Bette, meanwhile, had not bothered to move. She used the minute distance to collect her thoughts. The extra time helped slow her raging pulse.

After she had returned home last night, Bette sat by the pool and contemplated the day’s events. The LA night sky was dark, a slight breeze bringing the clouds in on a steady pace.

Bette stayed there till almost dawn, her body protesting vehemently when she stood up from the lounger. She headed straight for the showers, throwing her day-old outfit into the laundry hamper.

Under the spray, Bette washed away the grime of the previous day, the soap within her reach. The symbolism of the act was not lost on her. Bit by bit, she continued to dissect her conversation with Barbara and Tina.

She emerged from her bathroom fresh, but not quite ready to face the world. With an eye on the clock, she got ready the fastest she could. Her daughter would wake up soon.

“We need to talk,” Tina’s voice brought her back to the present.

She nodded. Bette moved aside to make room for Tina, leaving their daughter to play on her own for a while. “I still don’t agree with your request.”

There was no reply to that, so Tina surged on. “I understand your hesitation, but what I don’t understand is your need to keep our options open.”

“I just want you to have choices, Tina,” Bette gazed at her ex-wife. “At least give yourself a frame of reference to compare.”

Tina rolled her eyes. “We don’t need others to solidify our choices, Bette. I know what’s out there, and so do you.”

“Perhaps we both need time to readjust ourselves,” Bette sighed. “I honestly don’t know what to do, Tina. It’s all uncharted territory for me.”

“And me, too,” Tina shifted closer to her. “We’ll go through this together, see where we end up.”

“Can you understand my reluctance, Tina? We … no I have been burned so badly before. Our relationship is like a broken record, and the outcome is always the same. My heart is battle-torn.”

She cast her eyes downward. “I should’ve talked to you then.”