“Did she know about the baby?”

            “Yes, I had just told her at dinner and she was so excited she wanted to go home right away. Maybe Kay was right.  Maybe it was my fault.  If we weren’t so excited perhaps she would have seen the car coming…”

            “Don’t” Theresa’s eyes blazed. “Don’t blame yourself.  For some reason we cannot fathom it was her time. If I blame anyone it was the reckless kid who was driving under the influence.  I can’t even blame him.  He was irresponsible yet the grief that was on his face in pictures after the crash and at the trial tells me he is scarred for the rest of his life.  I wanted to hate him and my heart wound up breaking for him.”

            “I couldn’t go to the trial.” Bette confessed. “I was lost for awhile back then.”

            “Understood I wouldn’t have either but I needed to fill in the blanks. I think Kay has made herself crazy trying to fill in the blanks and that’s why she attacked you earlier.” 

            “It’s more than that.” Bette returned. “She hates me.”

            “She hated me too.  I think she still does but needs someone she can talk about Ro with and unfortunately I am it for her.” Theresa shrugged.  “They were very close for a very long time. Twin souls, Rosanna used to say.  If I got it right they were souls who were many things to each other over many life times friends, family and lovers and they would always be there for one another but were not soul mates. Kay and Ro’s closeness used to bug me, but Ro always made it clear that I was her woman, her mate and I let my insecurities go.”

            Bette burst into laughter.  “Now I thought I was the only one she did that for. I felt unreasonably safe and secure with her.”

            “When Ro loved you there was no doubt.” Theresa agreed. “I never expected her to say goodbye to me.  I guess that’s why it hit me so hard when she did and why I came to take her for granted.  I was always the one who said goodbye and ended things.  She never did until the last time.”  Theresa became lost in her thoughts and memories.  When she continued Bette understood she was talking to her and yet not talking to her but rather through her recognition.  “She was the most open and honest person I ever met.  There was no deceit in her.  She loved passionately and without restraint when she loved you as a person, as a friend, as a client or an idea or a principle.  She was a true trail blazer.  Once she made up her mind about you or a thing there was no dissuading her no matter the cost.  She made you want to come and live life with her.” She looked at Bette to see if she was with her.

            “My brown-haired blue eyed girl.”  Bette said.  “She stole my heart before I knew it.”

            “I plotted your murder on more than one occasion.” Theresa told her levelly.

            “What stopped you?”

            “She loved you.”

            “She never stopped loving you, you know.”

            “I know.”