“Uhm… Tina, I’m here for you, but I really think you should stop that,” Bette says. Oh great, she’s picking my mom’s side as well.

“See, now you hear it from someone else,” my mom points out. “You’re not even sorry.”

“I am.”

“You can stay here a bit longer until you really are, not just because I want to hear it.”

“But mom!” I whine.

“I don’t want to hear it!” She says, and she’s off to the house again.

Ken’s still standing there, his hands in his pocket, looking down at us. “You’re really crazy,” he says to Bette. “Seriously.”

Bette flashes a Porter smile. “I know,” she winks.

Ken blushes. Whoa! Reverse! Bette can make Kenneth Kennard blush?

“So, you planning to stay here?” he asks her after he’s gathered himself.

“Yep.”

“Well, I’ll bring you guys some lunch then,” he says laughing. “Mom’s just starting it now.”

“Thanks, Ken,” I smile. He’s giving me the I’m-not-doing-this-for-you-look. He looks at Bette again. She’s just studying her feet and I know she’s embarassed because she did that, that wink and smile thing.

“Gay,” I mouth to Ken. His face falls.

“No!” he mouths back.

I nod. “Gay and” I mouth, then point at myself to indicate she’s mine. His face falls even more.

“Does she know?” his look says. I really love it how Ken and I communicate with facial expressions. We do have a bond.

I shake my head. “Tonight,” I mouth. “Got to get to the gig!”

He nods, signifying he understands. I gather mom must’ve told him she didn’t let me go. I could just jump up and embrace him now. He’s gonna help me.

He disappears and leaves Bette and me alone.

“Why did you chose my mom’s side?” I ask her.

“I didn’t!”

“Yeah, you did. You said I should stop doing that.”

“Tina, I just think that it isn’t wise. You know how your mother is, and I understand it’s hard for you, but just try and shut up when she’s like this.”