Tina sagged back into her own chair also.  She thought, so now, Bette knew the facts, at least.  At some point, perhaps they would be able to talk about what this meant, or what it had meant, as it was happening.

“I’m….I’m sorry Bette,” Tina said, again.  She was drained, emotionally exhausted. She leaned back, closed her eyes.  I’ll keep talking if Bette wants me to.

After a few minutes, Bette asked, “Did you talk about all this with someone, T? Maybe Dan?”

Tina opened, her eyes, and nodded.  “Yeah, yeah, I did.  I went back to see Dan, about two weeks after you’d …um…left.”

She looked straight into Bette’s eyes, earnest and sincere, “I’ve covered a lot of ground with him, over the last nine or so months, on that, and what I’m resolved to doing.  There are demons I have to face… and I can talk about that aspect of it with you, too.  If…. if you’ll let me?”

Bette signaled, “yes,” her large brown eyes meeting Tina’s hazel ones without hesitation.

Tina shut her eyes, again.  After talking about what had happened with Scott, she felt the need to soak, and cleanse her body, just as she had following the first encounter in her hotel room in Toronto.

“Bette, I do want to talk more with you about this…. but I really need to soak in the bath, right now.  Do you mind my pausing here, going in for a soak?”

“No…no… please go ahead.”

Bette began to stand up, mentioning she could run the bath, but Tina waved her down. “No, Bette, that’s alright.  Why don’t you finish here first, and relax with your coffee.  I’ll join you shortly, after I soak a bit in the tub…”

Tina stood, offered a small smile to Bette, and headed for the adjoining bath to the bedroom.

It was a large sized bathroom, with a large modern tub.  Tina opened the taps of the tub, mixing some cold water into the hot water that she was running.  She poured some of the bath salts and liquids provided by the hotel.  Bubbles began to cover the tub.  She saw Bette had purchased some candles.  She look around and saw a box of matches.  She struck a match and lit the candles, arranging them on the ledge.  She watched the wicks flicker; then inhaled the soothing bouquet mixing in with the smells of the bath soap, salts, and steam.