Tina had dropped a bomb onto Bette, just as they both were becoming settled in their new lives apart from one another. Bette had lost all footing, all equilibrium, and she even stumbled physically, as she tried to make it up her front steps.

“Fuck!” She cursed quietly—worried about neighbors seeing her shouting like a maniac.  She fumbled with her keys, angrily pushing open her door when she managed to unlock it.

Her situation with Jodi wasn’t much better. Feelings were unresolved, and pain had been caused on both sides. Now Bette was alone with her thoughts, needing to somehow come to terms with all that had transpired.  She wanted her friends suddenly. She needed a friend, one who did not attach strings to her time with them.

Throwing her keys onto her kitchen table, Bette tossed off her jacket and rolled up her sleeves.  She opened up her back yard door, and stepped out into the smell of chlorine and the dimming light of approaching dusk. It had been a hot day, but was growing cooler.  Bette reveled, if only for a moment, in the comfortable silence, before sitting down heavily on a chair at poolside.  She hung her head in her hands and tried to still her breathing, to keep from screaming.

Bette heard soft footsteps behind her, but did not raise her head.  A well manicured hand softly stroked her back and only then did she turn to look at the woman who had joined her. 

Helena stood beside Bette, her eyes were far off—her high heels held loosely in her left hand while her right continued to move in gentle circles on Bette’s back.

Bette smiled, appreciating the comforting gesture.  She reached out with her left hand and stroked the back of her fingers down Helena’s leg. 

“What did Tina say?” Helena did not want to pry, but she saw no other way of pulling Bette from her sadness, other than to provide space within which to talk.  She had spoken to Bette briefly in the morning, over coffee, about her decisions regarding Tina and Jodi.  They had arranged for Helena to come over, discretely settling on a time before their friends joined them for breakfast.