Chapter 33

Tina sat and looked ahead; her eyes couldn’t seem to move from the urn, still standing on the lush grass, still surrounded by the dancing sunlight, still containing the ashes of the woman that Bette’s emotions were running freely for.

Her arms remained tightly wound around Bette, one around her shoulders, holding her close to her chest, the other allowing her hand to rest on Bette’s head, her fingers gently stroking her, playing with her hair…

The uncontrollable sobbing that had wracked Bette’s body, the ones that had brought tears to Tina’s own eyes and the ache in her chest were gone. 

Bette’s sobs had eased to the hiccupping stage.

“How…, how did you…, know…?” Bette asked quietly against Tina’s chest.

Tina ‘s mind became alert at the muffled words at her chest, her eyes broke away from the urn as she felt Bette moving to face her.

She looked into the deep dark eyes and her heart did the combination of pounding and aching.

It pounded because she knew in that very moment that her ‘need’ to find a way back, no matter what, was the right one.

And it ached because all she wanted to do was to take away the pain that was so engrained in those deep, dark eyes.

“How T…, how…, did you know…?”

Tina’s thumb brushed away the droplet travelling slowly down Bette’s cheek, “I just…, I don’t know…, I just had a feeling that…”

“Lily died…?”

“No…, that you needed me…”

Bette gave a slight smile, “like you’ll never know…”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“I couldn’t…”

“I called you…”

“I know…”

“You do? But…”

“I couldn’t Tina, it all happened so…”

“Quick?”

“Well yeah but…, it’s…”

“It’s okay…” Tina reassured as Bette’s eyes welled once again.

Bette took a deep breath as she glanced towards the urn, “saying it aloud would have made it all real…”

“Oh babe…” Tina said as she pulled Bette closer.

Maxy sat on the wall above the stained glass window, watching her daughter and the blonde woman who held her closely.  She had a feeling about her, the blonde…, she looked like she was looking after her daughter…, she gave a sigh of contentment…, at last she had her ‘one’.