She is calm as she shakes her head “Tina has always been there.  From day one.  It felt like I was dating you both. You never failed to bring her up and I let you because you needed that outlet”

I’m staring at Jodi and I can’t even argue with her because she is right and I feel like such a hypocrite

“God Jodi I’m sorry.  You are right.  I guess I haven’t been fair in the beginning either. But I have been honest” I sign and she throws her palms out in surrender

“You are right”. She signs and continues “So I guess that leaves us with this question.  What happens now?”

I sigh and grab her hands knowing this is for the best

“I know I love being with you but I think we both know that this is not going to go anywhere.  You can’t commit and I can never give you my heart. So I would love it if we could stay friends I mean if that’s what you want to”

She leans in to me and gives me a soft lingering kiss on my lips and pulls away “I’m ok with that Bette.  Really.  And I do still want you to go to the Hammer with me tonight ok and I am also going to change my flight and go back to New York tomorrow”

I shake my head at her “No Jodi you don’t have to.  I’m not asking you to leave”

She looks at me with such sincerity “Bette I don’t belong here.  I came to support you but you don’t need me. Not now anyway”

I sigh and look at her and see she is ok with this and honestly so am I.  I need to be alone and plan my move back here

“Ok” is all I can say as she pulls me into a hug and I realized that she was keeping me at a distance all along not because of her stance on monogamy but because I was never  available emotionally.

I pull out of the hug and smile “Thank you”

She nods and smile “Let’s go get ready ok”. She says patting me on the arms with her hands and gets up from the sofa.  I nod and motion her to go on ahead as Kit returns with Angie and sits down beside me with Angie in her lap

“How did it go with Jodi?” She asks and I smile

“It went better than I expected.  She is more observant than I ever gave her credit for and I’m lucky to have her in my life as a friend”. I say and look at Kit “Tina isn’t marrying Henry”

She looks at me and shakes her head

“Baby sis.  Don’t you even think of jumping back into something with Tina” she scolds and I roll my eyes

“Kit I’m not.  We are just focusing on our friendship for now and besides neither one of needs to be in a relationship after we…..well I…just ended on amicable terms with Jodi.  Tina hasn’t even told Henry yet”

“Mmmm.  I’m sure that ain’t going to go over well” Kit says and I am sure it won’t either

I shake my head as I lean in to kiss Angie on the cheek “No.  And I will be here for her if she needs me as a friend.  For now I want to be on my own and plan my move back here before I consider anything else”

Kit smiles at me “I think that is wise Bette.  You both need to be in a better place with each other before you try again”

I nod in agreement

“We closed the door on the past today Kit.  I’m looking forward to see where the present takes us and what the future has in store” I say and smile at her as I head to get ready

.