“So… Philadelphia huh?”

Bette nodded her response. “I’ve got a new loft to sign papers on and I’ve got to have my agent rent out my house as soon as I get my studio equipment out.”

“I can’t picture one without the other.”

“What?”

“I just can’t picture you without Tina and vice verse, ya know? It’s all kinda just weird to me. I figured y’all were gonna make up and everything was gonna be a little bit better.”

“Yeah, me too.” Bette said sadly with her eyes cast down on inanimate object on the floor. “Well look here Sweetheart I have to get going. My flight’s up and I want to just be still before the flight.” Bette said getting up before the young woman could protest or ask more painful questions. She rose as well and waited with outstretched arms, Bette smiled thinking about how affectionate this family was. She squeezed her tight not wanting to let the moment go on a soft and sore note. “If you decide to bring that psychology degree to Philadelphia I guarantee you I’ll be the first butt on your couch.”

“Well you know you always got a home here in Texas, if you ever wanna get away from all those music stars and big egos.” Bette smile softly and embraced her again and with a soft pat to her shoulder as she let go, they stood for a while taking in each other’s sincerity and departed. There was something about those eyes that just spoke of such compassion and warmth, Bette thought the young woman was going to make a fine doctor. Bette got to her terminal and sat for a while, it seemed like for the first time in days everything just stopped moving and for the first time in a long time she could take a deep breath and feel close to stable. It was at that moment she knew her heart couldn’t take anymore abuse and needed to heal on it’s own.

………………………………………

Tina arrived at home after riding around for a while. She still couldn’t figure out why she still didn’t feel sad enough to cry. Why had she been able to keep everything together despite how she followed Bette and gave her the apology she was asking for. She parked her car in the garage and headed for the house. She had her keys in her hand and her head down as she approached the steps. She didn’t look up until a shadow moved across the ground and stood above her. She looked up to see her mother standing front and center with her arms crossed giving Tina a look of disappointment giving her head a pendulum like shake of disapproval.