Bette and Alice made it to Shane at the same time.  Bette started after Tina but Shane stopped her.  She told her that Tina didn’t want her to come after her and that Tina wouldn’t let her explain about the woman from the bar.  Alice told Bette that Tina had seen the woman and thought Bette knew her.  They tried to get Bette to come back to the table, but she insisted on leaving.

* * * * *

After packing for her trip Bette had showered and gone to bed.  She had left three messages on Tina’s cell before admitting to herself that Tina wasn’t going to call back.

She woke when she felt someone sit on the side of the bed.

‘Tina?’

‘We need to talk Bette.’

Bette reached for light.

‘Leave it off okay?’

‘Tina where did you go?’

‘We need to talk about seeing other people, we never talked about that.’

‘What!’

Bette got up and turned on the light.  She thought for sure she was dreaming, but there she sat, on the side of the bed, with the most determined expression.

‘Okay, let’s talk about that.  Have you met someone?’

‘What?’

‘Have you met someone your interested in?  It’s understandable, I’m the only woman you’ve ever been with, I’m sure you’re curious.  I’ve given you the perfect out; after all I cheated on you why shouldn’t you seize this opportunity.  Is that where you went tonight?’

‘What are you talking about?’

Bette held up her hand and pointed to her ring.  ‘In my heart I’m still married to you.  Seeing someone else is what put us in this ***** so I know you don’t think I want to see anyone else so you must have someone you want to see.  I’m certainly in no position after what I’ve done to ask you not to see anyone else.  So if that’s what you need to do then that’s what you should do, but if that’s the case I don’t think there is any point in us seeing Foxworthy.’

‘I don’t want to see anyone you’re the one that’

‘That what, had a stranger offer to buy me a drink and I turned her down.  Shane tried to tell you what happened, but you didn’t listen you just left.  Since when did you take on my behavior?’

Bette took Tina’s hand and pulled her up and into an embrace.

‘T, I’m so sorry that I’ve made you mistrust everything I do.  I never wanted us to end up this way.  I’m starting to feel like we’re caught in quicksand and I don’t know how to get out.  Maybe we should just let go.’

‘But you promised me.’

‘Promised what?’

‘That you would help me, you promised.’

‘And I will, we’ll go see Foxworthy in the morning and see if he can help us stop backsliding, I’ll call Peggy and tell her I can’t make it and I’ll stay here with you and we’ll figure this out.  Now come on, let’s get you changed it’s late.  We need to try to get some sleep.’

Tina changed and slipped into bed next to Bette.

‘Where did you go tonight T?’

‘Here.’

‘What do you mean here?’

‘I was out by the pool when you got home.’

‘Why didn’t you come in?’

‘I don’t know.  I could see you in here packing, getting ready for bed and you keep calling.  I could hear you leaving messages and then I’d listen again on my phone.  I just couldn’t come in.’

‘Did you think I was going to bring someone home?’

‘Not really, I don’t think you would ever bring anyone here.  Would you really sit back and let me see someone else, without trying to stop me?’

‘Oh ***** no!  So don’t even think about it.  Now come on try to get some sleep.’