The baby stirred, disturbed from her contentment in being nursed.

“Shhh…,” Tina cooed quietly, kissing the top of her head, and rocking her gently.  Her mind was racing, processing everything Kit had just shared.

Everyone was talking at once, and simultaneously peppering Kit with questions. Then they settled as they saw Tina comforting the baby.  They looked at one another guiltily.  If they were shocked, what more Tina?  They quieted down, and looked at Tina.

“How, Kit?” Tina asked, simply.

“I’m sorry, sweetie, I really am, “ Kit responded, rubbing Tina’s arm affectionately. “But I couldn’t tell you whenever I heard from her or anything like that, because Bette made me swear.  She said she would stop checking-in if she would somehow find out if I told.”

“It’s not your fault, Kit,” Tina said warmly, rubbing Kit’s arm also.  “Look, Bette asked you to, and I don’t have a right to expect you to break that trust…”

“I know a little something about breaking a trust,” she said quietly, almost to herself.

She paused, “Is that why you kept assuring me, kept coming up to New York to visit?”

Kit nodded.

Tina smiled, “I distinctly remember you advising me to, quote, stop spending a fortune paying all these people to look for Bette, unquote.”

The girls were quiet, and looked at one another, as they processed what Kit had just shared, and marveling at how calmly Tina was taking the stunning news.  They all knew the dark period Tina had entered right after Bette left.  Kit had  feared the worst, both for her and for Bette.  But a few weeks after Bette had left, Kit did seem to espouse more worry for Tina.

“So is that why you always seemed so cool about it?  Assuring us that Bette would be ok, and that she would eventually either stop running, or come back, or something like that?,” Carmen asked.

“Yes,” Kit said again, then turned to Tina, “I really am sorry Tina.”  Tina just shook her head, repeating again that it wasn’t her fault.

“But if that’s the case,” Shane sat up, “Why are you telling us now?”

“Well…,” Kit paused, “Bette didn’t ask me this time. Or at least Mike didn’t say anything.  So I’m guessing that she wants me off the hook, and is allowing me to share things with you all.”