“When we first got together, I dealt with her little infatuations with her professor, all the time she spent in her head, doing her thing. I accepted that we were very different and cut her some slack when she was so caught up in her work that she forgot I was sitting beside her.  I didn’t get pissed.  That was who she was and it was okay with me. I paid for her to come out here. I set up that writing space just for her.  I didn’t need a ***** writing space, you know?  Bought her that ring.  I’m still paying for that.  I did it all and for what?  To be ***** on like she did.”

“I know, Tim.  I left my career because we were going to raise a child together.  I took care of Bette’s every need.  Picked up her dry cleaning, made her dinner, took care of our bills, cleaned the house…”

It was Tina.  Bette stood riveted in place for a moment, then slowly and quietly made her way to the top of the driveway where she could better hear Tim and Tina chatting inside.

“I don’t think she made the bed once the whole time we were together.  When I’d complain, she’d say Sonja could do it.  We hired someone to make our bed?  Wash our underwear?  Give me a break.”

 “Both of ‘em are ***** ingrates.”

“Cheaters,” Tina said bitterly.  Bette was stunned to hear the word, though she knew that’s what she was.  “The funny thing is, she told me I was being blasé; that I wasn’t outraged about Jenny and Marina.  But Tim, I assure you; I didn’t know what was going on.  As far as I knew, you and Jenny wanted a relationship with Marina.  I wasn’t outraged because I thought you knew.”

“It’s water under the bridge, Tina.”

“I know what you went through.  It just tears out your soul.”

“Especially when you’re told that what you’ve witnessed isn’t what’s happening.  Like you’re a ***** idiot.  I mean I busted Jenny and Marina in the act and still, they were like, oh, this just happened.  Then Bette tells me the truth and when I confront them, they still deny it.”  The rage in Tim was bubbling and Bette knew without seeing him the expression he wore on his face as he recalled learning about his fiancée and the owner of The Planet.