“She knows we would be looking for her. But she’s smart.”

“If she doesn’t want us to find her we won’t.”

“Maybe we should call Tina. I mean if she won’t come to us that’s the only other place I think she would go.”

“She’s got a gun. Drop it.” Bette was talking in her sleep. It wasn’t clear and barely above a whisper. “Let the kid go. No, no.” The level of her voice was increasing enough to get Tina and Alice’s attention. “No, no.”

Bette was tossing and turning. Tina rushed over to her. “Bette wake up. You’re having a bad dream.” She tried to clam her down.

“Stop!” Bette awoke suddenly.

“Its ok. It was just a bad dream.”

“What? Where?” Bette momentarily forgot where she spent the night. “Tina?”

“I’m here.” She cupped her face, her thumb wiping a tear that escaped her eye.

Bette leaned her face into Tina’s hand. She raised her right hand to meet Tina’s as it cradled her face. She gently kissed it before sitting up. “Morning.” She half smiled.

“I would ask if you slept well, but the answer is obvious.”

“I’ve had better nights.”

“Bette, I want you to know that you can trust me.”

“Tina, I.” As if on queue the telephone started ringing. Tina tried to ignore it. “You should get that.”

“Ok.” Tina reluctantly got up and answered the phone. “Hello?”

“Tina?”

“Yes?”

“Um it’s Helena. Is Bette there?” She asked cautiously.

“Yes she is.” Tina turned away and spoke softly. “She isn’t doing too good. I think something happened yesterday that upset her, but she won’t talk to me about it.”

“Yeah, something we were working on didn’t go too well.” Helena tried to explain without giving anything away. “May I speak with her for a second please?”

“Sure. Hold on.” Tina cuffed her hand over the mouthpiece. “Bette, it’s Helena.”

She walked over and handed Bette the phone. “Thanks.” She smiled. “Hey Helena.”

“You ok?”

“Not really.”

“Bette, we need to talk about what happened. It wasn’t your fault. I hope you know that.”

“Helena it was my fault. It was poor judgement on my part.”

“Bette come home, please? We need to talk about this.”

“I know.” She sighed.

“Ok, we’ll be here.”

“Ok.”

“And Bette?”

“Yeah?”

“His mother doesn’t blame you.” Bette covered her face to hide the tears that flowed freely down her cheeks. She held the mouthpiece away from her so Helena wouldn’t hear her sobs. The few moments of silence worried Helena. “Are you there?”

Bette inhaled deeply and exhaled, “Yeah. I’m here.”

“Do you need me to come get you?”

“No, that’s ok. I’ll ask Tina. If she cant I’ll just take a cab.”

“Ok then, we’ll see you soon.”

“Ok. Bye.” Bette hung up. She wiped any evidence that she had been crying and tried to put on a happy face before joining Tina and Alice at the table.

“Everything ok?” Alice asked concerned.

“Yeah.” She smiled. “I have to get going? I got an early morning meeting.”

“Do you need a ride?” Tina was more than happy to oblige. Although the circumstances weren’t what she would have wished for the first night spent at her home, she was happy just being in Bette’s presence, and any chance she got to prolong that she would capitalise.

“Oh that’s ok, I’ll just catch a cab.”

“No way. I’ll be more that happy to take you anywhere you need to be. It’s no problem at all.”

“Thanks.”

“Have something to eat first and then we can go ok?”

“Sure.” Bette as well welcomed any opportunity she got to be with Tina. She inhaled as she sat at the table. “Smells good.”

“Tina is an excellent cook.” Alice chimed in.