Clarice nodded again, “He died in his study after he had his habitual glass of scotch. Local doctor ruled it as a typical heart attack.”

Bette suddenly realized that Clarice put an emphasis on a few certain words and she looked at her incredulously, “No…you are not suggesting that he was murdered too.”

“Some things are not easily forgiven and women can hold grudges for a very long time…until they can’t keep it in any longer.”

“Are you saying that my mother killed him out of revenge? How…oh, poison in his scotch?”

“And not a sole knew.”

Bette slowly dropped on the ground and covered her head, “Oh my God. What have I done?”

Early July 1886

Melvin left a week after the funeral to attend to his business. Maxine continued attending to her favorite charities and Bette kept working on finishing her paintings. There was still a lot of work to be done on them but Bette took her time. She wanted them to be perfect. In between, she did a simple drawing of the house and the grove they way it looked in the future. It was a way for her to keep Tina a little closer to her.

Several times she was trying to approach her mother to discuss her affair and every time she couldn’t get enough courage to talk. One hot night in July, Maxine retired early to her bedroom and Bette wanted to give her space and time to grieve, knowing that sometimes time can’t be a quick healer. She walked into his father’s library and looked around. Melvin used it for his study so she rarely was allowed in there when her father was home and it was often locked when he was away. She took off her robe, dropping it on the back of the chair, clad only in a chiffon peignoir.

Bette found an opened bottle of single malt scotch, put her feet up on the desk and took a sip of the bitter liquid. It went down smoothly and she closed her eyes in content. Her thoughts went to Tina and everything they’ve shared in the last few months. The images of Tina were so vivid Bette could have sworn that she could smell her scent in the air. That thought alone got her aroused and looked around guilty, as if someone was watching her. The shadows on the walls were dancing in the moonlight, she was all alone, and she missed Tina.