“Bette, why are you doing this to yourself?”

“Doing what?”

“Excluding all this love that you have in your life.  Come on!  Think about it.  Helena didn’t tell you because she knew that you wouldn’t be able to bond with me if you knew.  I see the way she looks at you, she loves you.  You love her.  She’s gorgeous.  You’re gorgeous.  You belong together.  Kit loves and supports you.  And that damn Peggy Peabody, she might as well be your second mother because she might be just as proud as me.  You have so much love in your life, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t let it in.  Don’t shut everyone out, especially not Helena.” 

“It’s hard, mom.”

“I know.  But I know that she cares for you and you love her.  You have to make sure she knows it before it’s too late.”

Maxine reached up and touched Bette’s cheek.

“You think so?”

“I know so.”  Maxine smiled at her daughter, “Now, get out of here.  Go get your girl.”

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay here?”

“Yes.”

Bette got up and made her way towards the door, “Hey, mom?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you and I forgive you for everything.”

“I love you too.”

**

“She won’t talk to me.” Helena said.  She laid on her back across Alice’s bed.

“Do you blame her?  She’s got trust issues, man!”

“I know.  I thought I was doing the right thing.  I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

“Have you told her that?”

“I did.  I just love her so much, you know?  I don’t want to lose her.”

“Then don’t.  It’s just that simple, don’t lose her.  Just love her and make sure she knows.  I mean, look at her mom.  You don’t want that, do you?  Waiting years to really express how you feel knowing that you won’t have that long to be sure she really knows.  Tell her now before it’s too late.”

“You’re right.”

“Well, what are you waiting for?  Call her.”  Helena reached for her cell phone, but before she could answer, Bette was calling her.

“I was just about to call you.”

“Can I see you?”

“Yeah.  I’m home.”

“I’m pulling up to your apartment now.”

They hung up and Helena rushed outside, not saying another word to Alice. When she got outside, Bette was sitting on the hood of her car.

“Baby…” Helena started.

“No, let me start.  Helena, I’m sorry.  I’m sorry for pushing away because I know the only reason you hid that from me is because you wanted to protect me.  I know that you love me.  I love you too.  I grow more and more in love with you every day.  You make me happy and you complete me.  I need you right now.  I need you for support.”

Helena smiled.  She was really just happy to hear Bette’s voice, “Come here.”  Bette walked to her, taking her in her arms, “I forgive you.  I will never keep anything away from you again. I love you more than you can ever know.”

Bette listened to her mother for the first time since she was 9 and she was so right.  Her small advice would be the last thing her mother would say to her.

Maxine Laughlin Porter succumbed to cancer the next morning.