“I could only imagine how difficult it may have been for you,” Bette said sincerely. Her eyes filled with compassion. Knowing exactly how it felt to have a hard to please parent.

“You know life is filled with difficulties and I’ve lived such a privileged life. I’ve pretty much got everything that I wanted, but one. I would have given anything to have her smile at me like that…anything. The adoration that I saw in her eyes and heard in her voice was just to much. I knew that my mother loved me, but I knew at that moment she could love you more.”

“Helena that’s crazy.”

“Is it Bette, is it really?

“Yes! Peggy loves you. You have to believed that.”

“I know that now, but at the time I didn’t feel it. I knew if she could have switched our places she would have.”

“Think about what you’re saying, you didn’t seriously believe that. Did you?

“Yes I did. And I hated you for it. So when you came to my office it was like now I had a chance to stick it to my mothers prized gem. So I did. And to make matters worst I followed you back here. Whatever you wanted or had I wanted it more. Your friends, your dream home and before you ask I never saw Tina coming. I really did want a relationship with her. My feelings for her were genuine. Even when you were at your lowest, you still had the love and the loyalty of your friends and family. Other than my children I had neither. I knew that Tina liked me but it wasn’t love and your friends tolerated me for their love of you and Tina. Once she chose you over me things changed. I didn’t want to play this game any more. I wanted to be a part of this group of people but I knew that I had fucked up royally. I hoped with time I could build some type of friendship with each and everyone of them. So I tried to improve myself. I wanted people to feel as though I was approachable. I know it’s childish but, I wanted people to really like me.” Looking directly into Bette’s eyes, which had also become moist with emotion. “ But most of all I really want you to like me. I know I’ve said never explain and never apologize, but that was very stupid. Not only did I need to explain, I must apologize.”