Previously:

“I said she was wrong. I fought her on it, saying she was using you as an excuse for her own insecurities. She saw threw it though. She saw through me”

Bette raised her head and looked into her eyes. There was the slightest of invitations there. She felt a waiter pass her by and the two women spoke at the same time,

“Can you bring us some more drinks please?” Bette said, her attention on the young man. She was seemingly oblivious to the fact that Tina had just said “Kate was right all along”

Bette felt her own stupidity stab at her. She’d heard Tina’s words at the time, but didn’t respond. She had feigned temporary deafness and continued to address the waiter. Tina’s admission had shocked her and she knew she couldn’t have said anything sensible at that point.

The last memory had been merely a few days ago. Next time Bette had seen Tina, she had the words ready, she had the questions she wanted to ask. Before she’d had the chance, Tina had produced her ticket to NY, rendering Bette silent and suddenly insecure.

Chapter 4:

She hadn’t realised how long she’d been ensnared by her mind’s fragmented reverie until she heard Tina politely knock, keeping the door closed to sustain Bette’s privacy.

“Is everything ok?” Tina enquired, her gentle voice seeping around and underneath the door, filling the room and infiltrating Bette’s body.

Bette didn’t speak for a moment; she knew her voice would be gravely and broken if she were to instantly respond. She took a breath and then called out that everything was fine. Tina obviously didn’t think so and opened the door anyway. Bette turned her head so that her hair would shield her tear stained face as she tried to discreetly wipe away the moist evidence.

Bette felt movement beside her but didn’t yet turn back. She felt a weight being carefully set down in her lap and looked up in time to see her treasured daughter burying her tiny head in the crook of her neck. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms protectively to stop the little girl from falling backward. She planted a kiss in the mass of dark curls and automatically began taking in the intoxicating fragrance that reminded her so much of Tina.

“Let’s see if we can make Mama B smile, huh, Angel?” Tina said; her eyes full of concern.

“Mama B” Angelica whispered against her neck, her three year old voice straining to pronounce every syllable.

Tina was now positioned next to the embracing mother and daughter. She silently put an arm around her ex-lover and pulled her close. Bette relented; fell willingly into the open encirclement. They sat like that for a few moments; Tina cradling Bette, Bette cradling Angelica and Angelica stretching her young arms around both her mothers. Bette regained control and sat up, pulling reluctantly away from Tina’s warm body.

“Hadn’t you better be going?” she said, her voice still betraying traces of the turmoil she was experiencing.

“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s wrong” Tina was whispering but her tone left no room for argument. Hearing the assertion but still not wanting to open up, Bette opted for careful silence. Only when Tina reiterated her statement did Bette begin to speak.

“I was thinking, that’s all” Bette said, not actually lying. She didn’t plan on elaborating until she saw Tina’s raised eyebrow.

“I was thinking about the past.. And the present.. And-“ she started.

“The future?” Tina offered with a smirk. Bette laughed and nodded.

“I guess that was there somewhere along the line” she smiled.

“Oh my God, Angel.. She smiled!” Tina exclaimed, and tickled her daughter, “I guess we have that sort of effect, right baby?” Angelica gurgled in response and happily clapped her hands.

“You do” Bette said without thinking. Tina raised her head and smiled. Bette stared into the hazel eyes and leant forward without thinking. She watched the eyes widen in confusion as their lips met softly.