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Delayed Reaction Chapter 7
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A rise smile grew upon Tina’s face, ”Thanks.” She paused and looked over at the computer. ”How is the treasure hunt going?”
Bette followed Tina’s gaze and gave her a small smile, ”Good, we are making progress.” She hesitated, ”But… Let’s talk about you. I mean, you seem to have taken this conversation you had with Alice pretty hard.” Bette watched Tina closely as she tried to capture some sort of understanding of why Tina seemed more than just sad about talking about a long deceased friend. Bette reached over and tucked a few strands of Tina’s red hair behind her ear. She then gently ran her hand down Tina’s face thinking how natural the red hair looked on Tina, a surprise change she made in February. Bette held Tina’s gaze as these thoughts crossed her mind, but gradually shifted to worry. ”Babe… talk to me.”
Tina chastised herself for letting on that there was more to her sadness then just Alice’s grief. She knew their relationship was solid, they now considered themselves partners for life, even though they were not married nor had they talked about remarrying. She was still getting used to this new empathetic and open Bette. She had spent most of their relationship being the one to pull out Bette’s emotions and now she found herself in a reverse role. Tina looked down at her tea and began swirling it around. ”All of this just got me thinking about us.”
Bette gave Tina a questioning look. ”I’m not sure I understand. What does Dana’s death have to do with us?”
”Somewhere along the line as I was listening to Alice talk about her relationship with Dana, I got to thinking about us.” Tina paused, ”Your surgery last year, our reconciliation… how fragile life is and how fleeting opportunities can be.” Tina lifted her head and looked deep into Bette’s eyes, revealing the depths of her soul and feelings about all that had occurred over the course of their 24 year relationship. ”We have been so lucky.” Tina paused, ”We were given so many opportunities and we kept wasting them with mistakes that hurt both of us.” Tina’s eyes began to well up.
”Babe… don’t,” Bette said as she looked past Tina at the Ostin glass figurine, a gift given to Tina from Bette last year on Valentine’s Day to represented the day their heart’s met. Bette then shifted her gaze back to Tina. ”I know it’s hard, I struggle at times too, hell last night… Bette shook her head as she paused. ”I understand the fear. Losing you… well, I never told you what went through my head the day Angie was born. When you started to have complications and then at the hospital, I thought I had lost you for a moment. Luckily for me Dr. Wilson saw my panic and calmed me down as they wheeled you away.” Bette let out a long breath as she recalled that night. She then shifted her gaze to capture the hazel eyes that showed so much sadness, ”We said no promises, but I am making a promise to you right now. The only thing that will separate us is death and I don’t plan on that happening for quite a long time.” Bette paused as she tried to formulate the words that would convey the depth of her love. ”And.. when that happens, I will find you in heaven and if we are resurrected, my soul will search for yours to the ends of the earth.” Bette paused as a smile rose to her face. ”You’re stuck with me.” Bette opened her arms and took Tina into them. ”Babe,” Bette said softly, ”There are no guarantees in life. I don’t think I need to explain that to you. All we can do is fiercely love each other and protect what we have for each other and let life happen.” Bette held Tina tightly, protectively trying to shield her from her own fear of the unknown. Bette gradually felt Tina relax and could sense a calmness that came over her. Bette smiled to herself. She loved this women, even more now as Tina struggled with fears of losing each other.
Tina slowly pulled away giving Bette a warm smile. She stared at Bette, ”Why are you all dressed up?” She tilted her head with her inquiry.
Bette looked down at her pants and boots and raised her head with a beaming Porter smile. ”I got tired of walking around in yoga pants and flip flops. I missed my clothes, my heels and… I wanted to make sure they still fit.”
Both women laughed as the tension from their conversation eased. ”I love you, Bette.”
A slow grin slipped across Bette’s lips. It tugged at her cheeks and reached her dark brown eyes. They sparkled brightly against the soft light from the lamp behind Tina. ”I love you too,” she said as Bette slowly leaned in and gave her a gentle slow deep kiss that relayed all she had just said.
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Happy to see this chapter. Nothing like a global pandemic to put things in perspective as well as bring fears and regrets to the surface. I’m glad that Tina and Alice are okay. As for Bette and Tina I was worried about that photo of Laura but it seems like it’s not going to become an issue. Glad they are communicating. I really liked this passage:
“The only thing that will separate us is death and I don’t plan on that happening for quite a long time.” Bette paused as she tried to formulate the words that would convey the depth of her love. ”And.. when that happens, I will find you in heaven and if we are resurrected, my soul will search for yours to the ends of the earth.” Bette paused as a smile rose to her face. ”You’re stuck with me.”
Post again soon.
Billy
I really loved that passage as well! It deeply touched my heart!
Yes its been a while happy you are continuing with this story and glad you intend to finish it.
I enjoyed thinking of Dana again. The worst decision made to have her die.
Please post again soon.
