“I’ll always need you,” Bette said, truly meaning it.

            “I love you, Bette.  I’m so proud of you.  Tina would be proud of you, too,” she added in a whisper.

            Bette shook her head slowly.  “Let’s not talk about Tina.”

            “Okay, babygirl.  I’m sorry.  Look I gotta get out of here, you still coming over for dinner on Saturday?  Angus hasn’t seen you in a while.”

            “Yeah, I’ll be there,” Bette said, her demeanor clearly downtrodden. 

            Kit nodded and gave Bette an encouraging smile before walking towards the door.  As she turned the knob, Bette stopped her.

            “Kit?”

            “Yeah?”

            “Do you really think she would be?”

            “Definitely.”

            Bette gave a small, grateful smile as Kit left, closing the door behind her.

15 Years Ago

            “You’re quiet,” Tina said, walking across the rusted, unused train tracks that provided a quicker route home from work.  Bette shrugged in response, stuffing her hands deeper into her pockets.

            “Is this about John?” Tina asked. 

            Bette scoffed.  “Why would this be about John?”

            Tina stopped walking.  Ten steps ahead, Bette finally stopped walking, too.  She turned around to face Tina.

            “What?” She asked.  “Come on, it’s getting cold.”

            “Bette, can we just talk about this now and get it over with?  If we don’t you’ll just be in this mood all night and drive us both crazy.”

            “What is there to talk about?” Bette asked.  “That some rich, handsome man just walked out of your past and into your future?”

            “He did not walk into my future,” Tina said, exasperated.  She started walking towards Bette again.  “He’s just some kid that I used to know.”

            “He wasn’t a kid, Tina.”

            “He was when I knew him,” Tina said. “We used to play together when I spent summers with my dad.  My dad lives near his family.”

            “You never told me your dad was rich,” Bette said.

            “Would it have mattered?  So my dad has some money,” Tina said.  “I haven’t seen him in years.”

            “Well, shouldn’t he be giving your mom child support or something?  That would be such a huge help for you and your mom.”

            “My mom is too stubborn.  She doesn’t want anything from him.  The first time I told her I’d rather spend the summer here, she was thrilled.”

            The girls walked on in silence, finally nearing Bette’s apartment.  They could see Kit and two of her friends sitting out on the front steps, sharing a cigarette.  Stopping just out of earshot of her sister, Bette turned to Tina.

“Do you ever miss your dad?”

“Not really,” Tina shrugged.  “But I miss having a dad.”

“Do you think you’ll start going back to visit him?”

“Bette.  I only want you.  You have to know that by now.  Tell me you do.”

“I do,” Bette sighed.  You’re right, I’m sorry.  I do.”

“Good,” Tina smiled, resuming the walk to Bette’s front door.

“I would have liked to pop his tires, though.”