“That’s fine Tina.”

They rode in silence for a few more miles when suddenly Tina slowed down to make a right hand turn into the parking lot of a local favorite diner. Exiting the car first Tina waited for Bette and they walked inside. Scanning the inside Tina selected a booth in the back of the diner. It looked as if it would give them enough privacy to have their conversation uninterrupted.

Placing their order with the waitress they sipped their coffee while they waited for the food to arrive. Tina wasn’t sure how to start the conversation so she just decided to jump right in.

“Bette I know I told you in the car that I would answer any question you might have but I would like the same for my questions for you…you know kind of quid pro quo. Can you do that Bette?”

Bette looked down at her hands around the coffee cup for a few seconds then raised her head looking Tina directly in the eyes and said, “Sure Tina I don’t have anything to lose anymore but I must warn you first you might not like what you hear. You know we did not discuss everything in therapy. Can I go first?”

“No…I would like to go first Bette.” Bette sat there in shock at Tina’s forwardness just another indication of how much she had changed over the years. But Tina knew if she did not go first she might not have the chance to depending on Bette’s reaction to her answers if what she was ask in the car was any indication of what was to come out.

Taking a sip of her coffee and letting out a long breath she began her questions.

“Bette why do you have scars on your body… what happened…did you hurt yourself?”

“Tina how do you know about the scars? I usually make sure they a well hidden.”

“I saw the ones on your back when you bent over to pick up your purse last night and the others this morning when you were having a nightmare. I got up because I thought it was Angelica and I went to her to comfort her but then I realized it was you.”