“And?” Tina asked.


“And, she and I dated for a while. We never let anybody know we were dating, The only person who did know was Carmen. “



“That doesn’t explain how Melito became “your” son.” Tina asked still a little confused by the entire situation.


Bette took a long sigh and gazed deep into Tina’s eyes knowing she couldn’t take lying to her she began her story ” after I came back for the first time I told my Dad that I wanted to go back and spend some time with Melito, which was true, but I also wanted to see Alicia. So when I went back to see her , her mother told me she was running around with some Mel’s friends. And that her “*****” son was at my grandmother’s. So he’s being raised by my Nanna and my Auntie Toni. But Alicia finally came back wanting to claim him as hers but the family thinks that she’s just trying to claim to get Mel’s insurance.”


“Insurance?”


“Mel took out some insurance on himself in case he was killed or killed himself Melito would get 250,000. My Dad wants to save the money to get him educated and his mother wants the money to buy herself a house. It’s like for the past 2 years nobody’s heard from her then she gets word that Mel has insurance and here she comes a runnin’. She is such a manipulative person, she thinks that everyone is just going to roll over and obey what ever she says, but my brother wouldn’t allow that and neither will I. So we have to go to court and fight for parental rights of Melito from Alicia. Besides my Nanna still thinks she’s using.”


“I thought you said she didn’t like drugs?”


“No, I said she left Mel when she found out about his using, she started using when he killed himself. I guess it was her only of dealing with it, she never really talked about him when we together, ya know? So that’s why I have to go to Cuba.”


“So you’re not going to Cuba to see her?” Tina asked still feeling insecure about the relationship between them.


“No, Tina! Absolutely not! I haven’t thought about Alicia in so long, she broke my heart. Besides I like what I have with you. You make things so easy you’re so…… relaxed. With Alicia there was always this tense air around us she never really knew what I felt, ya know? And really I would never do anything to hurt what we have here. You bring so much lucidity to me, it’s amazing.” Bette said flashing her famous Porter smile, making Tina feel safe again.


By this time it was late and they had already made it back to the house. Both Bette and Tina sat talking about the events to come. “I think while your gone I ‘m going to deal with my mother and her *****. Because even though I’d like to dismiss her from my life completely, I need to know why she s the way she is. I feel like sometimes she hates me and I need to know why.” Tina said looking down at the ground,


Bette lifted her head to hers and said “Baby she ‘s in some sort of pain and I understand that you need to know why but, you can’t let her hit you again.”


“She just caught me off guard, because I don’t go for that *****. Baby let me tell you something, there’s a few a things that I don’t go for 1. Is unjustified domestic violence. If you’re hit and you hit that person back then that’s justified violence. 2. Is infidelity. I just don’t go for that cheating *****. Now that’s just beyond betrayal, it’s just down and out right deceitful, ya know? These are just some of the principles I believe in.” Tina said very sternly while resting her arms on Bette’s legs as they sat on the back porch.


“Yeah, I understand.” Bette said a little surprised by the strong convictions that were pouring out of Tina. She never expected to see such a omnipotent person in Tina. They sat in silence for a while watching the clouds roll by revealing the stars. Bette laid back on her elbows while Tina rested her head on Bette’s stomach.


“Hey Bette.” a soft and child like voice said. Bette tilted her head back to see her baby brother Jesse standing on the porch looking down at her.


“Hey Jesse, come here I want you to meet somebody. Jesse this is Tina. Tina this is my baby brother Jesse. “


“Hi Tina.”


“Hi Jesse. So Bette tells me you’re in the fifth grade. Do you like it?” “It’s ok. Bette keeps making me go to school because she says I have to if I want to become a doctor. She says that’s what they do.” all the while Bette sat in awe over the fact that Jesse just opened up to Tina so willingly. She knew that Tina would be comfortable staying here while she was gone. While Tina was talking to Jesse she caught Bette’s eye and gave her a wink. It was so endearing it made Bette feel like she a child safe with her mom, again.


They went inside to the aroma of Melvin cooking some Down South food. ” Hey, baby I hope you didn’t stuff yourself on them sandwiches I got some smothered pork chops over rice, country-style string beans and corn bread for ya.” Bette just smiled and looked at Tina while they both knew what the joke was she just smiled and said “No, Daddy I think I could eat a little more.”


“Yeah me too.” Tina added smilingly.


“Ok baby, why don’t y’all go wash up for dinner.” They both giggled down the hallway as they approached the bathroom. They sat down and ate dinner together, this was a totally new experience for Tina. Dinner for her was usually in the microwave while she talked on the phone. The family bond was something she knew she hated her mother for taking away from her.


Bette and Tina cleared the table together with each accidental touch of each other’s hand they began to smile at each other like the two teenagers infatuated with each other.


“Baby, I have to go to work tomorrow.”


“I know. don’t worry bout me I’ll be fine.”


“Maybe you can talk to Daddy and ask him if he knows when your mother will be ready for the sessions with you.”


“Those sessions are going to happen a lot sooner than she thinks. Because waiting for her I’ll be waiting a lifetime. And I need to get these questions out of my head ya know.”


