“Tina’s free to live her life how she pleases. Just like you are livin’
the life you chose,” Kit continued. “You got to let this go, sis.”

Bette clenched her fists until her knuckles whitened, avoiding her
sister’s look, intent on stoking the fires of outrage. And it WAS
outrageous. The whole thing with Shane was just ridiculous. And it
bothered her that Shane would prey on someone so weak and vulnerable.
That Tina appeared to be fully in charge of Shane had somehow escaped
her notice, because she didn’t want to see it any way but her own way.
And to have the nerve to deliberately send a card to their table,
inviting them down here! Bette viewed it as insult and challenge; it
never occurred to her that it might have been bait.

Candace sipped at her drink, looking acutely miserable. She’d always
envisioned a time when she might see Bette pursuing Tina again,
reminding herself again that seven years cannot be wiped out by a few
months. But never in this kind of setting. There was no way to
completely steel herself to the pain and guilt she was feeling. Their
relationship had shallow roots; and this was the kind of scenario that
could tear it apart and fling it to the four winds.

Ivan caught her eye and nodded sympathetically. He knew how hard it
must be for her to know Bette still held such strong feelings for Tina
and about her. He could feel Kit’s distress, her unspoken plea for him
to say something, anything that might keep this from becoming a
disaster, not just for the moment but for the longer term. Nothing
Bette could say would change Tina’s mind about how she was living, at
least not right now; but what she said COULD do a lot of harm to her
fledgling relationship with Candace.

He waited until Kit tactfully asked Candace if she’d accompany her to
the restroom. “I’d jus’ feel better if I had someone with me who has
some fabric on their bodies, know what I mean?” she joked weakly,
tossing a look around the room.

“Sure,” Candace nodded unhappily, and hoped against hope that Ivan had
something to say that would dissuade Bette from her determination to
confront Tina.

Ivan reached across the table, softly pried open Bette’s fingers, and
took her hand between his. “It’s always hard to see someone change,
Bette, to see them become someone unfamiliar.”