Monica: Say yes. Give me a chance . If I don’t make you happier than Drew does I’ll back off.

__________________________________________________________________________
Alice: So you did?

Bette: I did. It continued for a few months. We had a great time together. I was so In love with her but I didn’t’ want to hurt Drew. He had been so good to me.

Alice: So you even continued to see both of them after you met the rest of the family?

Bette: Again Al, not proud of it!

Alice: This is the best story I have ever heard.

Bette: I’m glad you’re enjoying.

Alice: Oh I am!

Bette: So about 6 month after I met the family I was offered a position at the CAC. I didn’t tell Drew but I did tell Monica. She told me I should take it but I didn’t want to leave her.

Alice: But you did leave her.

Bette: Not exactly. I had planned to turn it down.

________________________________________________________________________
Bette: There is no way I can take it Monica. I need to stay with you.

Monica smiled.

Bette: What?

Monica: What if I go with you?

Bette: Are you serious?

Monica: Do I look serious?

Bette said nothing.

Monica: We won’t tell anyone. We’ll just go. Call them, say yes and we’ll leave tomorrow. I need to be with you!

Bette: Please tell me this isn’t a dream?

Monica: Book the flight. I’ll be there!

Bette didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the phone and called the CAC. After accepting the position she called the airline and booked to one way tickets to California.

Monica sat next to her the whole time holding tightly to her hand.

When Bette hung up Monica kissed Bette softly.

Monica: This is just the beginning for us. I hafta go pack. I’ll meet you at the airport tomorrow morning.

Monica left and Bette couldn’t wipe the smile off of her face. She packed quickly, the excitement building in her stomach. For a few minutes she contemplated calling Drew. At least to tell him she was leaving. But then she remember Monica asking her not to. So she didn’t.

________________________________________________________________________
Alice: What happened?

Bette’s expression turned morose.

Bette: I got the airport and waited. I waited so long that I missed the flight.

Alice: Did you call her?

Bette: She didn’t answer.

Alice: Oh.

Bette: I called Drew next. When his voicemail picked up I left a message saying I was going and that I wasn’t coming back. I told him that my life I had changed. Everything had changed. I told him that there was someone else but it was over now. And I thanked him for everything he had done. After coming to grips with the fact that Monica wasn’t coming exchanged my ticket for a new flight and left within the hour.

Alice: And you never heard from either of them again?

Bette: Nope. That was it. Sometimes I wonder what happened. I wonder if maybe something terrible kept Monica away. I still don’t know. But she was my first love. She was my coming out story.

Alice: I don’t even know what to say.

Bette: What’s left to say? The past is the past for a reason Al.

Alice: Listen, I’m really sorry I pressured you into this.

Bette: It’s fine Al.

Alice: No seriously. I mean it’s a great story but the whole world doesn’t need to know it. I can do the article on someone else’s story.

With that Al took the tape from the tiny recorder sitting between the two woman. Quietly she handed it over to Bette.

Alice: It’s your story, you keep it.

Bette nodded thankfully.

Alice: Do you ever think about trying to find her?

Bette: Sometimes, but it’s fleeting. I have a life here now.

Alice: I don’t know how you do it Porter. After the way things ended curiosity would kill me.

Bette smiled as Alice stood to leave.

Alice: You’re stronger then I am.

With that the blonde left the café. Bette sat back in her chair. She rifled through her purse until she found a post card. She pulled it out and looked at the front. It was a copy of a painting. " View from a Tower". At the bottom on the postcard was the artists name, Monica Christina Haller. Bette allowed her finger to trace each line on the paper. Slowly she let one single tear streak her face.