Bette sighed. “I’m tired, T,” she said quietly.  “It’s time I faced you,” she continued.  She looked around, and noted where they were in the ride.  She pulled the wire behind them, and then turned to face Tina.

“Do you want to go someplace we can talk?”

Tina swallowed.  “Yeah, yeah, I’d like that.”

Bette smiled a little, and as the carriage slowed to a stop, motioned to Tina to step out, ahead of her.

They emerged into the park.  Bette turned to the operator, smiled warmly, and gave him another sizable tip.  He bowed, and kissed her hand, then waved to Tina.

“Where would you like to go?” Tina asked.

“I… I don’t know.  I haven’t been here in a while.  Why don’t you decide?”

“Do you have a car?”

“No.. I took a cab.”

“Would you like for us to take mine?”

“Sure, why not?” Bette gave her a wan smile.

Tina looked around for the driver, spotted him, and saw him wave them over.

She turned to Bette, “Shall we?”

Bette nodded, and followed Tina. The driver came around to where they stood.  They got in, and Tina gave him an address.

Bette was not familiar with it, so decided to sit back, quietly, looking out at the sights outside of the window, as they flashed past.

“It’s a café on the Left Bank that closes late. It’s private, tucked away.  Nice wine list,” Tina explained.

“That sounds good,” Bette responded, glancing at Tina, and gave her another small smile.

The ride continued in silence, until they approached, then turned away from the Notre Dame to cross the Seine.  They both stared at it through Bette’s window.

“It looks really nice tonight,” Bette whispered, “Majestic.” The Notre Dame was celebrating an important milestone, and was bathed in a blue hue from a bank of lights.  In front of the Notre Dame was a temporary exhibit, also in blue.

Tina nodded and smiled.  She guessed Bette was thinking about the interlude they had in the garden behind the Notre Dame.

After they crossed the bridge, she said quietly, “Umm… Bette, Mike is really worried that you popped up in Paris. Frankly, I’m worried, too.  Is it safe for you to be here?”

Bette pursed her lips and smiled at the same time (a unique Bette facial expression, Tina thought, as she looked on), “I’ll explain later when we get to that, T, but suffice it to say, I felt I had to come.”