I step out of the car and trudge up the front steps. I unlock the front door and open it. I can smell Tinas perfume as soon as I open the door. Her presence is still herein this house of ours. What am I going to do? I cant live here without her. I slam the door in frustration, amplifying the pounding in my head. I reach up and place my hand on my forehead, trying to rub the pain away. I walk to the kitchen intent on downing a bottle of aspirin for the pain.

Bette? Tinas voice alarms me.

Tina, I say, I didnt see you there. What is she doing here? She always seems to know when Ive done something wrong. Whatwhat are you doing here? Is she here to rub in the fact that shes moved on?

Babe, she says. Shane saw you last nightleaving Milk.

No, shes here to rub in the fact that I cant do anything right these days. I close my eyes and swallow the sudden lump in my throat. Shes going to tell me how much Ive hurt heragain. I cant listen to her tell me how I wronged her. I know what I did and I cant stand the pain I caused her. Now she wants to rehash everything again. Look, I can explain, I say, looking at her.

Babe, nothing happened, she breaks in. How can she say nothing happened? I cant even remember what I did last night. I wanted it to, but I just couldnt. She couldnt? You saw me kissing that woman, but I must have pulled away right after you walked out. I came straight here and waited for you. Shes talking about herself not me. Oh my Godshe didnt go any further than the dance floorand I went home with someone because of what I saw. How could I have jumped to the wrong conclusions about her? Tina would never do something so stupidIm a different story all together, but Tinas not like that. Babe, you have to believe me. I didntI couldnt cheat on you. Cheat on me? She still thinks of us as being a couple. Not after I tell her what I did last night. I cant face her anymore. I turn to the bedroom and walk away without a word. In the bedroom I toss my coat to a chair and fall onto the bed, making sure Im facing away from the doorand Tina. She walks around the bed, erasing any solace from my head. I have to face hershe wont let me turn away. I close my eyes and begin shaking, using all my strength not to cry. I feel her hand tenderly touch my shoulder. Shes so loving. How can I begin to tell her what I did? Baby, please., she says before I get a word out, you have to believe me. I went there last night trying to escape. I saw you yesterday. Saw me? Where? I look into her eyes and see the sinceritythe loveand the pain. I was at the park yesterday at lunch time. Lunch time? I was talking with Candace at lunch time yesterday.