Tina let Bette’s words mill around her head. ‘She’s right. But ahhh, I want to kill that bitch. How dare she say something so….so mean about a sweet 3 year old girl. My baby,’ Tina thought. And even though she was full of rage and pumped, ready to kick Jodi’s ass, Tina turned off the engine.

Bette breathed a sigh of relief. She walked back around to the driver’s side and saw Tina’s shoulders shaking.

“T,” she whispered opening the door.

Tina collasped in Bette’s arms. Her cries soon became louder as the realization of Jodi viciousness came to light. ‘If Bette had stayed with that woman, she would have taken Bette away from her and Angie.’ Tina couldn’t imagine a life without Bette.

“Lets go in the house,” Bette said standing Tina up and helping her sobbing wife inside their home.

As Bette began walking them toward their bedroom once again, Tina stopped.

“How could you allow her into our home? How could you allow her near Angelica after what she said? How could you stay with someone who viewed our child, an innocent child, with such a malicious disposition?” Tina cried pulling out and away from Bette.

She was in full on hysterics when she had thought of the possibilities of Bette staying with that woman.

“You don’t need to tell me that I’m an asshole for staying with Jodi. I’ve felt that way from the very begining, even before this happened.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Bette. You need to hear from me, the mother of your child, how much of an asshole you are. I trust you without thought with Angelica’s life. I love you. But this, this makes me question your commitment to our family. That you would even allow that bitch to disrepect your daughter, hell yourself, and not bat an eyelash! That has me worried. I’m afraid for the progress of our relationship.”

Tina spun around and stormed into the bedroom. She closed and locked the door.

*****

‘Shit!,’ Bette thought to herself, ‘I fucked up. I really fucked up.’

She sat on the couch with her head in her hands. Tina had never locked her out of the bedroom. Closed the door, yeah but never shut her out.

“Fuck!” Bette screamed.

She wanted to go to Tina, to show her that she was as committed to this relationship.

“T, I know u can hear me. Even if you don’t want to… you’re listening. The only reason why I didn’t tell you when it first happened was….,” letting out a heavy sigh,”was because I’m a coward. I couldn’t face the possibility of losing you. And I still can’t… not like this,” Bette whispered the last part of her sentence more to herself than Tina.

Bette leaned her head up against the door, praying that somehow Tina would see past her anger and let her in. Bette was to busy concentrating to have heard Tina unlock the door. She stumbled in when it opened.

“T?”
“Why are you so afraid of me, Bette?” Tina asked from her sitting position on the bed.

Her back was turned away from Bette. She didn’t think the added pressure of seeing her face would help Bette talk about her feelings. She heard Bette slowly approach the bed and felt her weight added to the mattress. Chancing a glance, Tina looked over her shoulder. Bette had taken a similiar sitting position. Her back was turned.

“I’m afraid… something that I would never…” Bette started and stopped over and over, unsure of how to express her feelings.

Tina debated on whether to offer words of encouragement but then thought against it. Even though she loved being there for Bette, she knew that there would come a time that she couldn’t be her protector. And this was the time.

‘Breath,’ Tina thought to herself, ‘breath…the words will come to you.’

Bette’s voice quivered, “I can’t deal with the thought of you not loving me anymore,” a deep sigh,” When you left me for Henry, that shattered my world. It destroyed me. The image of Henry fucking you in our bedroom has played over and over in my head.”
“You saw that?” Tina asked surprised, quickly turning to face Bette.
“I don’t remember why but I was walking down the side of the house and I saw him pick you up.”
“Babe, look at me.”

Bette slowly turned around. Even though her voice hadn’t portrayed it, tears flowed freely.

“I never fucked Henry in our bed. Never. I wouldn’t disrepect you like that. Okay?” Tina reached across, taking Bette’s hand.

Bette looked down at their intertwined fingers, amazed at how instantly they did that whenever they held hands.

“Okay,” she answered sheepishly.
“Babe, I don’t want you to be afraid to tell me what your fears are. I want you to be able to talk to me as I do you about what’s bothering you. Anything and everything. I want to hear it all. I don’t care how inane you think it might be, you tell me. Because it’s important to you. I mean it Bette.”