***

It was at CU that Bette met Jodi Lerner an esteemed artist and sculptor. She was a professor of art at the university. They bucked heads from day one and didn’t see eye to eye on anything. Jodi’s commission was based on her celebrity alone. It was the expectation that having her on staff would impress potential donors but because of her non-conformist attitude she had the exact opposite effect. She caused Bette a lot of angst and disrupted her ability to perform in her professional capacity as Jodi’s boss.

Never was there a more mismatched pair than these two women yet they embarked on an ill-advised romantic relationship. The sex happened without preamble and when they finally got to know each other it was glaringly obvious that they would have been better as friends who shared a passion for art and maybe a bed occasionally but somehow against all odds they managed to have a relationship that lasted for over a year.

Jodi, a self-absorbed egomaniac, that didn’t like kids, and didn’t practice monogamy. Bette a devoted mother of a five year old daughter who lived for her family and wanted nothing more than to find happiness with a life-partner in a monogamous relationship. They defied the forces of nature thinking that each could mold the other into something that they just were not meant to be.

As if those basic differences were not enough, Jodi was also deaf. As much as she had assimilated herself into the hearing world she expected Bette to assimilate herself into the world of the hearing impaired. Bette couldn’t grasp that Jodi was self-sufficient and independent and only asked for help when she needed it which clashed with Bette’s natural giving nature of trying to anticipate ones needs and doing for them without being asked.

***

Three weeks before making the trip to New York, Bette and Jodi had an explosive argument that resulted in the break-up. Jodi’s actions afterwards left no doubt that it was OVER between them. She abruptly quit her job at the university packed her things and moved to New York without even so much as a farewell. She cut off all communication and refused any attempts for Bette to communicate with her. Bette wouldn’t accept another failed relationship. She had to try to fix it even though it was beyond repair. Even though Jodi ran away from her, Bette just wouldn’t let her go.

Now here she was in New York having followed Jodi to try to win her back. Her plan included executing a grand gesture of delivering a monstrosity of rusted metal and preparing to recite the words given to her by her ex-wife; the woman that had stolen her heart 14 years ago; the woman who sat 3,000 miles away awaiting her call; the woman that had blessed her with a precious daughter; the woman that left her only to return and leave again six months later. Tina; the ex-wife turned best friend was the woman that helped her to get to this point. Tina; the ex-wife turned best friend was the woman that told her what to say to win another woman’s heart.

“I should have never let you go”

“I’m not afraid to make a fool of myself”

“I would do anything for another chance”