She held Bette’s face between her hands, “She loves you so much, your wife.  To the end of time.  And maybe beyond.   I know … I know … that you feel equally for her.  Maybe more?  So all that you’re involved with right now … including that redhead … maybe in some bizarre way, is ultimately for her?  Because there is one thing about you, Bette, that you can’t help, as Tina told me: being yourself.  She didn’t say it then but I could see that part of who you are is loving Tina.  You will always love her.  Am I right?”

Bette teared- up, and nodded her head wordlessly.  She wanted to tell Brooke the truth, but instinctively held back.

“So while I have you here, under my roof, let me play the moderating role Tina would have wanted to be filled by someone who cared about the two of you: I’ll let you do what you need to only on the condition that you take a break at some point tonight, alright?  Relax from all this stress you’re enduring.”

Bette opened her mouth to protest but Brooke cut her off.  “You’ve told me already you have a heart condition of sorts.  So please, Bette, go for a swim in the building’s pool, later.  It could be a relaxing interlude … something you’ll need to keep your mind fresh.  And recharge your heart, too.”

She gave Brooke a half-smile, half-frown.

“Look, why don’t we go visit the pool now?” Brooke continued.  “Have a look around… it’s a really nice space.  And, since I may be asleep by the time you decide to go for a swim, you’ll have to use the apartment’s designated code to the doors later.  So it may be a good idea to test the code now; I’ve only always laid my hand on the biometric reader to open the doors, and haven’t tried the code.”

Bette blew out a low whistle when they entered the pool area.   What a building! 

A pool attendant came by and told Bette that the pool was open all day and all night.  “And if you’d like, you can pop your iPod or phone to our system and you can play your own tunes as you do your swim.”