The Peabody Foundation rejection felt bad enough, but when Tina, her own woman, ***** her that cancels any evil by Helena thrown Bette’s way. Tina fucked her, not by submitting the winning proposal to the Peabody Foundation, but by shutting the door of opportunity for Bette to redeem herself to Tina. Bette felt wounded enough over learning about Tina’s pregnancy in front of Helena. But her wound deepened earlier tonight when Tina brought Helena to Dana’s and Tonya’s engagement party.

‘The mother ***** gall of Tina to commit such a heresy,’ Bette thought, ‘how could she publicly humiliate me in front of all of our friends? How could she? How could Tina bring that pretentious ***** to the party then defend her – a perfect stranger in front of our friends.’ Despite the openness of Bette’s emotional wound, Tina cut deeper when with contempt on her face uttered her heart-slashing words, “What makes you think that Helena is not wanted?!” Those words repeatedly echoed in Bette’s head. Those words lanced her so deeply that Bette’s only reaction was to sling back to the bar for more drinks.

She remembered, with acid in her stomach, as the memory of Helena loving holding Tina in her arms while dancing. Bette could feel her stomach gurgling as she recalled the look of desire in Tina’s eyes as the two danced. “*****!!” Bette said out loud referring exclusively to Tina.

Not even Bette’s public message to Tina through her toasts to Dana and Tonya eased her pain and jealousy. She felt seepage coming from her emotional wound and allowed a new flow of tears stream down her face.  Bette craved for another drink to kill the pain but sat looking sadly at the pool lights reflecting on the water ripples caused by the night breeze. 

Despite her hazy state, Bette was mesmerized by the rippling of the pool water. In watching the water, she recalled one of the best outdoor nighttime romps that she had with Tina right after they moved into the house.

While preparing for bed on a summer night, Bette looked out the bedroom patio door and saw the shimmering pool lights gliding over the ripples of the water. Something about the water was calling her. Abruptly abandoning her nightly ritual, Bette stripped, dropped her clothes on the floor, ran out and dove into the lukewarm water. As she swam, she felt the water flowing smoothly over and around her, peeling the tension away from her body. The feeling was so euphoric that she felt completely aroused. She surfaced and treaded to the middle of the pool. “Oh Tina,” Bette called loud enough for Tina and the surrounding neighbors to hear. She saw Tina come to the bedroom doorway wearing a tank top and thong.