“No…….”

“Yes, Tina……we need to talk about this…….”

“No, I don’t think so……”

“Will you just give me time to explain? That is all I want to do is just explain my actions……..”

“You have 10 seconds…” said Tina…….. “Starting now……” she said as she looked at her watch…..

“What? That Is not enough time to explain…….” I started

“8.…….7.……….6.………5.……….”
“Fine……..I will go……” and I rose off of the bed and walked towards the door…….

“Bette?”

I stopped just short of opening the door, although my hand was on the knob about to turn……I didn’t move……..I just answered with a “Yes?”

“It hurts……It hurts that you and Alice…….well……..that you………”

“I know Tina……and that is one of the things I swore I would never do to someone if I let myself care for them…….and I have ………I have grown to care about you a lot…….” I said still standing facing the door… “You just don’t understand what the accident did to me……”

“I think I do, Bette……remember? My mom and I were in a car accident and she died ……so, yes, I do think I understand……I understand totally…….”

“But, you weren’t the one driving…..” I said clearly and with tears beginning to fall……

“No, but my boyfriend was driving the other car that hit us…….” screamed Tina……..

I slowly turned around to find her in tears also. I walked over to her, sat down on the bed, and pulled her into my arms……it felt sooo good to hold her……..I let out a soft moan, feeling a rush of relief wash over my entire being…..……I thought I would never hold this woman again…..and here I am…….she is in my arms……I should never let go again……everything that scares me…..I should put behind or to the side, so that I can have a life again…….yes, I am going to try my damnest to do that, although it may be hard……but she is worth it…….

I leaned back from her, and wiped the tears from her cheeks…… “Tina, why don’t you pack some clothes and come and stay with me for a few days?”

“where at? The condo?” she asked

“No…..at my house……”

“But, I thought that you didn’t want to get caught with one of your clients. You could lose your job…..”