There was something in her voice when she spoke, this underlying ribbon of vulnerability that Tina never would’ve guessed to come from her doctor. Tina was certain that Bette didn’t know it was there otherwise she’d have done her best to disguise it. This paradox of a human being became so much more fascinating to Tina. She wondered how far down she would have to dig to get a real and profound answer from Bette. That thought alone tickled her and came through in her now jovial steps “Well some people aren’t as observant or thoughtful as others.  Tell me more.”  

“I also have a younger sister, who will be graduating from Columbia early, in the Spring and my father still lives in Philadelphia, in our family home.”

Bette’s answer was short and to the point, she’d answered every possible angle of the general question without divulging much information. Nonetheless she’d shocked Tina by giving that much information. “What about you?”

“Just Alice and Tasha.” she saw the knit of Bette’s brow and looked ahead as she poke. “My parents were killed in a car accident.” she squeezed her hand tighter than before and spoke again. “Along with my baby brother.”

“Oh wow, Tina I’m so sorry to hear that.” Bette said and swiftly dodged a low branch while walking with Tina next to her.

Tina smiled as Bette continued on without missing a step, “Thank you, but it was a long time ago. I lived with my Aunt; my mom’s sister until I went to college and then she passed. So from then on it’s always just been Alice, Rick and little ol’ me. Tasha wasn’t added until we gave her our seal of approval, that was almost… ten years ago.”

“Ok, I gotta ask; and I know maybe it’ll seem out of left field but… how did those two come about? They seem like an extremely odd pairing.”

Tina laughed out loud and felt her cheeks warm from the laughter, “Somehow I knew that was going to be the question.” Bette wanted that. She so desperately wanted to make Tina smile and not dwell on the tragedies of her life. It felt good to hear her laugh. “Alice was dating a woman named Gisella, a hideous choice; but she also happened to be Tasha’s ex.” Tina said and looked over to Bette who nodded her head with a smirk. Typical L.A. lesbian story, there’s always gonna be a date with someone’s ex and either a friendship or a relationship develops.  “So Gisella thought it’d be a good idea for them all to hang out and become friends.”