Chapter 6


Teresa was sitting on the couch in Candace’s apartment, Bette handed her a beer and sat down on the chair in front of her.

Bette: “So, how was your date?… I hope it was better than the last one you told me about.

Teresa smiled, she closed her eyes as she was taking a sip from her beer, she leaned her head back and sigh, the image of Tina sleeping on Alice’s couch earlier that night was still floating in her head.
Teresa felt butterflies in her stomach, the thought ran shivers down her spine; she opened her eyes and said to Bette with a sigh.

Teresa: “She’s….. Amazing .”

Bette smiled, the look on Teresa’s face was undeniable, the look of someone who’s on the edge of falling in love, she knew exactly how Teresa felt, all it took was one look at Teresa’s eyes to understand. Bette remembered having that same look almost 8 years ago, when she first met Tina.
That gaze, that stupid smile on her face that stayed with her throughout the days, and the fear, the fear of falling so deeply in love you’ll lose yourself to her, Bette knew that feeling all to well.
She reached out and touched Teresa’s hand.

Teresa: “Im so afraid” she said in a soft tone,” from the moment she opened the door….I just ….felt a click…what if she doesn’t feel the same? ..What if it doesn’t work out?”

Bette: “Don’t be afraid of things not working out ….most of the time the real fear is what if it does work out? …… What do we do then? …..How do we keep it together?”
Bette was not sure if she was saying those words to Teresa, or to herself.

Teresa: “Im just a little afraid of getting hurt, because with this woman I have a feeling that if I do, I will break in to pieces.

Bette looked at her, understanding exactly what Teresa is going through, she remembered Tina’s comforting words to her when she was in a similar situation, she looked straight into Teresa’s eyes and told her those same words….” Teresa….if you don’t shoot ……. you’ll always miss.”

Now Teresa had a big smile on her face, she closed her eyes again thinking of Bette’s words.

Teresa: “You say go for it?

Bette: “All the way.”




Tina woke up to the sound of someone calling her name.

“Tina …..Tina…..wake up sweetie….go to bed. “It was Alice.

Tina opened her eyes panicked, she looked around to see Teresa but no one else was there.
She felt embarrassed, she hadn’t realized that she had fallen asleep while Teresa was rubbing her feet.

Tina: “Where is she?”

Alice: “Wheres who?”

Tina realized Teresa left before Alice got home.

Tina: “Never mind”

Alice: “Dreaming ha?” she said walking to her room.

Tina: “yes”

Tina smiled to herself, “what is it about this woman that makes me feel so comfortable?” Is it the way she talks, strait forward, no holding back? Yet in a kind way. Opening up to me from the beginning.”
Tina felt that with Teresa there is no playing games, Teresa was herself, simple, caring, warm, an open book, so different from Bette’s manners and self control, and yet, so much like Bette, both beautiful, charismatic, and very well aware of the power they each had over Tina.

Tina picked up the phone and dialed Teresa’s cell number, she knew it was late but she felt she had to apologize to Teresa for falling asleep on her.




Teresa was still in Candaces house talking to Bette, she didn’t want to continue talking about her date, she didn’t want to jinx it so she asked Bette about her job.
Bette started telling her about the art world, the CAC, her ongoing efforts to bring something new and exciting to the public.

Bette: “To tell you the truth, I don’t really like working there, I love art and the whole creative side of it but Im seriously thinking of finding something more fulfilling.

Teresa: “Like what?”

Bette: “Im not sure, I haven’t decided yet …..Its just a thought…. all I know is that this job…the stress…not doing what I really want to doall those things are part of the reason I ruined everything good in my life.” Bette’s eyes became watery as she said those words, she turned her head not to let Teresa see the tears in her eyes.

Teresa: “Ruined your life?” she said surprised, Bette didn’t seem like a person that would brake so easily.

Bette turned back to face Teresa, trying to control her emotions, “why am I telling this to a person I hardly know?” she thought, “the last thing she wants to hear right know is my pathetic problems.”

Bette: “It’s a long story.”

Teresa didn’t push Bette to talk, clearly there was something causing Bette to sound so depressed. She thought that maybe with time, when Bette feels more comfortable, shed share her feelings with her.

Teresa: “I better go, Ill take Karina to the car ” she said as she stood up and went to get her daughter, who was sleeping in the bedroom.

Bette continued sitting on the couch, her thoughts wondered to a different time, a time when she still had Tina in her life.

” What the ***** am I doing here??” she thought, “how did I end up sitting in a house of a woman I don’t love and have no one to come home too?

A loud sound cut her line of thought and brought her back to reality, the sound came from inside Teresa’s purse. Teresas cell was ringing.

Bette: “Teresa …your phone” she said just loud enough for Teresa to hear and not wake up Karina.

Bette heard Teresa’s voice from the other room telling her.

“Bette… can you answer it for me?