After putting Pax to bed with some chicken soup and newsweek…he lay in bed wrapped in blankets still pale and traumatised…Bette made some phone-calls. First she
called his mother, her mother-in-law, who lived in San Diego. Her mother-in-law was someone whom Bette could not stand. But she ignored her obvious distate for Bette, who
was never good for her son…and explained what happend to Paxton. Jeanne said her son had a delicate nature and this must have hurt him a lot, Bette agreed. she wanted her moither-
in-law know what happened so when Pax told her Bette wouldn’t get blamed by Jeanne for not informing her. Thus giving Jeanne more credit to how bad a wife Bette was. Stupid
*****. Anywayz Bette sat at the table and fiddled with the phone cord. Then hung up after a few minutes, then she called one of Paxton’s best friend..a guy who had the hots for
Bette. Bette hated him, he was so slimy. But he worked in counselling of all places, and he might be able to be there for Pax in a way Bette couldn’t. Like a guy thing. Kyle
agreeed to see Pax the next day, he also hinted at seeing her. Bette told him he was lucky Bette wasn’t going to tell Pax what Kyle always did, she didn’t want Pax to hav eanother
shock. But Bette knew Paxton wouldn’t believe her. Then the phone rang again and Bette picked it up. It was her mother-in-law. she wanted Paxton to come to San Diego and ‘recover’. Bette knew that was ridiculous, that
Pax didn’t need that, that Jeanne was only doing it to say that Bette couldn’t take care of Pax…that it was bullshit. So Bette wondered why she said “ok”.

 That night Bette lay beside Paxton after talking at length with him. It was decided that Paxton was to stay with his mom for two weeks, that Bette was to stay and work, that Pax
was going to recover and think about what to do next. Namely job-hunting. He still wouldn’t tell Bette why he lost the job and Bette didn’t press him for the ‘why’ or any other details. It
was obviously a sensitive topic for him. He lay there taking his glasses off and putting them on the sidetable. Bette was looking up at the ceiling thinking. Pax was leaving
tommorrow, his mother was insistent. Like a deranged nit-picking chicken. Bette was wearing only a big shirt, one of Paxtons’.  She knew why she said ‘yes’ to Jeanne’s suggestion.
Bette was angry, angry that Paton pushed her. No matter hoew justified he was she was still bitter. Which was ironic because it wasn’t TOO long ago when she begged him to deck her
during *****. It was all mixed up that’s all. But then Bette got to thinking. Freedom. Well relative freedom. She still had obligations. But she will be able to enjoy two weeks without
her husband. Bette told herself eery wife…and husband…needed space sometimes. This was Bette’s time for space. And she didn’t trust herself to be such a great caretaker anyway.
So Bette was thinking….about Tina. Well this meant she could get to know Tina better. She didn’t REALLY know Tina, Bette wanted to know everything. She suddenly had a burning
desire to know everything there was to know about her. You know how it was, people who really connect and all you want to do is really GET to KNOW them. It was natural Bette told
herself, it was healthy and good. To have woman friends. Even Pax wondered whether Bette should make more of an effort to have female friends. And now that she had one. She
should give it all she had. But that mean’t opening up too. *****. Bette wasn’t too great at that. but she would try. That was part of being in a friendship. However in spite of all the
mind-talk Bette felt herself get wet again at the thought of having Tina to herself for two weeks. What the *****!!??? Bette reached down under the blankets and pulled her shirt down, why
was she getting so hot and bothered? Bette couldn’t understand it…maybe she shouldn’t see Tina again…..Bette’s thoughts were disturbed by Pax who misunderstood why
she put her hand under the blankets. He kissed her neck and touched her stomach…whispering amorous whispers and saying how long he’ll be gone so….Bette didn’t want too. Her
desire was still there but not for Paxton. And she told herself it was NOT for Tina. Bette wanted to…touch herself. Bette turned her face away and Pax kissed her neck again..”C’mon
Bette baby, i’m gonna be gone for soooooo long, two weeks and no love-making…i love you hunny” Bette felt herself getting mad again when Paxton put his leg overs hers. She
pushed him off snapping “Hey! i’m not some open ***** okay i dont FEEL like it, go to bed you CRIPPLE!!!” Paxton was astounded. But Bette, despite regretting her
outburst immediantly…held her ground and stared at him. Finally Paxton grumbled a “whatever” and turned around. They ignored each other for a half hour until Pax actually fell
asleep. When Bette looked over at him and confirmed his slumber, she lay on her back she pulled her shirt up. And put her hand down there.

TBC