Alex looked up and even in the midst of her pain, she knew what she had to say. Now, I have Betty-bird, Jr. to look forward to knowing. She is going to be one good looker. If she looks like you, T-bird she will be breaking hearts.

Tina smiled and thanked Alex for the compliment.

I mean it, this is going to be one heck of a little girl that is coming. She is gonna have great parents. Undoubtedly she will have the entire package: look, brains, and confidence.

Having said that, Alex leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. For a few joyous moments, she lost herself in the fantasies of the daughter she never had and never would have. For a few joyous moments, Alex let herself reflect on thoughts of her daughter instead of thoughts about how she lost her daughter before she ever had the chance to meet her.

Bette and moved to put her arm around Tina and pulled her wife against her. She sat holding her Tina and thinking of her best friends pain. Now she understood why Alex had been so strange and so distant. Bette was going to have what Alex lost and foolishly, Bette had almost thrown that away. By her stubborn foolishness, Bette had come so close to carelessly tossing away the wife and family that Alex had been denied.

Tina could only imagine what Alex must have felt. Even in the midst of her worst pain over the miscarriage, Tina knew that they could try again. There was no way to fathom how it would have felt if, like Alex, the opportunity to have a child were gone permanently. Further, Tina was unable to grasp the uncertainty, to image all of those years carrying an envelope and never knowing whether or not they had conceived.

After a long period of silence, Alex finally stood up and walked over to refill her wine glass. So, that is the story. Now, you know what I was hiding.

Im so sorry, Alex.

Dont be, Betty. You have an opportunity that I will never have. Take it and enjoy, make the most of it. Love your wife and your child with all you have.

Bette kissed Tina on the forehead, the gesture of returned with a smile from Tina as she squeezed Bettes hand. At that moment, all thoughts of Candace, of the affair, of the misunderstandings, of Melvin, of picking up the dry cleaning, and all thoughts of Helena were gone. The only thoughts shared by Bette and Tina were thoughts of their future together. Both, but especially Bette, realized that NOTHING and absolutely NOTHING was worth losing their future together.