“You bitch!” he said as he drew back his closed fist to punch her.

Quick as lightening Bette shoved Tina out of the way and stepped forward just as his fist made connection with Bette’s nose and mouth. The punch had so much strength behind it that it took her feet out from under her and literally sent her sailing backwards when the hard dance floor broke her fall.

When she opened her eyes with a groan she saw four bouncers escorting the man over to two uniformed police officers. Two other officers were kneeling beside her along with Tina asking, if she needs medical attention and would she like to file charges for assault.

Helping her up someone handed her a clean bar towel to slow the flow of blood from her nose and lips. Mumbling through swelling that had already started she said “no, I just want to go home.”

One of the arresting police officers informed her that they were arresting the man for public drunk and if she changed her mind about filing charges for assault to come on down to the station later. He pulled out a card from his shirt pocket and handed it to her. “The card has my name and number on it…if you change your mind. I would say by tomorrow morning you will have two beautiful shiners and I would put some ice on that nose when I got home if I were you.”

“Thank you officer. I will be taking her home now if there is nothing else.”

Tina led her off the dance floor past the crowd of on lookers and their friends who were in shock and out the door of the club. Bette tilted her head back onto the headrest of the seat while holding the bar towel firmly to her face. They rode in silence and the only movement in the car was Tina’s hand upon her thigh as her fingers rubbed comforting circles on her Levis.

“Bette…baby I am sorry. It’s my entire fault. I should not have slapped him but what he said to you was just so horrible and degrading.”

“Tina, it’s my past and it is always going to be there. You don’t owe me an apology. I am surprised it has not happened before now. I’m sorry you got mixed up in my mess. I have been waiting for someone to approach me sooner or later. I just didn’t know how I was going to handle it. I guess we can be thankful in Denver I’m not as well known as in LA…huh.

Tina I know you love me, but this is the kind of shame I promised never to bring down on our daughter. What if someone recognizes me again Tina…in a restaurant, a store, or God forbid a school event when Angelica is older? It would not be fair of you or me to force her to live with this kind of shame when it was not her choice…but ours.”

“What are you saying Bette?”

“I’m saying that when we get back to Denver I think you and I should go our separate ways. I know you left everything in North Carolina to be with me and I’m sorry. Look it will be the easiest if I move out…give me a few weeks to find another job in a different state. I have enough money in the bank to take out a couple of thousand to relocate on and almost pay the house off.”

“So you are just going to give up Bette…when did you become a quitter? What about me Bette…what about what I want? We are married Bette we both made a commitment to each other and Angie. Commitments that we both will honor…you hear me Bette, I don’t want a divorce. I love you and I know you love me. So my answer is no Bette…where you go I go too. You want to leave Denver…fine but Angie and I are coming with you.”