Chapter 35

Bette stared at Tina after the question.  It was probably unfair but she didn’t care, Tina was acting as if everything in her world was rosy and by what Bette has seen so far it wasn’t.  If nothing else over the years Bette has learned you can’t hide or bury things just because their uncomfortable.  The nasty little details always have a way of come back and when they did it always with a vengeance.  

Bette asked the question hoping to jump the tracks Tina was traveling down and get her to a place where real answers could be found.  She was more successful then she had hoped for the truth was written clearly across Tina’s face, “Oh Tina” Bette said letting her disappointment be known.  She couldn’t look at it anymore so Bette turned back to the image Angelica has crafted.  

Tina was stung by Bette’s words taking them as a rejection.  The question had surprised Tina but Bette’s disappointment hurt her more.   “No … I mean yes … I mean Angelica and I have had many different conversations about my past.  Angelica knows there have been many liaisons in my life.  Some she knows more details about than others.  What are you asking me?  Are you asking if I told her about our past or are asking if I told her about Bette Porter?”

This last part got Bette to turn back to her.  Again Tina was defiant it galled Bette, how could Tina be cheeky with her when her daughter’s well being was in play.  Trying to calm her rapidly growing frustration Bette didn’t want this to become the argument it was spiraling into.  Breaking the gaze she had on Tina Bette looked down trying to sound contrite, “No Tina I’m not asking that.  I was hoping we could be beyond that but I guess not.  What I’m asking is more important.”  Pointing to the image on the screen, “I’m asking if you have ever talked to Angelica about being Black.  It seems to me that somewhere she has a few issues.”

*****

Angelica waited for James to talk.  She was eager to hear what James had to say about Bette.  Bette for her seemed to be everything she was not, successful, smart, loved by everyone.  The idea that someone could walk out on her seemed inconceivable and the Bette that James was describing didn’t seem at all like the warm hearted person who had loved her pancakes this morning. She wanted to hear more but the story was interrupted by the delivery of their food.