On their way back to Bettes house, Tina got a little antsy as she came to
the realization that she hadnt been anywhere near that house for a while since the last few items of
clothing that she had picked up from there. It still had evoked some bad vibes but she was determined
to eventually move past them. Tina wondered if Bette had ever brought that carpenter back to their
house or if they had ever slept together in their bed. She wanted to ask her so many questions, like
what did the carpenter have that she didnt have? Why couldnt she stop herself? Or, did she even
want to stop herself? Tina had guessed that there would be an eventual time and place when she could
bring those queries up. For now, she had thought that it would be best not to besiege their fragile
beginnings with questions of why and stir up again, multitudes of questions that would arouse feelings of
distrust.
They finally got back to the house and Bette told Tina that she could pull into the driveway and that if
she wanted, she could wait for her in the car but that she had to run inside for a few to take care of a
couple of things if she didnt mind. Tina thought that this would be a good chance for her to make some
steps toward healing genuinely and advancement over all previous pain.
Tina: No thats okay, Ill come in and wait . . . that is, if its okay with you.
Bette: Yeah its no problem with me at all, I just thought that you might not be . . . okay, well never
mind, come on in.
As they walked up to the door, Bette glanced over at Tina and could tell that she was a little unsettled
by the expression on her face. It was a look of conditioning, like she was bracing for impact.
Bette: Tina, are you sure that you dont want to wait out here? As a matter of fact, we dont even have
to go in, Im sure that whatever I was going to do can wait, why dont we just go?
Tina: No its okay, we can go in. Why do you not want to?
Bette: No, I would much rather not procrastinate and reschedule these meetings as soon as I possibly
can instead of them calling me and interrupting us.
Tina: All right, well Id rather you do that as well too then. So lets go. Why are you being so
reluctant?
Bette: Im sorry, I just dont want you to feel uncomfortable. I know that you havent been here in a
while and that the last memories that you have of this place are no doubt, not that fond.
Tina: I had almost forgotten how it is to have someone know you so well to the point where they only
need a glimpse, of the most insignificant change in appearance, so as to figure out what was going on
with them inside their head. Its so amazing and Ive missed that so much. (Bette smiled.) But yeah
youre right, in all honesty, I was or am, a little uneasy about the whole thing, but I cant avoid it forever
if I ever expect us to progress.
Bette: Okay then, if thats what you want and need.
Bette took out her keys and started to open the door. Tina reached out and grabbed Bettes hand just
as the door unlocked and right before she turned the ***** to open it. Bette felt her knees weaken a
little at Tinas touch, one that she hadnt felt for a really long time. As they entered, Tina squeezed
Bettes hand tighter and Bette held back and as a result, Tina felt reassured that if she worked together
with Bette, then they could move through everything and make it through the hard parts of mending their
lives.
Bette: Are you okay so far?
Tina: Yeah, thanks a lot for checking.
Bette: Do you want to sit down on the couch?
Tina: Yeah I think that sitting is a good idea.
Tina was a little surprised to see that Bette hadnt changed anything in the house after all of this time.
Not one picture of her or them together was removed or replaced. Everything was in the same place.
Tina: So I see that you havent done much redecorating around here.
Bette: Oh yeah, I had no need to. If I didnt mention this already to you, Ill tell you now . . . that I
couldnt live without you, Ive tried and I cant. I mean yeah, Im going on with my life as best as I can
but I still dont feel complete or fulfilled. Ive missed you to no end. I had no intention of throwing us or
our memories away and giving up, I was determined to keep hope alive even though I figured that the
prospects of reconciliation were pretty bleak considering how badly I screwed up. Sometimes, I would
wake up in the morning looking for you, just to be yanked back into the harsh reality that I had lost you.
Thats why Im so fortunate and grateful that youve decided to give me another chance, and this will
be the last one needed because I will never make another colossal mistake like that ever again. I mean
it T, Im here for as long as youll have me, completely on your terms.
Tina: Whoa Bette, slow down.
Bette: Sorry, I didnt mean to do that huge confession right here, I just got overwhelmed with things
that I wanted to say to you that they just sort of came out. I didnt mean to move too fast.
Tina: Yeah, thats the only thing, its a little much for me to handle right now at this very moment, but
know that I really appreciate you saying all of that and I needed to hear it and I welcome further
statements like it, Im not trying to stifle you at all. I just think that it would be best for us to not jump
right in, as much as Im sure that we both would like to.
Bette: Yeah thats understandable. Okay, well why dont I go ahead and take care of this business
really quickly so that we can get going? Are you going to be okay sitting here? Do you want or need
anything?
Tina: No thanks I think Im good.
Bette: Okay well Ill be in the bedroom but first, Ill go and turn the stove on so you can have some
water boiling for tea just in case you change your mind.
Tina: All right.
Once the water was on, Bette had started to make her way back to the bedroom to take a phone call
when the doorbell rang . . .
Bette: Hey T do you mind getting that for me, Im gonna go answer the phone.
Tina: Sure okay.
Tina made her way over to the front door and opened it. Much to her surprise, it was Helena.
Tina: Hel . . . ? What – the ***** are you doing here?
Helena: Hello sweetheart, is all well? (She said as she walked past Tina at the front door and went in
and sat down.)
Tina: Yeah but back to my original question, what are you doing here?
Helena: Oh well you told me that you were going out somewhere with Bette and so I had hoped that
you might stop by here before you left because I wanted to talk to you about a huge mistake that I
made. And look, low and behold, you did, thank god.
Tina: Okay but you cant just barge in like this, its her house, and were kind of in the middle of
something right now so you need to leave. I can come by the house later and we can talk then.
Helena: Youre in the middle of something you say . . . you and Bette?
Tina: Yes, we are. (Tina holding her ground, thinking that Helena might be trying to manipulate her in
some way.) Right now, so thats why you need to go.
Helena: Thats funny, then wheres Bette? Is she coming right back or something . . . like did she go
and freshen up?
Tina: No she went to make some phone calls.
Helena: Phone calls? Ahh I see. Those business calls no doubt that you would complain to me about
and how she was so wrapped up in her work and never had time for you.
Tina: It is but shes doing them to cancel her appointments.
Helena: Tina, no matter how much she will tell you that shes changed, she hasnt, I dont have to
know her well to make that assessment. Work is her life, her baby, success is in her blood and it will
forever be rooted deep inside of her and so it will always come first, she cant help it.
Tina: But shes trying to . . . (Helena interrupts)
Helena: Sweety, dont be in denial or cause yourself to hope falsely. I think that you know, just as
much as I do, that in the long run, shes ultimately a workaholic and thats all that she cares about.
Now, what do you say that we go home, I was tired the other night and I didnt really want to end
things, I wasnt thinking clearly, Im sorry.
Tina: What!? Are you saying that you want me back, like that you were going about your business
today and decided that you could use a little Tina in your life again?
The teakettle started whistling and so Bette came out of the room to make Tina a cup of tea.
Bette: Tina, Ill be ready in like three seconds, I just have to make sure that Franklin will be able to
reschedule this last meeting and then we will be free to go. (Helena gave Tina a look like I told you so
as if Bette was more into work than her.)
Bette continued to talk about work to Tina as she was in the kitchen and she was so immersed into her
venting that she hadnt even noticed Helena there sitting on her couch. Finally Helena spoke.
Helena: Good afternoon Bette.
Bette stopped dead in her conversation with Tina and slowly looked up the moment that she had heard
that all too familiar smug British accent.