Finally Jodi’s gaze finds its way to Bette’s. Bette’s chocolate brown eyes are filled with expectation but all she sees in Jodi’s is the look of disdain. A look easily recognized since she’s seen it so many times before. She braces herself for the snide remark and dismissal that will surely follow…

“You better not break my heart.”

Jodi had a way about her that was so belittling that it sometimes made Bette recoil from her physically and emotionally. It was the body language, facial expressions and tone of voice that she was using now with Bette.

They moved away from the vehicle to have some privacy. They are facing each other, talking in a combination of sign language and verbal communication.
Bette had made arrangements with the storage facility proprietor to have one of his men drive the tractor back and another would give Bette a ride to her rental car. When Jodi said “you better not break my heart” accompanied by a look that wasn’t very welcoming Bette pretty much swallowed all the words that she was about to recite.

She realized in an instant that they would have been wasted on Jodi Lerner. She had indeed made a mistake chasing after this woman and she wouldn’t compound it by baring her heart and soul only to be further humiliated.

“I thought I already had broken your heart. That’s why I came here to fix things. But it looks as if I didn’t have it to break in the first place.”

“I never make myself that vulnerable to anyone.”

“Then why did you even say that?”

“I must have had a tender moment”. She says sarcastically. “You looked like a lost child waiting for approval from your Mommy.” Smirking, always smirking.

“Jodi, must you be so cruel and insensitive all the time? Do you realize what it took for me to come out here? I didn’t even know if you would talk to me. I suppose the only reason you are talking to me now is because of that sign. I mean you just take off without a word; you ignore all my attempts to communicate with you. Just now you showed more adoration in your eyes when you were looking at that damn sign than I’ve ever seen when you’ve looked at me. Do you even care about me or my feelings?”