“How long do you think it will last? How long do you think I’ll have to get up in the morning and the first thing I think about is him and when I go to bed at night the last thing I think about it how I lost him, how we lost him. How long Bette?” Tina was crying now, literally aching with the pain of her loss.

“I don’t know baby. I wish I could tell you. Don’t cry. It kills me to hear you cry like that when I’m so far away.”

There was silence on both ends of the line while Tina took a few deep breaths, trying to get some semblance of control back, at the same wondering how a conversation that started out about how her and Bette still loved each other had become so difficult and so draining.

“I’m sorry Bette. I know we need to talk about some painful things but don’t think I can talk about this any more, not today anyway. It’s not even 9 o’clock here and I’ve already cried my eyes out. Not exactly a great way to start the day and don’t think that I didn’t hear that you called me baby.” said Tina, trying to get a little levity back into the conversation.

“Well, you started it.” chuckled Bette in reply.

“That I did. OK, moving on. Have you thought any more about going back to work?”

“I think you’re keen for me to go back so you know that I’ll be tied up with work and therefore will have no opportunity to jump on a plane.”

“Well, that is part of it I have to admit, but I just don’t think it’s healthy for you to brood over everything at home, alone. The Bette Porter I fell in love with doesn’t mope around feeling sorry for herself, she goes out fighting.”

“I hear everything you’re saying and I know I should go back, but the longer I leave it the harder it seems to be to make the effort.”

“That’s all the more reason for you to go back on Monday then isn’t it?” replied Tina, determined not to concede on this point.

“OK, I give in. I’ll go back next week.”

“That’s good Bette, but I will call Shane to verify that you did. You know that don’t you?”

“I would expect nothing less. T, it’s getting really late here. I should be thinking about going to bed, especially as I have work on Monday and I should let you get on with your day.”

“OK, take care Bette, Bye.”

“Bye T.”

Once she had put the phone down Tina lay back on the bed wondering whether this was ever going to end. She felt like she was on an emotional roller-coaster, one minute they were teasing each other the next talking about subjects that were pitch black in nature. The one thing she was sure of though is that she knew she was right about stopping Bette from coming to London. She needed to be stronger before taking on Bette in person.