"Well I, for one, have been trying to let go of a lot of that history, Tina.  I have been trying to move on.  I have been doing my best to . . .

Then came Tina’s soft interruption. "I like it when you call me T."

"Like it!  You like it!"  Bette could hardly contain her exasperation.  "Tina, you are way off course – you are so way off course!  You ask me if I understand.  You ask me if you make sense.  Well to be perfectly honest, no.  No, Tina, you do not make the least bit of sense and, no I do not understand. "

They fell silent, both fully aware that they were once again back in the quagmire of communication that had bedevilled them from the very first day of Angelica’s life.

"Look, Tina, I get the feeling that we just aren’t going to be able to progress this discussion.  Somehow I had high hopes.  I thought coming here today was going to be different.  But . . ."

"I want it to be different Bette, I really do."

"Why do you, Tina?"

"Why?"  Tina swallowed and looked for the courage to make the confession that had been running around her head for countless distracted days and numberless sleepless nights.  "Because, because I’ve lost my way."

"I thought you wanted your autonomy, your big chance to take control . . ."

"Bette, don’t!"

Bette silently but visibly chided herself for her vindictive retort.  "Damn! I’m sorry, Tina, it has become such an habitual dialogue between us. I’m sorry.  Please tell me how you have lost your way.  What do you mean?  T, keep talking to me."

Tina hesitated, her crestfallen look revealing how easy it was for her spirit to be crushed.

Bette spoke more gently, trying to give some encouragement.
"Come on Tina, try to tell me how you are feeling.  Be strong – don’t waste this opportunity.  I know you’ve been working this out for days. I’m listening and I promise not to retaliate.  I want you to say everything that’s on your mind, better still, that’s on your heart.  We’ve been through so much, T.  We’ve hurt one another, we’ve shut one another out, we’ve longed to turn back the clock.  We’ve loved Angelica together, relentlessly and we’ve hated one another remorselessly.  We’ve pushed and pulled and picked at our relationship and we’ve repeatedly absorbed the impact of our friction for the sake of our child.  It’s time, Tina, it’s time to be honest, to be honest with integrity.  Not to push one another’s buttons any more, not to react or be out of control.  No more scoring points, no more getting back at one another.  You once said to me, ‘Let’s just focus on being really good parents.’  Well maybe it’s time for us to focus on being really good grown ups.  Let’s try to be good people to one another and to ourselves.  Let’s just try, Tina."