Some Quality Time
Chapter Thirty-Seven


Friday, the second day.

Without Bette and Libby off doing school work, Tina didnt have much to do except cleaning out the storage after work.


Hello, Alice here.

Al, my place as soon as youre done with whatever it is youre doing.

No time to answer her as she was cut off by the dial tone. Closing her phone, I guess Ill see you then, Miss I cant wait for your answer.


Nini, Im going back to the library.

Did you eat already?

Yeah, James met me for lunch.

That was nice. Can I ask you something sweetie?

Sure, Nini.

Youve had boyfriends before right?

But all Libby had to do was close her eyes and try not to think about the last boyfriend to give Tina her answer.

Nini, hes good to me. And hes said he wait till I finished school to think about anything else. But I dont think hes going to have to wait that long.


Tina Kennard, Alice is here. Where are you?

Alice, Tina forgot she was coming.

Well Im going. Ill be back in a bit.

You leaving me kid?

Yeah, Tia, books are calling my name. The door was closed with Alice mouthing Tia.

What the ***** did she just call me?

Alice, its just Aunt in Spanish.

Good, because if it was something else, I was going to have to tell Bette she was going to be short one daughter.

Grabbing her friend by the hand and letting her laughter flow as she led her to the backyard.

As they were making their way, you know Tina, its really good to hear you laugh again. Things are good, no?

Yeah they are. What about you?

Knowing Alice wasnt one to beat around the bushes, she asked me to move in.

And,

And II, a heavy sigh, I just wanted to ask her to marry me first.

Alice, thats great.

Yeah but you heard her, she doesnt think I can be romantic or serious.

So.

So, I want to ask this woman to marry me, and she thinks those evil things about me. Which by the way arent true.

So prove her wrong.

How?

Sitting down next to her, Wait let me get this straight, is this Alice asking me for advice. Which if I can remember correctly, this would be the first time for her to do so.

Great the one time Im dead serious, the sarcastic you comes out. How about that.

Oh Al, itll come to you. If it was meant to be, then it will, you just have to let it come back to you, thats all. I promise.

Is that what you did?

About what?

Taking her back.

Looking back into her house and seeing everything where it was supposed to be,

We had already gone through the tough, not having her here would have only made it tougher for the both of us. The only thing left to go through together was the getting easy, you know. Besides, I could only wake up to not having here for so long.

Werent you scared?

Of course.

So how did you know?

I knew that taking her back, was something that could make us or break us. But not having her at all would break me even more than us having a setback. So I took that chance and believe that we can still overcome what is to come our way, good or bad. So how did you know?

Know what?

You wanted to marry her.

When I realized that the way you saw Bette, I could see Dana in the same way you know. That all these years that I had been teasing and making fun of you two just giving eyes at each other or noticing that you two had just done the dirty and didnt have a care in the world, was my kind of way of being a little jealous.

Why?

Because I wanted that kind of love.
And now?

I have that kind of love.

Welcome to the club of boringness, as she nudged her in the arm.

Thanks. Now what was this urgency to come over?

You have the pleasure of helping me clean out our storage.

She always manages to leave when cleaning is needed.

Yeah and you love her for it.

Yeah lucky me.

Oh shut up and come on.



Almost There
Chapter Thirty-Eight



Hey Oscar, is Tina around?

Yeah, shes just painting somewhere around here.

Thanks, she was making her way out when he stopped her.

I know its not my place, but Im glad you put the light back into her eyes.

Thank you, Oscar.

Can I offer you a hand? Tina turned up from her spot on the floor.

Youre back.

And youre all yellow? Pulling her up and into her arms.

Did everything go okay?

Yeah but well talk about that later. Did you eat already?

No.

Do you think Oscar will mind if I take you on lunch break already?

Let me go tell him.

Ill be in the car.

When she got to Bettes car, Bette was already seatedin the passenger seat. Settling into the driver seat no words were needed as turning the keys to start the car meant far more than any words could say.

