”Are you guys sure you want to come?” Shane looks at us one by one. ”I can do this alone. They’re not sticking me with anything tonight. I’m just visiting her.”

”Unless you don’t want us to, I think we should all be there.” Bette says resolutely.

”I agree,” Tina adds, as Shane falls in line with us at the curb.

”Shotgun.” Bette calls as she opens the sedan’s back door for Tina.

Shane looks around the car before she turns into the early evening traffic. ”Thanks, guys. I really mean it.”

”Dallas, Texas,” Tina muses from the back seat.  ”Last time my father called me, an Easter or two ago, he said my sister lived here now.”

And I watch as Bette’s knuckles turn white as she grips the dashboard in front of her.

Outside the Hospital – Shane

I stare at the signage out front, ”Presence? What the fuck does that even mean?”

”I wouldn’t think about it too much.” Bette offers, and then clears her throat, as Alice skips up beside me.

”When was the last time you saw your mother? I’ve known you for eight years and I don’t remember you ever going anywhere, except up to the vineyards in Ojai.”

”And that’s not far.” Tina adds.

”Today was the first time I’ve ever been in plane.”

”What?” We all shout at once from under the glowing Presence sign.

”Do you think the nuns who ran the foster homes I lived in had money for plane tickets? It was bus rides to the county fair, and only if the tickets were free.”

”Did you like flying?” Tina asks me.

”It was fast.”

Bette stands at the elevator in her cowboy boots as several couples walk past admiring them.

”Hey! We’re in Texas.” Alice spurts cheerfully as a family in ten gallon hats saunters past.

I press the button for the transplant floor, and as the elevator whooshes us upwards, I feel my liver, along with my stomach, staying somewhere two floors behind.

The Hospital Room – Bette

When Sue Ellen McCutcheon turns away from her wistful stare out the window, I feel a hammer of ache hit my chest when I think of all those missing years without my mother.  She opens her arms to her daughter, and for a moment our friend disappears as we watch tears stream down their cheeks. I begin to back out of the room, but Tina’s firm hand stops me. She whispers, ”This is going to be okay.”

”Are you sure?”

”Yes, I’m sure. Keep walking.” Tina nudges me again, but I still feel trapped in something like a dream, as she gently pushes me farther inside.

”Lord, I must look nearly one foot in the grave.” Sue Ellen brushes her hands over her face. ”Thank God, I put on my lips to meet you all.”

We beam our best smiles back at her, as Shane begins to introduce us. Tina’s the first to take Mrs. McCutcheon’s thin frail hand, and finally, it’s my turn.

”Bette Porter, nice to meet you.” I feel the papery texture of her skin.

”Bette?” She looks at her daughter, ”The swimming pool, right?”

Shane nods as she looks out the window, and wipes the tears away with the back of her hand.

”Yes. The swimming pool.”

”There’s not too many places to sit.” Sue Ellen apologizes.

Alice drops down on the end of the hospital bed. ”So, what’d she say about me? I’m her best friend.”

______

To Be Continued –

Expect the next update soon, probably by Sunday.

Thanks for reading and drop a comment if you have one. These next few adventures with the gang are going to be wonderful.

Enjoy, Blackbird

@Blackbirdwrite and on Facebook, L Word Behind the Scenes. Thanks to Jacky at LesFan.com who  hosts these stories here.