“I know. I realise. I thought I could go job-hunting while you were working. In the meanwhile, I’ll start looking out for a job at a gallery. Then I can have experience with the art world and get to know it inside out. I’m going to save money and then later on, I’m going to take a business degree and start my own gallery here in New Haven.”

“Those are big plans, baby. I wasn’t aware that you had looked into the future this much.”

“That’s my real dream as well, Tina.”

“And about the business degree… you are aware that Jack’s got one? We both know him and trust him – maybe you two could get your heads together?”

Bette hesitated. “About Jack. There’s something I have to tell you.”

Tina heard the worry in Bette’s voice and motioned for her to sit down. “Tell me.”

“Yesterday, I was coming home from another long day at work. I hadn’t been home for long when Alexandra arrived, extremely drunk. She told me that she suspected Jack to be cheating on her with his assistant. I told her that it was probably a misunderstanding, but she didn’t want to hear it. She ended up kissing me, but I swear that I pulled away immediately, without one hesitation or doubt.”

Tina couldn’t deny that she felt jealous and a tad bit angry at this news, but she did realise that Alex had been drunk. She would probably get wasted as well if she thought that Bette was cheating on her. “So now you’re not sure you can trust Jack?”

“I don’t think he cheated on her. She said that he keeps getting calls and texts from his assistant all the time, so I think that the assistant might have feelings for Jack. I don’t think it’s reciprocated, though. I’m just not sure if it’s a good idea to sit together and plan the future with my best friend’s husband if she hasn’t talked about it to him.”

“Well, there’s not hurry. They’ll work it out soon enough, they’re crazy about each other.”

“Like we are,” Bette smiled. She brought her hand to her pocket and Tina saw her fingers trembling. Bette cleared her throat. “Listen, I know that we don’t have the money right now, but we don’t have to do it right away.”

Tina frowned her eyebrows, but Bette’s intentions dawned on her when the brunette fell down on one knee.

“Christina Margaret Kennard, would you like your students to call you Mrs Kennard-Porter?”

Tina wiped the tear rolling down her cheek away and answered, her voice barely audible at first. “Yes.” She cleared her throat and repeated it, louder this time. “Yes, yes, yes!”

————————-

I figured Bette and Tina have went through enough drama already and having one of them throwing a fit right now wouldn’t make sense. They know better.