Bettes life was quite different than she thought it would be. She had a career as Dean of Arts at the university. Even though this entailed endless hours of budget planning, grants, and research…Bette thrived on the universitys thirst for knowledge. There was vitality everywhere….learning and having fun was a mantra. In the beginning Bette would stay there for so many hours, long after her work day…wandering the libraries, eating at gardens…having a beer with an intoxicated student. These things distracted her, helped wean herself off of Tina. The idea of Tina, her life, her presence…those memories hurt Bette. But that hurt had settled, it stayed with her but cooled to a lump that embedded itself in her heart.

                Bette started the car. Angelica climbed in the back, in her booster seat. Bette still insisted she sit in a booster seat until she was at least nine. She was paranoid about these things. But she also adored these concerns…these traits her daughters showed, stuff she did. Bette kept those macaroni art Angel did when she was in kindergarten in a box, along with other art work and messy letter, testimonies of an emerging personality. Angelica was the only real right and good and best thing Bette ever did in her life, she thought so anyway. She really thought that, felt that it was right…she raised Angel the best she could. She hated that their time together was limited…every second weekend and every holiday…with Christmas split in half. It was the compromise Tina and Bette established through their lawyers. They didnt even come face to face with each other. It was still during their angry period, where just looking at Tina made Bette sick. In the beginning she hated her, hated her….and loved her. As for Tina, it seemed like she moved on. That was probably the hardest part for Bette. But Angel….her brown skin beautiful…that curly hair so much like Bettes…Angel was right, she was good. Bette kept it together for her daughter, her and Tina work things out for the sake of Angel. Bette was grateful for that. But what she truly deeply wanted was to have Tina by her side.

                Bette drove up to the school. She got out and took Angels duffel bag, giving Angel her pack. They both walked in the school together. Bette walked Angel to her classroom, kissing her goodbye. And hugging her. O hugging her so tight and long….she didnt want to let go, it hurt to let go. It was like Bette gave birth to Angel and not Tina, she gave birth to her and she couldnt let go. Finally after feeling Angel squirm Bette let go. Kissed her again, and saw her disappear into the classroom with a wave. Bette gathered the duffel bag and went to the office to drop it off; Tina picked it up after picking Angel up. Bette was quick, not ashamed but wanting to get it over with. The office knew her as every-second-weekend lady…the BAD parent, the one who was not Angels blood link. Bette was quick, as to not pounce and kill one of them. She quickly left, and upon seeing a brown-haired mom in her peripheral vision she walked even faster. It was Carol; one of the momss who had a kid in Angels class too. Bette had sex with her about or over a dozen times. Bette had flings before, but only one-night stands in the five years after the final break-up with Tina. And then she met Carol and that lasted over a period of nine months now, sex about twice or once a month. They always did it at Carols house. Bette hardly ever brought women over to her house, it seemed wrong. Instead Bette hid herself deeply and relieved herself without the possibility of putting herself out there or hurt. With Carol, it was easy in the beginning. Carol was going through a divorce and Bette noticed her during a supervised parent-child field trip. Bette was touched by the way the light made her brown eyes lighter. Bette had reached up and wiped a crumb from Carols lip, their eyes met…and Bette saw her own lust in Carols eyes. Maybe it was Bettes aloofness and inapproachability that made her more attractive…because in the beginning all they did was fuck. Fuck on the floor, on the couch with Bette o top and supporting herself with two hands…her knee pressing her lovers crotch…on the table, in bed, even in the hallway. Then Carol started to stroke Bettes hair, started to give her kisses while Bette dressed, kissed her goodbye, phone her just to talk…touched her affectionately while dropping or picking the kids up. It made Bette uneasy…and so she avoided her at school. And only called her for sex. Carol always accepted. Once a month they would go to her house or a hotel, Bette would clear her head….relieve tension…feel another womans body. It hurt her to hurt Carol. Bette promised herself to figure things out, to try and not hurt…to maybe to a proper conclusion.

                And so Bette now drove to work. That was part of her routine. And she liked it; she really found comfort in what she did and in her rituals. She also lectured one specially offered course to art students…contemporary photography. She lectured once a week and only marked exams, her TAs marked the rest of the papers. Bette loved this, it was security. She was 44 and felt she needed that. Bette also loved her students, loved their earnestness. And she also hated them…their lackluster answers, their crappy essays, their bored looks. Bette was mean to those slackers. But there was one bright student named Lena who caught her eye. A slender, black-haired and green-eyed student…with the most beautfil pale skin. She was bitchy to students and so was deemed unpopular. But Bette was drawn to her intelligence, her charisma…and then KNOCK KNOCK…someone was at the door. Bette was in her office…it was morning adn she wondered what student was having a panic attack now. She said Enter…and sat down at her desk, looking up and saw Lena. Books piled in her hands she grinned and sat down, apologizing for not setting up an appointment. But was surprisingly pleased to see her. Lenas shirt showed much of her collarbone…Bette saw the base of her neck and felt a tinge of arousal.

           Yes Lena, how can I help you?

                TBC