“Rachel you don’t know Bette and I am surprised at how quickly you pass judgment on her. Did you ever stop to think that maybe she was hurting so bad she didn’t know what she was doing? That T person she was hunting for Rachel was me. Bette shortened Tina to T years ago but she only calls me that when we are alone. It was always her special way of referring to me.

Those people hurt her really bad that night Rachel, with a room full of people downstairs who knew what was happening and didn’t try to stop it. The one who did has been a friend to Bette almost as long we have known each other and she was a friend to me when I really needed one. Bette still has the awful scars as a reminder.

“At one time in Bette’s life Rachel she was at the top of her game. Bette owned her own gallery; she was the director of the CAC, and a Dean of Acts at UCLA. She had a wealth of power and influence at her fingertips because of her acquaintance with the creator of the Peabody foundation and she was the top alpha of Weho, L.A.’s largest lesbian community.”

“But I took all that away from her. I am responsible for what she is today. Rachel I destroyed her when I left L.A. and if she had of been the old Bette Porter tonight when you made that sarcastic remark you would have been picking your ass up off of the floor and never wanted to throw down verbally with Bette again. I think this conversation is over Rachel.”

Bette had long ago finished cleaning the kitchen and went to the couch with three cups of tea on a serving tray but having heard loud voices coming from Tina’s bedroom she went to investigate. With her fist in the air ready to knock on the door to gain entry she heard Rachel listing reasons why Tina should not be with her. This was the other shoe she had been waiting on all day.

Turning away from the bedroom not waiting for Tina’s reply she went into the other room and picked up the phone and called a cab. Hanging up the phone she grabbed her purse and jacket from the foyer closet and quietly slipped out the door. Walking to the corner she waited in the night as tears fell from her eyes. When the cab arrived she slid inside and told the driver to go to the nearest bar. She needed a drink.