Bette ruminated further.  The move back to Los Angeles was partly due to the growing problems between Bette and Tina. Bette’s decision to take the job with the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs was an effort to give Tina space and flexibility because they would be closer to family. Bette had considered opening another gallery, which was her deep desire, but a structured job gave her the opportunity to provide consistency for Angie, if Tina couldn’t. It was shortly after the Porter-Kennard family settled back in Los Angeles that Tina unexpectedly announced she was moving out and soon after that she was taking a job in Toronto.  She then dropped the bomb that she wanted a divorce. By that time, Bette was so distraught from the harsh words that Tina kept throwing at her that drinking was her only solace. Tina said she was trying to find herself, understand herself… love herself, but found it impossible to do with Bette around. Bette for her part, wasn’t perceptive enough of Tina’s struggle at the time. But little did Tina know how much power she had over Bette and how much space she took up in her mind and heart. Bette learned later, that it was Angie who mentioned a concern about Bette’s drinking to Kit. Angie had become protective of her, but she was also missing her Mama T and had inadvertently been caught in the middle. It was Kit who found Bette passed out with an empty bottle of Scotch next to her when Angie was in Toronto for a visit. It was Kit who helped her realize that being self destructive would not solve anything and she had Angie to think about. Bette sat on her bed and thought how tired she was from running from the hurt. The hurt from the loss of Kit and the hurt of Tina falling in love with someone else. In her head, she knew she needed to move on, she just didn’t know how, or maybe just couldn’t.

Bette’s phone went off. Dani and Pierce had arrived. They had been doing damage for control all night, but at this point she wasn’t sure if she wanted to continue on with the campaign. Angie being pushed to the ground changed the rules and Bette was not going to continue exposing Angie to the poor choices by adults.