Bette reached out to take Tina’s hand and Tina didn’t flinch.  Tina placed her other hand on top of Bette’s as Bette continued.   “I love you.  Will you accept my apology?”

A tear ran down one side of Tina’s face and then others followed, running down her face quickly and lingering at the tip of her chin.  She moved her hand away and wiped under her nose, then wiped her hand with one of the napkins. 

Dana and Alice held hands under the table, still not willing to reveal their new budding romance to Shane.  Dana lightly rubbed the skin between Alice’s thumb and forefinger.  Watching their once-favorite couple falling apart was heart wrenching for both of them.  Shane pretended she wasn’t listening, but she couldn’t help but think of Cherie.  More and more, Shane was accepting that her ‘let no moss grow under her” life was the right one.  Relationships sucked.

Bette gripped Tina’s other hand and leaned in toward her.  She held their joined hands to her cheek that was also tear stained.  “Tee, without you, I’m nothing.  I’m trying to do better.  If you’ll let me.  I’m recognizing all of the things I’ve done wrong and I’m working on them.  Please come home.  Please, baby.”

Tina whispered as she stared into her eyes,  “It’s too soon.  I’m not ready.  I need to start over with my life.  I was too wrapped up in what was good for you and forgot about the things I needed, the things that made me happy.  Bette, I don’t know if we can go back to where we were.  I’m sure I don’t want to.”

“It can be different.”

“Maybe.  I don’t know.  Not now, though.”  Tina pulled away from Bette’s handhold.  “I’ve got to get going.  Oscar is expecting me.”  She stood up, wrapped her scone in a paper napkin and started away.  She turned back and said, “I’ll see you around, Bette.  Take care of yourself.”

Bette sat at the table and watched the door close.  Her hopes were dashed again and the elation she had felt only ten minutes earlier was replaced by a sinking feeling that had her nearly gulping for air.  With her thumb and forefinger, she wiped the wetness from her eyes.  When she looked up and around the restaurant, she saw Dana, Alice, and Shane staring at her.  The public humiliation was distressing.  Quickly, Bette gathered her belongings, looked at the women who were once her friends and walked swiftly out of the restaurant.

In her car, she fell apart.  She sat inside, never vacating her parking space even though an irate driver was waiting behind her car in the next lane to pull in.  His horn honks went unnoticed as her body convulsed in heartache.  So inattentive, she didn’t take in that someone had opened the passenger’s side of her car and slipped into the seat. 

“Bette?  It’ll be okay,” Shane murmured.

“No, I don’t think so,” Bette answered between sobs. 

“Your friends are here.  We’re all worried and behind you.”

“No, you hate me.  It’s okay to hate me.  I…I…”

Shane pulled Bette to her and held her awkwardly as Bette surrendered to her stress. 

“I need Tina.  I love Tina.”

“When I was on the street, turning tricks for a meal, I used to say, ‘this too shall pass.’  I don’t know where I first heard that expression, but it was what I said everyday.  It became my mantra.  Every time I gave a handjob to some guy who would reach for what he thought was my *****, I would say, ‘this too shall pass.’  That kept me going, Bette.  You love Tina.  I believe in you guys.  It’ll pass.  You’ll be back together.  I guarantee that’s true.”

End Part One

End Part One