The chaos that frequently accompanies the packing up and transporting of two small children kept Tina’s fears at bay for the better part of 25 minutes. As she watched Kit pull out of the driveway Tina felt the return of fear like the opening of a floodgate. Turning she stood rooted to the stop trying to decide whether to open the ‘forbidden’ box or not. After several minutes Tina having decided to do so would only feed her suspicions headed into the bedroom. Putting her plan into action was going to take some organization and she desperately hoped this would keep her mind too occupied to allow her fear to overtake what she was determined to do. Looking up after the last item was packed Tina was shocked to see that it was already 5:00. Her strategy had worked perfectly. She would be arriving at the gallery long after the other employees had left and she would find Bette alone. Grabbing the small bag she had packed Tina headed to the front door, resolve written across her face. Sliding into her favourite shoes and grabbing her coat she headed to her car before she lost her nerve. Shifting into gear she headed toward the gallery.

**At Bette’s Gallery**

Head in hands Bette sat alone in the darkened gallery—with the departure of the staff guilt finally had found its opportunity to creep into her psyche. Her mind turned over and over her words to T earlier in the day about this evening. She had told herself all day that she was only doing what she needed to do to succeed and there were so many details that still had to be put into place before the opening-details only she could attend to.

True enough Porter but look where that mindset got to you last time

She had vowed to herself after Tina and her had reunited that she would never allow herself to return to the career driven, achievement seeking, woman that had been in the past no matter the cost. The woman whose "ideas were always more enlightened and whose projects were more important." She had done so well but today she had heard that woman talking to Tina again.

It’s about balance, I have to find balance–it would be ridiculous to think that some of that woman had to exist, a part of what makes me Me but I can’t let this get out of control