“It’s fine Shane, she’s right.” Getting out of her chair. “Bette is coming home Alice, but not home to me.”

Even Alice knew she went a little too far. “T, wait.” Getting up to meet her, “I’m sorry, it’s just this sucks.” Tina knew she couldn’t be mad at her so she grabbed the mess of her friend and hugged her.

“Al, don’t worry she’ll come home to you,” letting her friend go of the embrace so she could go. And as Tina exited the door Alice whispered, “T, don’t worry she’ll come home to you.”

Bette came a little earlier than expected and just wanted to go to bed, in her own bed. As she parked her car, she noticed Tina’s in the drive way. All the lights were out so figured she went to sleep. As Bette struggled to get her suitcase out of the trunk, the tree branches rattled a bit, startling her.

“Hey,” was all that came across in that smooth voice.

“Shane, you scared me. What are you doing up?”

“I’m sorry. Do you need some help?”

“Sure,” stepping over to get out of Shane’s way. “You didn’t answer my question.” But Bette knew something else was there.

Shane handled the suitcase hoping it would be a distraction for the answer Bette was looking for.

“Shane.”

Taking the suitcase to the door and sitting on the steps, lighting a cigarette, contemplating on how things changed so much as opposed to the last time she was in front of these steps with Tina and Bette sitting so much in love on the very ones she was on. “I just don’t get it.”

Taking a seat, “get what Shane,” taking the cigarette from her mouth.

“You and,” but Shane didn’t have to finish. Bette knew the end to that sentence. For weeks Alice and Shane had been telling her that Tina was showing signs of wanting to get back together with her. But she didn’t see those very signs, all she saw was Tina helping her with Jodi and Kate making the moves on her and Tina not minding it.

“Shane I told you how could Tina want me back if she was the one helping me get back with Jodi. Besides Kate is interested in her I can’t stop that from happening.”

“Who says you have to stop it?” Shane looking up to the stars for some sort of guidance.

“What do you mean Shane?” Bette’s eyes becoming as bright as the stars were shining.

“What if Tina didn’t let it happen?”

“What happened. Did something happen while I was…” She couldn’t stomach it she was off making love to some other woman when at the same time her woman was maybe wanting her. “While I was in New York getting Jodi back, did Tina say something to you?”

“She didn’t have to Bette. It’s there. We can see it, I know you can. You don’t feel that way about Jodi. She’s a great girl but…”

Bette couldn’t help but admit that she did feel a sharp sting when Shane said that. It triggered something in her that made her change her mood. “Shane, Jodi’s great. We are great together. You and the rest of whoever else is gonna have to let that fantasy go. Tina and I will no longer be.” Even Bette knew she didn’t believe that, but she grabbed her suitcase and headed into her not empty home.