“Everything is gonna be just fine Tina”, Shane whispered to Tina then kissed her forehead softly. “But she doesn’t  know. I didn’t tell her,” Tina hiccupped in Shane shoulder. “Sweetie she knows. She has always known”, Shane said reassuringly think Tina was talking about an unsaid ‘I love you’ but really it was more than that. Shane could feel Tina shaking her no. “Believe me Tina. Everything is going to be okay. It’s Bette we’re talking about. I’m going to call Alice, Dana, and Kit. They need to know.” Shane now felt Tina nodding slowly. The emotional episode had drained everything out of her and now she was drifting towards sleep while Shane held her tightly in her arms.

Shane tried The Planet first, “Planet Cafe the place to jam, Kit Porter speaking,” Kit was sounding excited and energized with the reopening of the newly renovated Planet Caf. “Kit, it’s Shane. You need to get the hospital. Something happened to Bette. I’ve got Tina with me and we are following the ambulance”, Shane cut into Kit’s euphoria. “Is she okay?” Kit asked all thought of the Planet gone. “We don’t know yet just get here”, Shane told her as they ended the conversation.

The next call was to Alice and Dana who were more than likely still in bed. Those two were like a couple of rabbits. Tina was now asleep on Shane’s comforting shoulder. The phone rang several times before anyone finally picked up, “this better be good”, came the voice of an extremely fustrated Alice. ”Alice you have to get dressed and meet us at the hospital”, Shane told her quickly. “What? Shane what’s going on? Is it Tina?” Alice asked thinking of the baby no one knew about but not saying that out loud. Tina and Bette would not survive another miscarriage. “No, it’s Bette. We’re not sure what happened yet but she was unconscious the last I seen. You and Dana need to get your asses dressed and meet us there”, Shane demanded. “Okay”, Alice told her, “We’ll be there.”

This was the longest trip Shane has ever had to endure. The hospital was only a few miles away but it was a nerve racking trip. “Hey, Tina. We’re here”, Shane said into Tina’s ear as Jenny had pulled up to the ER doors. Tina woke with a start remembering suddenly where they were, “Bette!” Tina yelled stuggling to get out of the car. Shane stopped her the reached down to helped her exit the back seat then through the glass doors, “Come on let’s go see if we can figure out where they have taken Bette,” Shane was there once again guiding Tina this time into the ER.

They walked up to the desk telling the attendant they were there for Bette Porter. It was same old argument. “Ma’am are you family?” Tina looks at the woman for a moment then says, “I am not of blood relation but I am her emergency contact. Her parents are gone and her sister is on her way.” The attendant flips pages of the file she has in her hand. It was Bette’s file. She was probably looking for Tina’s name. She nods finding what she was looking for and states, “Okay here we are. You are listed here as next of kin actually along with her sister. Unfortunately, we aren’t going to be able to take you to Ms. Porter for a while. The ER doctor’s are looking her over. As soon as they know more they will tell us then we can in turn tell you.” Tina wore a devastated look. The ER attendant looked at Tina then said gently, “Ms. KennardTinaas soon as we hear something about Bette we’ll tell you.”

At that point Alice, Dana, and Kit were rushing toward them. “What’s the news?” Alice asked quickly, “Does anyone know anything?” Tina retold the story of finding Bette unconscious, what the EMT had told her, and what the ER attendant just said. “All we can do now is wait and pray”, Tina told her closest friends, her family.

Twenty minutes had gone bye before anyone came through the doors of the Emergency Room, “MsKinnard? Ms. Porter?” the doctor asked the group. Tina and Kit both stood up identifying themselves to the Doctor.

“I’m Dr. Ilene Martin. I have been over seeing Ms. Porter.”  

“How is she?” Tina asked.

“She had some trouble breathing on her own when she came in. We have her on a respirator at moment. According to our paper work I need your consent to continue.”

“Continue with what?” Kit asked.

“Bette has suffered a subdural hematoma”