Any place special?

Anywhere with you is always special.

Then pizza it is. Oh before I forget, we have to stop at the lumber yard and get some more brushes.

So did everything go okay, taking a sip from her drink.

Yeah, so in two weeks, we have to go back.

We cleaned out the storage.

We?

Alice, laughing as she thought about their conversation.

What?

Alice wants to be boring. She bought a ring and everything.

This time Bette couldnt keep her drink contained.

Sorry, did you just say what I think you did?

Yup.

Good for them. So how does the place look?

Decent enough for a bedroom and a small study.

Decent enough for privacy you mean.

I think theyre in it for the long run. So we might have two weddings in the future.

What!

Bette you have to face it. This could be it.

Leaving the last bite of her pizza, Im not so hungry anymore.

Dont worry, we still have a little boy to think about and he wont have a girlfriend for a long time.

Speaking of Jonathan, I brought some pictures of him that I took. I just left them in storage with some other stuff.

Finishing lunch and paying the bill, they were on the way to the lumber yard.


What kind of brush do you need T, calling out to her in the next isle.

The big one babe.

There are about 20 of them T.

Going up and down the isle, she studied which one was really the biggest one. She was deep in thought when a voice obviously on the phone sent chills up her spine.

2 x 7s is all I need.

Bette turning to the voice she had feared she would hear again.

Um, Ill get back to you.

Bette, came from the isle once again.

They stood a few feet away and nothing was said or done. Having called Bettes name again to no answer, Tina made her way to Bette.


Babe, I was calling your stopping to see why there was no response. She looked at Bette, but in her eyes you could tell she was scared. Taking her hand, she whispered, breathe babe.

Finally gaining conscience that Tina was next to her, Im sorry T, I didnt hear you.

Tina knew she couldnt get mad just yet. Bette wasnt going to say anything so she decided to start. Turning back to the woman who tore her world and heart apart,

Candace, but she could tell she didnt want to be there either.

Tina, came from her end as if she was even scared to pronounce Bettes name.

Taking a firmer stance next to Bette,
Im gonna say this once and once only so make sure you never forget, I dont like you for obvious reasons, but I do forgive you for your part in all this. I think you should move on as we have done ourselves. Bette.

Um, I have to ask for your forgiveness because on my part I had no right to anything with you. You dont have to forgive me, thats your choice, but know that I forgive you and regret having anything happened. Good-bye.

Now finally feeling free, she grabbed her wifes hand and turned to leave the isle and her regrettable past behind.

Before the last steps were taken, a low voice whispered, for what its worth, Im sorry.

Having Bette back in the driver seat as she took Tina back to work.

You going home,

No, Libby and James are the space so Im gonna check it out.

I should be home within the next hour or so.

Call me when you leave. Opening the door for her, Thank you T.

Its over now.

Yes it is.


The gallery.

Momma.

Sweetie, James. Did most of the work already come in?

Yeah, and while you were gone, I got a few phone calls.

From who?

From artists who found out you were opening your own place and want to show here.

But we dont open for another three weeks.

I know, but we have enough for at least three shows after that.

Are you serious?

Would I lie to you about art at least?

No and I hope not about anything else.

You guys, came from Libby as she was the referee when these two went at it.

So mom, when is Jonathan coming?

Well your mother and I have to go back in two weeks. And hopefully we can get our license then and if we do he can come with us.

You know Bette I was thinking we dont have a proper name yet.

Any suggestions?

Does it have to include Peggys name?

Laughing, no.

Then how about the Porter and Kendrix Gallery?

As in your last name Kendrix.

Glad you love it, kissing his old bosses and new partners cheek.

Speaking of love, Libby do you like the apartment thingie above the garage?

Its just right.

Yeah Bette, just right for the two of us.

Throwing her hands up in the air in defeat, I just cant win, can I?

Aw, Bette were all winners here, youll see.

Great James, I cant wait.