Kit : “And you feel the same as you did 18 months ago do you”

Bette : “you know what I mean, Kit” I say it menacingly, I’ve reached my limit. “Kit, I’m sorry I came home. Since I got here, all that is happened is my wife is seeing someone else, I have a daughter I didn’t know about and everyone is still dirty on me for what happened with Candace. Time to plan another trip.”

Kit : claps slowly and loudly “Command performance Elizabeth. Poor Bette.”

Bette : “Not poor Bette, Kit, there is nothing here for me, that’s all, it’s why I left”

Kit : “then perhaps, you ought to be thinkin’ about why you came back and how avoiding things got you in this mess. Look Bette, I am on your side, OK ? And if it is over, then it is over but you ladies need to sit down and work that out. I tell you what Bette, I’ll support any decision you and Tina come to. Just think about this one thing sis. Not loved, not made mistakes and don’t deserve her, do you still love her and want a life with her ? When you know the answer baby girl, I am not the one to be telling.”

Kit left, and we were on good terms even if we did see things differently. I made my way out the back and picked up choco and put him on my lap, absent mindedly stroked him as I thought. I picked up my glass of sparkling water with lime, watched the clear water in the pool, looked around the garden. We did have some good times didn’t we, it wasn’t all bad was it ? I say to choco, like I might get some response. Why Tina, did you look after the house so well, yet not live here I wondered. Why were you here when I woke up ? Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant or about Laurel ? Did you think about me when I was away ? Are you happy I’m home ? When I left I was so numb, from the pain, the hurt, the anger. I didn’t want that for either of us. I really believed we were over. I didn’t do it to get back at Tina. When I decided to come home, I decided to come and see if there was any chance for Tina and I at all. Have I really given it a chance I ask out loud. OK, so maybe things aren’t quite how I imagined they would be but are they beyond retrievable ? Do I really know how Tina feels, I haven’t even had a chance to ask her how she has been. I know nothing about my daughter. I ask myself where the infamous Bette Porter courage is, the more adverse the more courage. I know where that courage is, I tell choco, in here, I put my hand over my heart. If I told Tina how I felt and she didn’t want me, would I be worse off ? I reach for the phone next to me, lift my shades. I dial Tina’s number.