Day 3

March, 10^th, Los Angeles, Bette Porter’s house, 6 am.

Bette is already in the kitchen making breakfast; she is preparing coffee, fresh juice, and toasts for her and the young girls sleeping upstairs. While mixing eggs, meat and vegetable to put them in the skillet she remembers yesterday, when she was preparing the university meeting and her ex-wife came to pick up Angie…, how beautiful was Tina when she opened the door; even though she has prepared herself for the encounter, she couldn’t avoid the blush on her face, the nervousness when she offered her something to drink and the sensation in her body when her ex touched her wrist while talking at the dining table, she froze, couldn’t glance at those hazel eyes nor even at the pale and skilled hand pressing softly over hers, no, she didn’t want to.

Several weeks ago when Tina came to visit them, due to an Angie’s call, the brunette was amazed and hopeful, in the middle of her desolation for the events surrounding her nomination for Major of Los Angeles, she couldn’t hide her attraction and affection for her. In that opportunity the blonde extended her stay, creating expectations in Bette’s heart, they were three amazing days, Tina was around, talking with Angie and hanging with their friends, until that dinner when she told her that Carrie had proposed and she had accepted, damn, Bette…, what a fool you were thinking that, perhaps, in the middle of all those hard moments there were still hopes for them, for a future together…, Bette couldn’t almost control her tears and disenchantment, no, she would never fall again for those beautiful eyes, that tender voice, those kind words…, how many times Tina told her that she still loves her that they were family, but Bette knew that to love someone doesn’t mean to be in love with that someone; yes they are a family, and they will still be a family, they have a daughter and they had a life together, and all those many things they went through during more than twenty years, most of them living under the same roof.

The voice of her daughter took Bette out of her thoughts.

Angie: “morning, mom”

Day 2

March, 8^th, Toronto Pearson International Airport

Before going to her office, Carrie has dropped Tina at the Toronto Airport.

Tina: “I’ll call you as soon as I get in the hotel”

Carrie: (sneezing) “okay, don’t forget to send my greetings to Angie”

Tina: “I’ll do…, are you okay?”

Carrie: “yeah, is just my allergy”

Tina: “hmm, be careful, your asthma may come back”

Carrie: “I doubt it but I’ll check with the doctor”

Tina: (kissing her fiancé on the cheek) “okay, bye, see you in one week”

Carrie: “I hope so”

Tina is waiting at the departure gate; the flight from Toronto to Los Angeles will take five hours with fifteen minutes; after a short wait, Tina boarded the plane which was almost full; fortunately for her, she traveled in executive class, now she has to find what to do to survive the five boring hours to Los Angeles.

The flight wasn’t that bad, she used the time to review some of her files with the first proposed episodes of her new show. Arriving at Los Angeles International Airport, she rented a car, and drove to her five stars hotel; she took a bath and changed clothes to go to Helena’s studio.

Los Angeles – Peabody Entertaining Productions Studio

Helena had already ordered the security staff that Tina will come, and they assigned her a parking place. Tina was guided by Helena’s assistant to her office on the tenth floor, where the brunette was waiting for her with open arms.

Helena: “Tina, darling, what a wonderful pleasure to have you here”

Tina: “Helena, I’m happy to see you again”

Helena: “and I’m happy to get my friend and the best producer of Canada working in this company”

Tina: “thank you, but I think you’re exaggerating”

Helena: “no, I don’t think so, why don’t I show you your new office where we could fill all the paperwork and you can meet your staff…, what are your plans for today, could we have dinner?”

Tina: “I’m sorry, Helena, I already made plans with Angie”

Helena: “oh, that’s very nice, and how is my niece?”

Tina: “she’s fine, growing crazily”

Helena: “and how is Bette?”

Tina: “I guess she’s okay”

Helena: (entering to a beautiful suite) “here we are”

DAY 1

March 7^th, Toronto Canada

Tina is at her desk, preparing her trip to Los Angeles for the next morning, she is in her laptop, retrieving her boarding pass and making sure it will show on her cell phone app; she is also revising her hotel reservation, a room for one, the rest of her documents are almost ready; it’s nearly noon, and as every Sunday, she and Carrie will have lunch in the Scaramouche; but before she wants to be sure that all her documents and scripts are in her traveling tablet.

She has spoken with Angie just yesterday evening and her daughter is eager to meet her tomorrow for dinner; Tina isn’t sure if it would be a good idea to invite Bette to join them, after all, the last time she and her ex-wife saw each other the situation wasn’t very nice. It happened when Tina and Carrie went to Los Angeles to meet Bette and tell Angie about her wedding plans.

The meeting was polite, stern and quick; or course, there was no additional topic to talk about; Tina could see the sadness in Angie’s face and the fake smile in her ex-wife’s; she couldn’t avoid the feeling of a lump in her throat and a piece of sharp ice tearing her heart, but this was already decided; the only person who seemed enjoy the introduction, as the upcoming stepmother, was Carrie.

The sound of steps took Tina’s concentration away from her online work; a beautiful light skin African American is approaching.

Carrie: “Tina, baby, are you done? If we don’t hurry up, the Scaramouche will be crowded”

Tina: “I’m almost done; I will use the afternoon to pack”

Carrie: “I’m still not sure if I’ll be fine while you’re there alone for one week”

Tina: “I have to do this Carrie, I need to take command of that show, if I delay, I may lose it all”

Carrie: “couldn’t Helena wait a few days? I could go with you next week, I’m sorry I can’t go now, there is an urgent contract I have to take care of, you know that.., Tina…, what if you need to stay longer?”

Tina: “I’ll call you, but, honestly, I don’t think so”