PREVIOUSLY… 

Tina smiled: I thought about going to Antwerp with the train. I thought about staying there for a weekend. If you don’t want to come, we can talk over the phone.

Bette shook her head: I do want to go, Tina. I can show you around there to. Vivienne is probably willing to keep Yves tomorrow and Sunday. He doesn’t like to be in trains for some reason and he’ll probably nag the whole time.

Tina: Like you.

Bette: That’s not true, Kennard. I behave.

Tina laughed.

Tina: You nag on trains Bette. Deal with it.

They both laughed.

Bette: I was tired that time.

Tina: Yeah, yeah…  Now, the train departures at 7.25AM and we’ll arrive in Antwerp at 9.25AM. I have booked a room for the girls and me in a hotel already.

Bette: When did you do that?

Tina: Oh, before I came over.

Bette; Well, when I get back I’ll book a room to. Now, which hotel did you pick?

They talked a little longer about the details of the trip, their fingers intertwined. Tina knew in that moment that everything would be all right. What all right meant wasn’t sure. Friends? More? She didn’t know. Bette had the same feelings only she knew that someday she would be with Tina again. Tina only didn’t know it yet. She wanted Tina back and that was exactly what would happen. She wouldn’t rest before she got her love again.

—————

CHAPTER EIGHT…

Today they had walked around in Antwerp, everyone was pretty tired but still Bette, and Tina wanted to have the conversation about the affair.

Bette and Tina sat in Bette’s room. Bette on one side of the little table, Tina on the other side.

Bette: You can ask me anything you want.

Tina sighed.

Tina: Why did you do it? Why her?

Bette looked down.

Bette: After we lost our son, I wanted to be strong for you, carry your pain. I didn’t want to deal with my pain, I wanted to be there for you and when you shut me out, I just didn’t know where to go, what to do. I tried to reach out for you but you pulled back from me. It was also hard being the only one that brought in money. It was a huge weight. I think I went temporarily insane. Then Candace came along. She just came on so strong, she seemed to listen to me, care about how I felt. Looking back, that isn’t true. She just listened to try to keep me. Tina, I always loved you… Candace was the biggest mistake I ever made. I should have reached out to you more. I had to try to talk to you about everything instead of looking somewhere else for that support. I didn’t find it.