A half hour later while in deep contemplation of some unknown artist’s work she felt a warm hand upon her shoulder and Bette asking her if she was ready to go to lunch now. As they left the gallery together she ask Bette to select a place to eat since she didn’t know the city very well and was sure Bette would know of the best places.

Bette surprised her by saying she did not eat out much anymore but there was a great little deli around the corner and they could get their lunch to go and head on over to the park if that was alright with Tina.

Sitting at a picnic table with majestic mountains in the background Tina found herself to be greatly enjoying this lunch. Bette had changed a lot. She seemed much more relaxed and calm than Tina had seen her in a while. However, her smiles were less frequent and most of them did not reach her eyes as they had in the past.

Tina guessed that Bette’s past had a lot to do with it. She wasn’t quit sure how to begin the topic of the checks Bette had been sending without hurting her all over again and that was the last thing she wanted to do. Bette seemed content to sit in silence with her company. Therefore she made no attempt at making small talk. Tina saw no other opportunity so she just began to talk.

“Bette you know the checks you have been sending each month? Well I have been depositing them into Angelica’s education fund that I started years ago. But I just want to let you know you don’t have to send them Bette. I know you are not earning as much money as you use to and telling you about Angelica was not for what you could contribute financially.”

“I told you because I thought you had a right to know and maybe I could right a terrible wrong that I did to you years ago. Please forgive me Bette.”

“Tina as I explained in the letter I delivered to your home the morning I left North Carolina I don’t blame you. You made the right decision for yourself and Angelica. There is nothing to forgive.”