After her shower she did as she told Tina, Bette made breakfast. Tina was in the shower and Sarah was lying on an airbed in the swimming pool. She had told Bette she wanted the same tan as Bette has.

Tina came out of the shower in a pair of sweat pants and a tank top. She was admiring Bette as she was making dinner. Bette could feel Tina was watching her, so she decided to drop her spoon. Tina admired Bette’s ***** as she bent down to pick up the spoon. Without turning around Bette asked her: “See something you like?” Tina let out a giggle as she said: “Yes, and I like it very much! You have a really nice *****!” Bette had to blush at that compliment. She turned around and looked at Tina. “Breakfast is almost ready!” “Bette Porter are you blushing?” Tina asked. She couldn’t believe she made Bette blush. “No I’m not!” Bette said as she defended herself. Tina walked closer to her. “Yes you are! But don’t be afraid, I won’t tell anyone!” Tina giggled. Bette grabbed the spoon she had dropped earlier and pointed it at Tina. “You better don’t tell anyone, or I might have to kill you!” Tina giggled again. She was glad they could still have that playful banter. Bette was still pointing the spoon at Tina as she said: “Now sit down as breakfast is served!” Tina did as she was told.

They made small talk during breakfast, both afraid to bring up the real subject they wanted to talk about. When they had put away the dishes, Bette decided it was time to talk. They both sat down on the couch in the living room. Bette started:

“Well, I’m pretty sure you have some questions? But I don’t want you to get stressed. If it gets to much for you and you want to stop, or you want me to leave, you just tell me ok?” Tina nodded her head, and took a deep breath. She looked Bette straight in the eye and asked: “Why?” Bette looked down for a second thinking what she would say. She looked back at Tina. “I’ve been asking myself that same question over and over! And the thing is I don’t really have an answer. We were living next to each other. When we lost the baby you shut me out.” Tina looked at her. “So now it’s my fault?” “No, I don’t mean it like that.” She took Tina’s hand in hers. “You were hurting and I tried to reach out to you, but you shut me out. Then she comes into the picture showing interest in me. I was keeping myself strong for you; I didn’t want you to see me as a weakling. When she showed her interest in me, I let all control slip away.” Bette started to cry. “That was the biggest mistake of my life Tina. I was a fool for thinking you would find me weak. I wasn’t there when you needed me; I was so absorbed with work that I didn’t take care of you when you needed me. Then when you found out, I was angry with you for walking out on me. But when I realised what happened I realised it was all my fault and that you had every right to walk out on me, on us!” Bette let her tears flow freely. She looked down at the ground afraid that Tina might think she’s weak. Tina lifted Bette’s chin up with her finger. She was also crying. Crying for the loss of their baby boy, crying for the loss of their relationship, crying for the pain Bette had caused her. They looked at each other. None of them said a word as they sat there. Finally Tina said: “Bette Porter you cease to amaze me! I’ve never know you so open about your feelings. And I’m glad you told me the truth! If would have saved us a lot of pain back then.” Bette let out a sad smile. “I’m sorry I’m weak!” “No!” Tina said. “Don’t you ever think you’re weak. Because you’re not. Showing your true feelings doesn’t make you weak Bette. It’s only human.” Tina wiped Bette’s tears away with her thumb. “I want to make this work Bette, I really do, but you have to promise me we’ll keep communicating! No running away if it gets hard, no thinking your weak. I don’t want you to close down on me again. I couldn’t stand to go through that again! Can you promise me that babe?” Tina asked her hoping Bette would say yes. Bette looked Tina directly in the eye as she said: “I, Bette Porter, promise you, Tina Kennard, that I will never ever close down again. I will talk to you if I need to, I won’t ever run again!” Tina grinned at Bette. “Good, now come here!”