“So you stormed out to make sure Tina knew your feelings had been hurt” Alice surmised. When Bette didn’t argue she continued “Way to go, Bette. How to make friends and influence people. I’m hoping you have a disaster recovery plan.”

“What do you think I was doing in the liquor store?” Bette asked.

“So you’re going to take Tina a bottle of wine, say you’re sorry and just expect the problem is solved?”  

“Of course it won’t be. I hurt her. Do you really think I don’t know that? But she hurt me too.”

“Take a breath, would you?” Alice requested “And while you’re at it have a think about what you did”

“I found a solution so we can have our family. A solution that takes away the risk for Tina”

“You took away the opportunity for Tina to carry her baby” Alice said a little louder than intended.

Bette’s eyes darted around the bar, a couple of heads turned briefly to look at the two women tucked away in a booth toward the back but just as quickly the other patrons went back to their drinks.

“Nice” Bette said as she glared at Alice.

“Sorry” Alice whispered as she shrugged slightly.

“I never said that Tina couldn’t be the birth mother”

“Not directly” Alice argued “But come on, Bette, you know how much this means to her”

Thinking back to the pregnancy, before it had all gone wrong, Bette remembered how happy Tina had been. Despite the morning sickness and other side effects she never complained.

“You think she still wants to have the baby?” Bette whispered as her brow furrowed at the thought of how badly she may have messed up.

“Whether she knows it or not, yes, I think she does” Alice replied.

“Has she talked to you about this?” Bette asked as she looked Alice in the eye.

Alice‘s eyes dropped the instant the question was asked. She raised a hand to her hair and fidgeted nervously. “IumI don’t want to get in the middle of this, Bette”

“Sounds like you already are” Bette replied evenly.

“She talked to me about it yesterday” Alice admitted.

“And?” Bette asked as she raised a questioning eyebrow.

“And she’s afraid and confused” Alice replied “But I think that she still wants to be the birth mother, she just needs to know you’re going to stick around”

“I will” Bette replied without hesitation “Of course I will”

“Talk is cheap, Porter” Alice quipped “And it sounds like that mouth of yours just landed you in more trouble this morning”

“I was just trying to help” Bette replied sullenly.

“I’m guessing that Tina probably took it like a slap in the face” Alice said “Like you thought she was incapable of carrying your child”

“But that’s crazy” Bette retorted “That’s not it at all!”

“Close your mouth and put yourself in Tina’s place for five seconds” Alice said in a slow and even manner.

Bette sat and glared at Alice. After a few seconds her eyes dropped in tandem with her shoulders.

Alice sat back and relaxed. She could see that finally she’d gotten through to Bette.

“A thirty dollar bottle of wine isn’t what Tina needs from you” Alice said “She needs you to listen, especially to what she’s not saying.”

“I need to go” Bette said quietly as she reached out and picked up her purse and suit jacket.

“Yeah you do” Alice nodded.

Bette shuffled out of the booth and hurriedly kissed Alice on the cheek.

“Bye” The both said at the same time before Bette turned to leave.

Alice watched as Bette stopped half way to the door and turned back around.

“Thank-you” Bette called before flashing a smile which Alice couldn’t help but return.