“Even eating all of my food?”

“Oh you mean the food you buy in the hopes that Ill make you something? That food?”

“Yes, that food.”

“I love you Bette. Youre my favorite cousin.”

“I bet you say that to all of your cousins.”

“Yes, but you are the one providing shelter now, so I love you the most.”

“I see.”

“Now get your shit together, go into the office or something and Ill see you later this afternoon.”

“Ok, thanks.”

“And dont fuck up your make up, with all that blubbering. You want to make your students think that youre a put together hard ass, dont you?”

“Remind me to forbid Alice from hanging out with you, Jude.” She called from the bedroom.

A few minutes later she came out of the bedroom with her briefcase and keys in hand. That necklace with the ring on it dangling around her neck. She nor her friends will tell me where she got it from, though I suspect I already know.

“Jude. Jude.” Bette said, breaking me from my thoughts. “How do I look?”

“Million bucks, Bette. But I bet yo already knew that.” She smiled and cocked her eyebrow up. Flashes of the old Bette I like to call it.

“Youre such a glamour puss, Bette.”

“Cant help it if I look like a million bucks, Cousin.”

“Yeah will youre still an asshole.”

“Runs in the family, now help me with this jacket thing.”

“She called while you were in the shower.” I slipped in, while I was brushing the last little wrinkles in her jacket away. She stopped and looked me dead in the eyes.

“Why?” Bettes voice got small and her eyes took on a frightened look. Ive only met Tina a few times, all before I moved out here, but she must be some kind of woman to take away the power Bette has.

“Maybe she wanted to talk to you about Angie?”

“How do you know that?” she asked gaining a little more strength in her voice. That and a flash of hope and a thin layer of anger in her eyes.

“Because when she called, she said she wanted to talk to you about Angie.” Bette raised her eyebrows skeptically. “I dont make assumptions Bette. Thats what the woman said. I dont know what that means.”

“It could mean a few things. None of them good. For me anyway.”

“Bette, maybe you shouldnt think the worst about her.” She scoffed instead of answering me. Never a good sign. For her staff anyway. All that scoff meant, was that she would spend her whole day snapping at whatever poor staff member that had a question for her. I really hate what Im about to say.

“You should call her before she calls you.”

“You have got to be joking.”

“No, think about it. You get the drop on her before she gets to over think whatever she wanted to tell you.”

“What makes you think that she has anything good to tell me?” I could tell I was losing quickly to that anger that has always quietly consumed her. So I break a promise to myself and Shane and say what I need to say to get through to her.

“Because she sounded like she needed you too. Your voice anyway.”

“If you heard anything good come out of Tinas mouth or in her tone of voice, then that just proves you dont know her at all.”

“Fair enough.” I said to her back. “Call me if you need anything Bette.”

“Ok, see you this afternoon. Call your mother.”

“Alright, Ill do that right now.” I said picking up the phone. “If she gives me shit today, Im gonna make the rest of your day a living hell Bette and Ill get Al to help me.”

“Promises, promises.” She answered before closing the door.

I waited a good five minutes after Bette left before I even attempted to look at the phone that was occupying my increasingly sweaty palms. Finally after I was sure that Bette was safely stuck in traffic and could not come home, I dialed. After a few rings she picked up.

“Hey…um, Tina. Yeah its Jude.”

God forgive me.