“This conversation has taken a weird turn,” she says brightly in an attempt to shift the conversation over a little, “You were telling me that you understand what I was going through.”

I knew that we would talk about this more and I knew that she knew so I moved the conversation along.

“Yes,” I said, “I understand what may have led you to do what you did.”

Bette squeezes my hand, “There is no excuse for me doing what I did.”

“But I understand it,” I say resting my other hand over our intertwined ones

Bette smiles, “Okay. What are you telling me?”

“Im telling you that Im going to cut back on my hours to spend more time with my family, which is what is truly important.”

Bette smiles wider at this, “Whatever you want T.”

I come back to the present thinking of the moment where Bette got up out of that chair and straddled my lap. What was it with us and chairs? I turn to see Bette was still sleeping. She had curled herself in the chair and was looking non to comfortable. At least not to me. I should get her to bed and let her rest.

*Stacy*

I am sitting in the den of the home that Ben and I now share together reading one of my favorite medical journals when the phone rings startling me out of trance like state. Looking around I see that the phone is across the room. Quickly I get up and go over to it before the answering machine kicks on.

“*****,” I say

“Hey,” I hear the cheerful voice of one of my favorite people, Bette

“Hey Bette,” I say going back over to my chair, “I thought you took Tina out of town.”

“I did,” Bette says, “Im actually calling with a medical question. The doctors here arent open this late and I dont think we should go to the hospital.”

At the mention of a hospital I sit up straighter, “What happened?”

There is a pause on the line, “Uh…Tina it seems…threw her back out,” Bette says slowly and I can tell shes trying hard not to laugh

What would be funny about Tina throwing her back out?

“What did you do to her?”

“Hey, I didnt do anything to her. Shes the one that wanted to try something new.”

I cant help but laugh at this, “Tina threw her back out while the two of you were having *****?”

I hear the giggle escape Bette at this and then she clears her throat, “Yes.”

I shake my head at this, “Well give her some ibuprofen or advil and make sure that she stay immobile. Laying on a flat surface is best.”

“Shes lying on the hardwood floor right now. We were going to come home today. How long would it be before she could travel?”

“Today is out Bette, see how she feels tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“Out of the two of you,” I start

“You expected for me to be the one to throw out my back during some hot sexapades?”

“Yes,” I say laughing, “Yeah. Call me in the morning okay?”

“I will. Thank you Stacy. Tell Ben that I said hey.”

“Will do.”

I hang up the phone with a smile marveling at the turn that my life had taken, for the better…for the most part, since I walked into that ER to see one Bette Porter lying before me. 

Always entertaining.


TBC…Woo!