That first meeting ended badly. Bette didn’t have a chance with Tina as long as Joyce was calling the shots. After Bette and her lawyer left the office Tina fell apart. She was an emotional wreck. She was confused. She needed a place to stay and she thought Bette’s offer was reasonable. Joyce quickly talked her out of making any deals; admonished her to stay away from Bette and offered her guest house as temporary quarters.

Tina never felt completely comfortable with Joyce’s tactics. She didn’t hate Bette. She knew in her heart that Bette would do right by her but she was too angry to see clearly and Joyce was too powerful to argue with. Against her better judgment Tina accepted the offer to stay in Joyce’s guest house. It was more suitable in her condition than Alice’s couch, and she was grateful to have the solitude. Unfortunately her peace of mind was shattered soon after. She’d put her trust in the lawyer just to be betrayed when the lecherous attorney revealed that sexual favors were part of the arrangement to having Tina as her guest. Needless to say the first time Joyce made sexual advances Tina packed her things and left the guest house. Once again she was without any real plans for where she would go next.

The expectant mother drove around aimlessly for most of the night. In the early morning hours she found herself in the driveway of the only place she ever felt safe. She sat in her car looking at the darkened house as she’d done many times since the breakup but this was the first time she actually intended to go inside. It felt strange knocking at her own door but it was no longer her home; not since Bette had betrayed their vows.

Bette answered the door in her robe, surprised to see Tina standing there at 5:00 in the morning with her bags. She was the last person Bette expected but her heart jumped with joy at the sight. Without preamble Tina stated her purpose in coming there, not giving Bette any say in the matter.

Tina: I can’t live in a stranger’s guest house or some motel and I’m not going back to Alice’s couch. I don’t think it’s fair that I’m being punished for something I didn’t do. So I’m going to stay in the guest room until I find a place of my own.