Tina exhaled again. Shane waited.

“You know what Bette said to me last night?”

“No. What?”

“I told her I loved her and that I was going to keep fighting for us and she said just because I loved her didn’t mean she felt loved by me.” 

“Shit, Tina.”

“And I told her I was going to show her in a way she could feel it. So, this is me putting plans in motion to show her. It may be too late. But I’ve got to try.”

“Tina, don’t…”

“Thanks for your help, Shane,” Tina interrupted.

***

Shane remembered Tina hanging up the phone before Shane could say anything else. She closed Bette’s door and put on her sunglasses.

“This is gonna be fun,” Shane said out loud as she walked around the car.

Shane slid into the driver’s seat and looked at Bette over her sunglasses.

“Ready?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Not at all,” Shane smiled.

“Then I guess I’m ready,” Bette laughed.

“Let’s fucking go then.”

“Where are we going?”

“Well, first, we are going to your gallery so you can change clothes. Then I have a surprise in store for you.”

“I hate surprises. You know that.”

“I do know that. And here we are.”

Shane smiled.

“What’s going on with your face?” Bette asked.

“This is what my face looks like at 9:37am on a Sunday.”

They both laughed.

***

“Al, are you at the house?”

“Hello, Tee-na. How are you? I’m fine. Thanks for asking,” Alice mocked.

“And, yes, I’m at the house. Geez.”

“Sorry, Al. Thank you for being there.”

“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.”

“How’s everything going?”

“I’ve got it, Tee. I’m working on your long ass list as we speak.”

“Did Dana get the flowers?”

“I don’t know. Let’s ask her. Hey, Dana, did you get the flowers?”

Tina heard Dana in the background say, “what”, confusingly. 

“Yeah, Tee. She’s got them.”

Tina laughed.

“Thanks, Al.”

“You’re welcome. I’m hanging up now. You’re slowing me down. I have the list. I’ll take pictures when I’m done.”

“I love ya, Al.”

“Of course you do.”

Alice hung up the phone and continued working off of Tina’s long ass list. 

***

Shane parked in front of The Bette Porter Gallery.