“Not a full-blown one, but there were enough comments made to prod me to go see Dan.  They weren’t taking no for an answer.”

“Kit, Shane, and Alice had gotten in touch with George, who then got in touch with Logan – and they all descended on me one Wednesday evening, I think it was.  I was really taken by surprise when they all showed up; and they were initially understanding and sweet.  But later on quite tough and insistent.”

“Then Logan followed–up with a call the next day, and then George later that afternoon.  Kit, Shane, and Alice postponed their return to LA, and slept over at our place through the weekend.  Kit and Alice slept with me on our big bed, while Shane slept on the couch in the room.  Kit had spoken with Dan the following day, who told her that he was going to fit me in on the Monday after.”

She studied Bette weighing what to say, and then gently said, “Through it all they were all very worried about you, too, and Alice, in particular, was obsessed about using whatever high tech media to try to find you.”  Bette smiled slightly at that, and looked at Tina, who smiled back.  Alice. They shook their heads.

Tina took another sip of coffee.  She pulled her knees up, and relaxed into the back of her chair, and entwined her fingers as she rested her hands on her knees.  She rubbed her thumbs together lightly as she reflected back to the first session with Dan.

Bette watched her quietly, and also drank from her coffee cup.

“During the first session with Dan, that Kit had set up, I was a mess Bette. Very raw emotions, extreme guilt, overcome… no… sick with worry about you, and….and, um…something else.”  She paused, glanced nervously at Bette. Then back at her fingers.  Not yet. Not yet, Tina.  Talk about the issues you and Dan have been talking about, first.  Bette wants to know about that.

Then, when she seems more ready.  The baby.

Bette wondered about what had suddenly overcome Tina, who now seemed a bundle of nerves, when just a minute ago the blonde seemed to be so composed, filled with a quiet strength that Bette realized was new.  Something she’d seen in Tina even last night, as they talked in the café, and this morning, when she confessed about Scott.