Bette buttoned up her suit jacket in the mirror.  Helena watched her from the back.  Bette looked so strong even though Helena knew she was falling apart on the inside.  She loved that about Bette—the way she could seem so together, even when she wasn’t.

The banquet hall was filled with family and friends, who made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles to say goodbye to Bette’s mother, including Bette’s father.  They avoided each other throughout the service.  There was no reason for her to be nice to him.  Inside the crowded banquet hall, where the memorial service was held for Maxine, her friends approached Bette before she was to make a speech.

“I’m really sorry, Bette.” Alice said, taking Bette into her arms.

“Thanks, Alice.”

Shane leaned over and hugged Bette too.

“Anything you need just let me know.  You know, we’re always here for you.”

“I know.”

Bette nodded at them and walked to the podium.  She looked over at a picture of her mother holding her as a baby.  She smiled at it, hoping the tears wouldn’t fall.

“I lost my mother when I was 9.” She started, “And I regained her, a little over a month ago.  Between that time, my heart was shut down completely.  I never let any one get close to me because I was afraid of being hurt like I was when I was kid.  But getting her back in my life, opened my mind and my heart, no matter how short of a time period I had her.  She changed my life.” Bette looked at Helena, “And she made it possible for me to love someone again, fully and completely.  The last thing she said to me was to let love in my heart, because I had so much of it around me.   To stop being stubborn and feel love the way it’s meant to be felt.  I’m glad I followed her advice.  I wish I could talk to her now, maybe ask her what I should do next.”  Bette put her head down for a moment and brought it back up with tears on her face, “I may not have had the best relationship with my mother and she may not have been the best mother, but I loved her.  I loved her and I’ll miss her.  Thanks to everyone for coming to celebrate my mother’s life.”