Somehow Tina managed to get Bette out of her clothes and into the shower. She washed her hair, and toweled her off. She brought her a fresh t shirt and some drawstring pants, and walked her out of the bathroom and back to the bed.
You are so tired Babe, I’m going to get you some orange juice and toast and bring it to you in here, you just rest okay?
Is that okay? Tina asked her
When she came back into the room, Bette was lying with her back to Tina, who could see by the way her body moved that she was probably crying again.
Tina put down the tray and went to the edge of the bed . She took Bette’s hand and kissed her palm.
Bette, baby, you need to tell me what’s going on.
Why are you so upset sweetheart, please tell me so I can help you

It wasn’t that Tina didn’t know Bette was still grieving the loss of her father. She knew it, and she knew there had really been no time to deal with it. But Bette seemed to be coping quite well, she seemed a little sad sure – but she was able to go on with her life and the joy they both got from the new baby seemed to supersede anything else.
Bette made it easy to forget she had just lost the most important person in her life.
Bette’s crying began in earnest now her nose was stuffed and dripping and she sounded like a small child who had just had an all out crying fit, sniffling and breathing heavily.
Tina grabbed a couple of tissues. Sweetie, please, let me in.
Tina pulled Bette’s head into her lap so that she could see her face.
Bette looked up at her, Tina was like a bright golden light in her life. She had missed her more than she ever would have thought possible, and now that she had her home, was terrified of saying or doing anything that might make Tina leave her again. The fear of losing her was unthinkable, and so she had decided to hold onto her sorrow, keep it out of the way, hoping that with time she would start feeling better and her sadness would never get in their way.
Well the plan hadn’t worked.
Bette looked up at Tina with a frightened look in her eye, she hesitated.
The morning she left for Trevi Arlen’s house she woke up with the same dull feeling of emptiness that she had every day since she found out her father was dying
She felt utterly alone
Everyday she woke up and wished the feeling away. Everyday she hoped that Tina would not recognize it.
She had no desire to make a studio visit. She had no desire to work. Really, there was very little she felt like doing, but she dressed herself – got her stuff together and got ready to go.
Tina was so sweet with her, she felt like a kid going to school for the first time
When she got in the car she turned the radio on to check on traffic, and instead, Aaron Copeland’s Fanfare for the Common Man was playing
Paralysis set in
She saw her father, standing straight and so tall. He was so big, she was so little.
They were together at a political meeting. The music was so powerful, so stirring, it was almost too much for a small child.
Recognizing this, he put his arm around her and bent down to look her straight in the eyes and made a moment she would never forget – I am so proud to be here with you, my beautiful girl. I want you to always be with me, the way I will always be with you.
The memory was so real.
And now, he was gone, that was real – and the impact of this new reality crushed her under it’s weight.
As she told Tina what had happened that day, she was relatively calm, but when she was finished, she began to sob uncontrollably.
Oh baby, Tina said, my poor baby
She never realized that Bette might be afraid to grieve in front of her. Why hadn’t she thought of that.?

Tina slid back down next to her and gathered her up.
Come here sweetheart, come here to me. She pulled her to her chest and held her like a baby, rocking her back and forth.

Baby, you are so so sad. You loved each other so much. You don’t need to hide that from me. You must miss him so much.
She kissed her up and down her face rubbing her cheeks with her thumbs and tracing her fingers along Bette’s jawline
You’re my beautiful girl too Bette, you’re my baby. We’ll get through this – let me help you get through this.
She held her there for a few moments, looking down at her with love, and then slowly began to unbutton her own blouse .

She drew Bette into her *****. In this moment, Bette was her baby, she wanted her as close to her as she could be – she wanted to comfort her with her body. .
.
Bette slid her hand inside Tina’s blouse and felt across to her round soft ***** and moaned. She pushed her face deep into Tina’s cleavage, her favorite place – surrounding herself with the softest most luscious part of Tina’s body – who, knowing this, held her right there, wanting to keep her right there, so she could comfort her, and fill her with her love.
Nothing would take away her sadness. Nothing would bring back her father, but having Tina, her soft, golden, loving woman holding her like this, being with her like this softened all the hard edges of her lonelieness.
This was a place she longed to be. In her lover’s arms, at her lover’s breast, and Tina knew it.

Oh Baby, she said – I’m right here.
I will always be right here. You can cry with me baby, I’ll hold on tight.