SG
Glad to see Bette and Tina attempting to talk to each other a bit more. Now, if they can be brave enough to show the hurt by Bette and the guilt by Tina for all their problems to each other, they may can actually put this period of their life into the rear view mirror. Sometimes, the worst feelings can dissipate into the either if you just air it out and allow the pain and guilt just merge together. Once they see that the other really sees what the other experiencing, then forgiveness and the ability to move on will be an automatic. The need to bring it up diminishes because they both know the emotions attached to this period of time. Bette will know Tina regrets her actions and Tina knows the pain Bette went through and they have both forgiven each other and themselves. They come much closer once Tina has her visit with Alice. Life is short and there is no reason to carry unresolved conflicts. Bette and Tina have a real opportunity to be closer and to resolve all their issues. For the most part, they just need to accept each other for who they are and love them no matter what.
Thank you for the chapter…. I look forward to Bette and Tina acting as a team during this Covid mess and making a life partnership which will be satisfying and long lived. I want them to find this painting with the help of James.
This is a really good comment. And good advice as well.
Good comment! You said it all and a great advice!
Hi SuperK,
I will always wait patienly for a update! I really enjoy your story and it’s defiantly worth the wait!
My heart breaks for Alice, it’s hard to come to terms with the death of Dana especially when she died so young and was / is the love of your life. I am glad that Alice has a new love who understand her grieve and she has close friends that are there for her to support her. It’s good that Tina visited her, the close friendship they had and are now getting back is good to see.
And i love how Bette and Tina open up to each other and master the thing that’s called communicating.
Please Bette, call the doctor, the head aches are worrying me.
I hope you are able to update soon!
Thank you for the chapter!
Well, i’m glad that Tina decided don’t make a big deal from that fact that Laura was very similar to her.
Interesting what the deal with Bette’s headache.
SK- some wise comments here. So glad you are continuing this story. Take as long as you need to write, it is a compelling story. I love the description Billy referenced about them finding each other in heaven. Is Bette’s headache a precursor to covid? I hope not. Interesting to read this playing out given where we are now as a country and the still lingering impact of the virus. Post Soon!
Hi SuperK! I have just read the whole story and thought I’d save my thoughts on all the chapters for this one comment, to try and be less annoying :-)
First, thank you so much for writing a story that has Covid in it. Having watched This Is Us and seen how they integrated the pandemic, I think more TV shows should have done that, including Gen Q. I wish I’d included it in my recaps. So great decision, in my book anyway.
Intriguing backstory about what went down with WP – Bette definitely should’ve levelled with Tina about that. In some ways, though, I think it’s quite realistic that she might still be prone to these old bad habits of hoping she can happy ‘on the cheap’ as it were, without doing all the work? But yeah, Kelly twisting the situation so that she was the victim of Bette’s predation… that’s warped.
James, James, James… I love seeing James being treasured rather than abused by Bette!
The leaving the light on for each other is a sweet detail and indicates that level of caring we have always been starved of with these two on the show. Sweet mirroring of the OG scene with T taking B’s glasses off too.
I love your sense of history of the framily. That was such a huge part of the OG and it’s lovely to see it honoured and spoken of in this story.
I loved this: “She had no sense of sacrifice, at least not now, of having given up something she loved, but rather of having traded if for something different.” Beautiful.
Ah, a glimpse of what might have happened with Alice and Tasha! Tasha ended it, and unresolved grief over Dana was a factor? That is both plausible and heartbreaking. And I really love how sensitive and supportive Tina is towards Alice – that is exactly what I’d expect. Your gorgeous line: “Sometimes being a friend is not solving a problem it is bearing witness.” And their friendship chemistry: “There was something about Alice and her unfiltered approach to life that attracted the free spirited Tina.” Accurate, and beautifully put.
Your description of what Kit being gone means was terrific: “Bette and Tina were like the Ying and Yang for each other, which may have been why they worked so well together as a couple. Her absence during their separation left an emotional void for both Bette and Angie. A void that Tina hadn’t recognized until she returned and had to deal with both her girls being emotionally strung out by the loss of Kit and her absence.”
One thing I don’t think I’ll ever agree with Bette (or you?) on is Tina’s red hair! Glad B likes it, though…
Things I’m wondering about at this point (apart from the missing painting)…..
Will we get to hear more detail about how B&T reconciled???
What’s the dealio with B’s headaches???
Will Alice be able to resolve her grief in a way that strengthen her bond with Nat?
It’s interesting that the story changed title and you said it was proving more complex than you first thought. I can see that happening very clearly, having read it in one sitting. I think this can happen so easily when you sit down with such rich characters. I’m along for the ride, wherever it goes…
argh, SORRY FOR THE EPIC COMMENT! But thank you for such an interesting and slightly different Tibette story. :-)
Take care
Largo
Hey Largo
When I started LLL in was more angry about what GQ did. I was on a mission so to speak. When I was done, it was like, I like these two and want to continue their story. The two short stories came from that thought. As I finished those two shorts, I had another idea brewing about a new book. The WP story was a small part in LLL but it really gave a lot of room to build a story around.
I too wanted GQ to add COVID, I personally think it allows for an interesting platform to work from as the greater story unfolds. These characters are so rich with history but yet a gap that begs to be filled in to get a greater understanding of what got them to where they are with their journey in life.
Their reconciliation, like COVID is more background but will play a bigger roll as the story progresses. I really wanted to do something different, still a love story, but more to it. Like in life the love we have for our spouse is always over arching the daily ups and downs.
I am still building but the story will start moving quicker once I get everyone past the first summer of COVID. The lost painting will be fun to explore as the story progresses.
Thanks for reading
K