Dear T,

You know who I am, often better than I know myself. Even after I shattered your trust you were able to forgive and willing to trust. I should have trusted you over any others. Instead, I pushed you away.

I was wrong. Words are inadequate. How I can demonstrate my faith in you, my belief in us?

With all my love,
Bette

“What are you writing, Porter?”

“Nothing, Alice.”

Alice sat down and tried to sneak a glimpse at the words on the card before Bette could block her view. “A luuurrrrrvvveee note?”

Bette picked up the card from the table and tucked it into her briefcase.

“You used to be fun.”

“I’m fun.”

“Sure. Anyway,” Alice continued, “I was thinking we should have a night out.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s what fun people do?” Alice explained, as if this should be obvious. “They go out. And have fun.”

“We went out recently.”

“Oh, that’s right. You can’t stand it if anyone pays attention to a certain blonde”

“What?” Bette shot Alice a look.

“Nevermind. So, is the card for Jodi?”

“None of your business.”

“I don’t know, Porter. We’re not going to have a lot to talk about the way things are going.”

Alice took a sip of her latte.

“How about you? Have you heard from Tasha?”

It was all she could do to keep from spitting out her drink. “You’re asking me?”

“Yes, I’m asking you.”

“About my life?”

“Alice.” Bette’s tone was stern but the look in her eyes mirrored the concern with which she asked the initial question.

“Sorry. Um, I’ve heard a little.”

“Little is good, right?”

“I guess. She can’t say much, you know. She never knows who’s going to be reading the stuff.”

“That’s hard.”

“Yeah.”

The silence remained for a moment.

“But what concerns me…”

Alice looked at her friend, expecting an interruption. Instead, she found support, which encouraged her to continue.

 “What if I wait a year and she comes back a stranger? What if…” Alice didn’t finish that sentence.

As Bette gave Alice’s hand a squeeze. Alice could feel the tears forming in her eyes.

 “Al. If you think it’s right to wait. You can do that. For Tasha.”

“What worries me most is that she’ll return different. Changed.”

“Changed isn’t always bad.”

“I don’t know.”

“After a year, Al, you’ll have changed. Don’t you think Tasha will want to see you?”

“I suppose,” Alice replied with a shrug.

“People handle change differently. For some of us, it takes a lot to see what was always before our eyes. What we took for granted.”

“Huh?”

“Nevermind.” Bette gave her friend a smile. “Look, I’ve got some work to catch up on. Call me later, ok?”

“Uh, okay.”

“And we’ll go out sometime. Have fun.”

“Right. Fun.”

Bette leaned over and gave her friend a kiss on the cheek. “Take care.”

As she left the planet, Bette wondered about sending the card. What, in this case, would be enough?

(the end)