“You look good.”  Bette interjected amidst her recollection.

“Thanks.”  Tina swiped her fingertips lightly over her eyebrows self-consciously.  As if the motion would erase the tension that she felt surely marked her features.  Looking up, her gaze softened as she reinstated it on her companion.

“You look…” she paused.  Drinking in the sight there was much to say.  The days and weeks leading her to this day, to this house, on this sofa converged to incapacitate a more descriptive if not selective vocabulary, “…busy.”

Bette laughed softly.  And kept their gaze locked in place.  Indeed, these moments were enough.  She now took strength from her recent decision to remain.   

Not usually having a penchant for stating the obvious she made an exception, “I was on my way out.”  Shaking her keys Bette eyed the door briefly. 

“There’s half a bagel by the toaster.” She joked, “Although you never did like my leftovers did you?”
 
Releasing a breath she plunged ahead with details previously reviewed, “Let’s see…the rest of your things are mostly in the spare room. Some clothes – suits mostly – are hanging, the rest in the dresser.  Boxes in the hallway closet, papers in the filing cabinet. Photos in the…”
 
“Bette.” Tina halted the instruction.  “I’m not here for that.”
 
Again, the brunette’s brows arched in question.  “What?” 
 
Tina observed, “It’s early.  You’re leaving.”  Then admitted,  “I just couldn’t wait.” 
 
Bette’s heart pounded in her chest, she had more than an inkling as to the reason for the visit but asked anyway, “For what?” 
 
Assumptions would no longer be the driving force in relations and unvoiced within conversations.
 
“To talk,” Tina stated succinctly.  “This isn’t the time.  I know.”

The prior night went by as slowly as the ones before it.  The counsel solicited and received thereabouts of a fortnight before prompted more reflection than ever.  She was tired in more ways than one but did not want another day to pass. 

Be honest.  Be open.
 
“It’s taken a while I know.”  Sighing with resignation Tina reiterated, “I just…couldn’t wait anymore.”  Her lips twitched.  The movement easily mistaken for a shy smile.
 
Bette forced herself to relax.  She looked directly at Tina and returned with a crooked smile of her own. “It’s not too early,” she assured softly.  “And I don’t have to leave.”
 
“No…we can talk later.” Tina’s focus slid to the papers that Bette carried.  “I just needed to let you know.”
 
Slowly Bette moved to sit on the chair immediately behind where she stood.  Laying her things down, the keys in her hand once again made a distinctive sound.  Reminding them of the world that waited outside.  The many interruptions that participated in and contributed to their collapse.  A handful with great magnitude.
 
Work. Therapy. Candace.
 
In the scheme of things, although external influences played a role, individually they knew and came to understand it was mostly what resided within and between that tested their union.  That broke their relationship.
 
“That I was ready,” Tina offered explicitly.  “If you are.”
 
They regarded each other silently. 

Here it was.  The willingness to divulge and uncover.  Bette having professed multiple times her eagerness to do so, Tina reaching the same readiness.  

“I don’t need to be anywhere,” Bette answered definitively.  “But here.”