“When did it start?”

“She kissed me in my office. We had lunch. She forgot her tools and came back for them. Then she kissed me.” Bette confessed.

“When?”

“When you were at Dinah Shore with the girls,” the brunette admitted. The guilt of letting someone other than Tina kiss her had eaten at her, but she had pushed it aside.

“Was it easy for you to do…kiss her.” Tina’s heart was hurting, but she needed to know.

“It was easy. She was different from you, the exact opposite of you, but I never slept with her." Bette turned to Tina, gauging her reaction.

“Don’t lie to me, Bette.” Tina rocked back and forth on the couch. “My master electrician saw you with her at the B&B. He and his wife saw you kissing on the stairs. He recognized from the photo I had on my desk.”

Bette sat up and began to pace. “I’m not lying to you. I swear…it’s true that I was at the B&B with her and that we were kissing.” Bette looked at Tina rocking back and forth. “She wanted me to sleep with her and I thought I wanted the same thing, but I couldn’t…I couldn’t do it. Tina, I swear on my life that I didn’t sleep with her.”

“Why couldn’t you?” Tina stopped rocking. “Why?”

“Because she wasn’t you. Her touch didn’t feel like yours. Her kisses weren’t soft like yours. I was lying in bed and all I wanted to feel was your arms around me. Your lips on my neck…on my breast…on my heart.” Bette cried softly. Had this been all her fault, flirting with Candace. If she hadn’t asked Candace to take her somewhere, would she and Tina be in this exact same spot as they were now.

Tina looked at Bette, really looked at her and took in what she was saying.  She believed her. Tina realized what she had done, how she assumed Bette was having an affair and that if Bette could do it, that she could too.

“Oh, my god, Bette, what I have done? What have I done?” Tina cried. “I’m sorry. Oh my god.” Tina cried over and over.

“You took almost eight years and threw it away.” Bette answered. “I want you out. Don’t try to contact me until I’m ready.”

“Bette, please.” Tina knelt in front of the woman she had loved with all of her heart, the same woman she had hurt. “Please say that you forgive me. Please. We can fix this.” Tina pleaded.

“Don’t try to contact me until I’m ready. Please leave.” Bette ordered.

“I’ll go for now.” Tina stood. She gathered some clothes and belongings and placed it in a small suitcase. She was going to do what the brunette asked.

*****

The honking of the horn behind her brought Tina back to the present. She looked at Bette who was still asleep and then she glanced at her reflection in the rear view mirror. Her eyes were red with tears. She removed her sunglasses the middle console and slipped them on quickly as she continued the drive to the beach house. After a few blocks she pulled up into the driveway. She put the car in park and removed the key from the ignition and blew into a tissue. She gathered herself together and took a couple of deep breaths before waking Bette.

“Bette, we’re here.” She gently placed her hand on Bette’s shoulder and shook her.

Bette stirred in the passenger seat and brought the seat to an upright position. She looked at Tina, who looked like she had been crying. “Have you been crying?”

“I think my allergies are acting up.” Tina lied. “Do you think you can entertain yourself for a few hours, maybe explore the area or go to the beach while I try to write a rough draft of a grant that I’m working on?”

“Are you sure you’re okay? I can stay in you know.” Bette was concerned. They were getting along, but something happened during the drive back from Atlantic City.

“I know. I was just thinking about some things and I need to clear my head.” Tina finally admitted.

“Okay, I’ll leave you alone.”

tbc