“Tina, what the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Tina turned away from Bette and began slicing the vegetables on the counter with a renewed vehemence.

“Oh, I don’t know Bette…well it’s just hard to believe that you would have had time to miss me with all of the dinners, clubs,  oh and yeah the ‘catching up’ you were doing with all your old ‘friends’.

With that Tina turned and glared at Bette.

“Tina, if you are saying what I think you’re saying I don’t think I should even dignify it with a response.”

“Oh yeah that’s right, what right have I got to even ask why you could barely find time to call me.  Oh yeah, we’re just dating…you know passing time, until…I don’t know… something better comes along…”

With that Tina threw the knife in the sink and ran out of the room.

Bette was stunned.  She started to run after Tina but stopped. 

‘What the hell is she talking about? Dating…Passing time… ‘Catching up with ‘friends’.  “What the Fuck?”

Bette stood and walked with purpose in the direction Tina had gone.  She walked to their room but saw no sign of Tina.  She walked to the deck, but no sign of Tina, she came back in and then heard a sob from the bathroom and walked up to the door.

“Tina, can I come in?”

No response.

She tried the door.  Locked.

“Tina, please open the door?’

No response.

“Tina, please whatever this is we need to talk about it.  Please Tina, I’m so sorry I gave you the impression I wasn’t  missing you.  I love you and I missed you like crazy.”

No response.

“Come on T, we can fix this.  Please come out.”

Bette slid down the door and sat on the floor.

“T, please…”

“Bette, I’m sorry…I’ll be out in a few minutes…just wait in the kitchen…okay?”

“Okay T…I love you…”

No response.

Bette walked into the kitchen, sat at the kitchen table, buried her head in her hands and let the tears fall.

‘What the fuck…is she having second thoughts about us…Has she met someone…Fuck.’

“Fuck…Fuck…”

Tina walked into the kitchen and gave Bette a half smile.

“Hi, Gee…um I don’t know what came over me…hormones I guess I’m a bit PMS…Sorry Bette.”

Tina walked to the counter and turned toward her dinner preparations.

Bette sat dumbfounded.  She looked at Tina with tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Tina, please turn around?”                                                                            

“Bette c’mon, I just lost it for a minute…just forget about it.  Let’s have dinner and everything will be fine.”

“Tina, please turn around?”

Tina slowly turned and tried to look at Bette, but instead looked at the ground.

“Tina, have you met someone?”

“Bette, don’t be silly.  We’re fine. I just lost it for a minute.”

“Tina, look at me.”

Tina slowly raised her head and looked at Bette.

“Tina, what is wrong?   What happened while I was away?”

“Bette, I was just feeling a little insecure.  Let’s just have dinner and get reacquainted and we’ll be fine.”

“Tina, pretending this didn’t happen is not going to work.  You need to tell me what’s going on.”

Tina looked at Bette a little surprised that she was holding firm.  She looked at Bette with anger in her eyes.

“Well, Bette I don’t really feel like talking about it.”

“So that’s it, pretend like nothing happened or you’ll be angry?”

Tina looked at Bette with renewed resolve.

“Yeah Bette.  That’s about it.”

“Tina…”

“Look Bette, why don’t we just call it a night?  You can go home and get some rest and maybe we can meet for brunch or something tomorrow.”

“Tina, are you fucking kidding me…I thought this was my home?”

“Now Bette that’s a bit dramatic.  If this were really your home why do you still have the house?  Why haven’t you brought any of your ‘things’ here?  Why haven’t you brought one piece of your beautiful art collection here?  C’mon Bette, let’s get real.”

Bette looked at Tina as if she were an alien.

“Tina, please don’t do this.”

“Don’t do what Bette?  Be realistic.  Be honest.  Bette…please,  just leave.”

With tears running down her cheeks Bette returned Tina’s steely glare and grabbed her keys off the counter, strode toward the door and left.

Tina stared at the door for what seemed an eternity feeling completely numb and then the enormity of what she’d done hit her and she collapsed onto the floor sobbing.

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