“What?” Tina practically jumped off the couch with disbelief.

“Wait. Hear me out, okay?”

To her credit, Tina exhaled and settled back into her seat. “I’m listening.”

“The last thing you need to be worrying about with a baby on the way is packing up a house, putting it on the market, and trying to find a place to live. And before we can even think about listing this place, there are repairs we’ll need to deal with.”

“We’re going to have to do it eventually,” Tina countered.

“Yes, but it doesn’t have to be right now. We could wait until after the baby is born and after we both have some more time to figure out ourpermanent plans,” Bette said.

“I don’t understand why youI mean”

“Why I need to move back?”

“Yes. It’s not exactly like we’re on the best terms. Don’t you think it’s unrealistic for the two of us to be living in the same house at this point?” Tina had her arms crossed in front of her, and her expression was definitely less open than it had been.

“I know that things between us have been strained. But I also know that we’ve both said that someday we hope to be in each other’s lives again, as friends.”

“Friends, not roommates. And frankly, right now even friendship is pushing it.”

Bette leaned forward, clasping her hands together, her eyes pleading. “We have to start somewhere. Don’t we? If we ever hope to…move on.”

“I don’t know, Bette,” Tina said quietly. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

“We would be completely autonomous. I’d be moving into the study, you’d stay in ourin the master bedroom. We could be as separate as you wanted. But I’d be around to help out. Like, taking care of the yard or lifting heavy things.” Or running out in the middle of the night to fetch Yoohoo, Bette silently added.

“Is that what this is about? You think you need to come back here to take care of me?” Tina asked, her eyes narrowing.

“Of course not. I know you can take care of yourself. And that you have plenty of people who are more than willing to help. But she travels a lot, right? Helena?” Bette said casually. It took everything she had not to choke on the name, but she got it out.

Tina hesitated for an instant before swallowing hard. “Yes. She’s back and forth to New York.”

“Besides, it makes good money sense. Right now, our joint finances are paying for the mortgage on this house plus my rent. Add in two sets of utilities and household expenses. That’s cash down the drain that we’ll both need when we’re trying to put together our down payments,” Bette said.

Tina bit her lip, sighing.

“I know it’s a lot to take in. But it’s worth considering. Justdon’t rule it out without thinking it through, okay? That’s all I’m asking.”

Bette smoothed her palms along the creases in her pants. Anything to keep her hands busy so Tina wouldn’t notice they were shaking.

“I’ll think about it,” Tina said finally.

“Thank you.” Bette stood up. All she wanted to do was stay right where she was. Even if they didn’t say another word to each other, that would have been fine. But she knew that the right thing to do was leave Tina to her thoughts. Not push her too hard or expect too much. The conversation had gone well, and it was time to go.

“Leaving?” Tina looked up, surprised.

Bette nodded, afraid that if she spoke, she’d say, “No, I’m staying right here and not leaving until you promise to give me another chance.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Tina said, making a move to stand.

“No, that’s okay. Don’t get up. I know my way.” Bette’s smile was weary but warm.

“I’ll call you. About thishouse stuff,” Tina said.

“Okay.” And before she could talk herself into stalling another minute, Bette walked out of the room, out of her house, into the night.