They finished the dishes and went into the living room to find Jesse asleep with his head on Melvin’s lap. As Bette was removing Jesse from the grasp of his father’s arms, Melvin woke to find Tina watching them with sadness filling her eyes.


“Thank you baby. Tina will you please join me here for a second.” he whispered so as not awake Jesse. Tina just looked at Bette and smiled while she returned the gesture and slowly walked back to put Jesse to bed.


“I heard the two of you in the kitchen. I think you should press your mother for answers. Because she will think things over and over and, before she knows it time has passed her by. Now I know my daughter likes you, and I know how much you like my daughter, but you can’t let that be a deciding factor for staying here and not forgiving your mother.”


“Uhh, how did you know?”


“I haven’t seen Bette smile so much in the past two days since her mother was here. So I know it’s you. I’m pleased that she’s so happy.” he said with a far off look in his eyes.


“Can you ask my mother when she’ll be ready for the sessions because the sooner the better. I think that she needs to be the one to take the first step towards me. She’s the one asking for forgiveness all I’m looking for is answers.” Melvin walked Tina to her room.


“Ok, I’ll talk to your mother in the morning and see when she’ll be ready for you. Ok good night sweetie.” Melvin said as he stood in Tina’s doorway.


Tina came out of the bathroom to find Bette sitting on her bed. “Well hello. And what is the nature of your visit this evening madame.” Tina said playfully taking Bette’s hand. Bette just smiled and rose saying ” I just wanted to wish you a good night. I’ll be gone in the morning before you wake up. I’ve got a job site to get to in the morning so I won’t see you. But I hope you have a less- stressful day tomorrow.” Bette ended her farewell by kissing Tina gently on the lips and turning to walk out. Tina closed the door behind her completely lost in the way Bette made her feel.


The next day before the sun graced the sky Bette was off to work. Tina could only faintly remember the sound of Bette’s car starting but she soon went back to sleep. Later on in the morning Tina woke to the sound of Melvin and Jesse starting their day, Tina came out of her room to see Melvin heading out the door. She looked at the time and saw that it was 8:00 o’clock, it was still a little to early to call her friend Alice who was probably still a sleep so Tina just went back to bed.


Meanwhile Bette was at work delegating out duties and telling her workers which projects she wanted done today. Carmen walked by Bette and caught her eye mid sentence Bette couldn’t help but to smile. Carmen caught this gesture and stopped mid track and waited for Bette to finish her meeting before she approached her.


“Why are you smiling today, this early in the morning?” Carmen asked as Bette tried to hide her smile behind her cup of coffee.


“Carmen, I have met the most amazing girl.” Bette said as her face was a glow.


“Nuh uh? Are you serious? Who is she?, what’s her name? Tell me.”

“Ok she’s…”


“Wait a minute, come with me.” Carmen took Bette’s hand and headed into her office. They both sat down as Bette continued .


“Ok before you start freaking out I gotta tell you it’s Vanessa’s daughter.”


“Vanessa? Who’s Vanessa?……… Ohhhh,What ? Are you serious? David, the guy we sort of work for, girlfriends daughter, that Vanessa?”


“Yes She is so astonishing, she makes me feel like I’m … I don’t know what. I’ve never felt such amorous feelings. I really like her, a lot.”


“Oh My God Bette it sounds like your falling in love with her.”


“Maybe. I don’t know. Like right now as I’m talking to you about her I wonder what she’s doing. She has that kind of affect on me.”


“Wait a minute Cuz when did you meet her, I just saw like 3 days ago?”


“Yea, and on that day I was going to cut David’s grass and finish up the work on that bedroom up stairs remember. Well that bedroom was for her, Tina. “


“Well I see the Porter charm still works. So when do I get to meet her, I know she’s gotta be…” Carmen was interrupted by the sound of the door opening and David walking in.


“Right so I’ll have those rooms finished by 4:00 o’clock.” Bette said trying to play off their conversation. As she was walking out the door David grabbed her arm and said ” We need to talk. Carmen will you excuse us, please.” Carmen just looked at him and looked over at Bette as she nodded it was alright and she was going to be fine. Bette pulled her arm away from David and shot him a look of disgust as she took a seat across from his desk.


“First of all, don’t ever touch me again. Now what is it that you want?”


David took a deep breath and started ” Tina needs to come home. Vanessa is a mess. She needs to talk to Nessa about this situation.”


“I don’t think either one of us is in a position to say what Tina needs right now.”Bette said short and rather directly.. ”I’m not going to force her to do something she doesn’t want to do. Because really that’s all up to Tina as far as what she wants to do. Now if you’ll excuse me I have work to do.”


“Bette What the ***** are you talking about? What do you mean “you’re not going to force her to do something” who the ***** are you to be in this position.”


“I’m the only person, right now, who Tina can trust. I at the very least care about her, which is more than I can say for your ***** drunken, child abusing, girlfriend.”


“Bette Tell Tina… she’s killing her mother.”


“Vanessa’s killing herself.” Bette declared as she slammed the door. And back at the house Tina just woke up to thunderous silence .she looked at the clock and saw that it was 11:00 o’clock.


Whether or not Alice was awake was not a factor, she was going to call her anyway. Tina started to dial the phone but she was interrupted by a knock at the door. She ran to the door and opened to see standing before her was………




TBC………………………………..