“Tell me again Tina, please.” Bette said softly.

“Bette, it’s so important to say I’m sorry. I am sorry ….. I’m sorry for all of my actions. I’m sorry for all of the ill chosen words. I want to make it right. I want you in my life and I am willing to work on it if you are…….

Tears stream down Bette’s cheeks as she listens to the words again. She thinks to herself that these are Tina’s words and thoughts to her. Not words she should say to Jodie. Does Tina want her back? Tina, do you want me back. Over and over again in her head she says it. Tina do you want me back. Nevertheless, she cannot bring herself to say the words out loud. TINA, DO YOU WANT ME BACK? The thoughts scream in her brain.

“Bette…….”

“T, thank you. I understand the words. I understand what they mean”. Her voice trails off.

Bette wishes Tina a goodnight and to sleep well.

“Kiss   …   Angelica   …   for me.”

‘I will”.

“Tell her that I miss her”.

“I will Bette. Sleep well.”

“Goodnight T.”

“Goodnight Bette.”

When Jodie arrived at the field where her steel artwork masterpiece was beginning to take shape there were two large wooden shipping crates.

“What’s this”? Jodie signed to Tom.

With a shrug of his shoulders, signing, “I don’t have any idea, let’s take a look.”

He grabbed a large hammer and a crow bar and went to work opening one of the crates. After much pushing and prying the front of the crate fell to the ground and exposed part of the sign that Bette, Alice and Shane stole for Jodie.

Jodie signing to Tom, “I can’t believe this. She stole the sign for me. Who would fucking steal a sign for someone? She would not come to my reception but, she will steal a sign for me. I told her I loved it. That it would be great to incorporate into one of my pieces. She fucking stole it for me.”

“How do you know it was Bette?”

Quickly signing again to Tom,  “Because I told her I loved it. She knew it intrigued me. The metal is amazing, Tom, It is fucking awesome. She is fucking awesome. Nobody but Bette would do this for me. Nobody has ever been as passionate about my work as Bette is. SHE FUCKING STOLE THIS SIGN FOR ME! “Tom, call her for me. Please call her, I need to talk to her. I need to see her. I need to tell her………”

“Hang on Jodie, signing and dialing the phone can get complicated”. He dials Bette’s cell phone number and signs to Jodie that it is ringing. It rings and rings and is going to voice mail.

 “It’s going to voice mail Jodie, do you want to leave a message?

“Yes, tell her I need to see her.” The urgency of her thoughts transformes her hands. She signs quickly.

Tom leaves the message. “Bette, this is Jodie. I need to see you.”

“Tell her that I have the sign”. 

“Bette, I have the sign, please call me.” Tom vocalizes the message.

“Calm down Jodie,” Tom signs in a smooth, fluid motion. His expression helps to explain his demeanor. “I left the message. I am sure she will call you as soon as she gets it.”

They both turn back to face the crates. Jodie’s mind is no longer in creative flux. She knows what she wants to do with the sign and her current project. She gets busy with her welder as Tom takes pieces out of the crate.

Bette is getting a late start this morning. She slept but, she did not sleep soundly. She slept with many things on her mind. Her body rested but her mind never shut down. She dreamed. She awoke from those dreams with questions. She dreamt about Tina and Angelica and forgiveness. She dreamt about Jodie and the sign and forgiveness. Why was there so much forgiving going on. Had we all treated each other so horrifically that we all needed to just say we are sorry, ask for forgiveness and give forgiveness? It is just time to let all of the past bullshit go.

TBC??   I will continue to post this story if there is interest.  Thanks for reading!  jinjur