‘Do you want to talk about what has you out here in the middle of the night?’

‘Crying like a baby you mean?’

‘What has you so upset?’

‘I couldn’t sleep; I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that happened today so I came out here to try to unwind.  I’m not upset; I don’t think I realized how much I’ve been holding in.  I think I’m just so relieved that we’re talking it just all spilled out.’

‘Do you feel better?’

‘Yes, thank you, for being here.’

‘Do you think you can sleep now?’

‘I think so.  But first, do you want to talk about why you were crying earlier?’

‘Fair enough, I was sad and relieved.  It makes me sad to think you had to turn to her for what you needed and not me, but I was also relieved that you never brought her into our home.  I couldn’t stand the thought of you making love to her in our bed.’

‘I never loved her.  I should have been strong enough to come to you, but I didn’t want you to see how weak and afraid I had become.’

‘I wasn’t there for you and I’m sorry.’

‘It wasn’t your fault.’

‘If we’re going to get through this we’re both going to have to accept the responsibility for how we ended up.  I know I withdrew after the miscarriage.  So let’s stop beating ourselves up and do something about it.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Now let’s get some sleep, we have a lot to do tomorrow.’

~ ~ ~ ~

Bette woke up early the next morning so she could run to the market.  She knew if Tina was anything like she was the first time she was pregnant she would want to eat as soon as she woke up.

Tina saw Bette sitting at the table drinking coffee and making a list of things they needed to do when the phone rang.

‘Hello.’

‘This is she.’

‘Yes I can make it, tomorrow at four.’

‘Yes the appointment is for me.  My partner well when I called for the appointment we weren’t really speaking so I just made the appointment for myself.’