“How old are they?”

“Both 2.”

“Oh… Benny and Claude are their names, right?”

“Yeah.”

They were silent for a few moments just looking at one another. Tina couldn’t believe she ever left this woman. It was great to be in Bette’s presents even though it wasn’t a happy moment. For Bette, it was still surreal that Tina was now sitting on the couch, talking to her. She looked at her from top to toe. Suddenly Bette saw the scar.

“How did you get that scar?” She asked.

Tina sighed. “Henry hit me when I asked for a divorce…”

Bette’s eyes grew wide. “He did what?” She would NEVER hit Tina. Never.

“He hit me…” Tina looked at the ground.

“Wow, nice husband…” Bette muttered. Tina heard the comment but decided to just leave it. She figured she should apologize again, for what she did.  

“Bette, I’m so sorry for everything I did…I really am. If I could do anything to make it up to you, I would.”

Bette looked at Tina, shaking her head.

“Maybe you are sorry but I’m not ready to except any apology from you. There is nothing you can do to make it up to me right now. You took away 5 years I could have enjoyed my daughter. I didn’t even have the chance to see her. The last years have been hell for me. Don’t expect me to just forgive you and forget it.”

“I don’t expect anything from you, Bette… I understand that you don’t except my apology…  But maybe you would you like to see Angel?”

“What?” The surprise was evident on Bette’s face.

“When Angie is here, would you like to see her again?”

“Really?” Bette still couldn’t believe it.

“Yeah, really… I think she should get to know her other mother.” Tina said. They smiled at each other.

“Tina, are you sure? I mean, I would love to see my little girl again but is it good for her? Won’t she be confused?”

“Not if we try to explain the situation.”

“What situation is that exactly? That you took away my daughter?” Bette couldn’t help to say that; she was frustrated. Tina sighed.

“You are right; there is no explanation that our girl will understand right now. Maybe we can just see how it goes. Maybe she won’t even ask questions.”

“Tina, once she will want answers and what then? What are we going to tell her?”

“That I left you and took her with me.”

“You really are going to tell her that? That will raise even more questions like: why?”

“If she is old enough when she asks that question, we can give her a brief explanation. She doesn’t need to know everything, Bette.”

“You are probably right…” Bette sighed again.

“Look, if you want me to leave you alone for a while, I will leave and let you know when Angie is here.”

“Yeah, that would be nice. I need to have some time to process everything.”

“I understand.” Tina stood up. “Remember that I’m sorry… bye, Bette… see you later, okay?”

Bette looked up at Tina and smiled a small smile. “Yeah, Bye.”

Tina smiled back and walked out of the house. Bette fell back in the couch.

“How did everything get SO fucked up?” She asked herself. No answer came.

‘Okay, Bette, come on. You have some hope to get your daughter back.

1) Henry is NOT Angelica’s father.

2) She knows you exists and has a picture of you.

3) You can see her next week.

That’s a beginning.’ She thought to herself.

She felt a little bit better and for the first time in years, she felt some excitement. She was going to see Angelica. She was going to see her little girl again… A smile appeared on her face. Now, she only needed to get through this week…

—-

Tina was sitting in her car. She had said everything she wanted to say to Bette. That Angelica was Bette’s daughter. That her daughter knew she had two mothers. That she was sorry and felt ashamed of what she did. She started her car and drove to her house. Hoping that maybe one day, Bette could forgive her.

—-