Angelica sniffled. “Thanks for coming to get me.”

“I want you to know though, I called your moms and let them know you’d be with me so they didn’t worry.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do.”

“And they agreed?” Angelica sounded shocked.

“I think all of you are very upset right now and it’s the best thing and they know it.”

“Who did you talk to?”

“Bette,” Shane answered.

“I’m surprised she didn’t come here and get me because I called you.”

“She loves you Angie, she wants you to be ok. Look, I’m almost there so hang tight and just look for me ok?”

“Ok Aunt Shane, thanks for coming.”

Shane turned at the light throwing her phone on the passenger’s seat and looking for Tina’s street as she fought off her feeling of dread.

“God I better get this right,” she muttered to herself as she turned down Tina’s street on her way to Cathy’s.