“Bette?”  Tina was surprised to see her.  She knew that Bette had therapy in the same building as Foxworthy, but they had never crossed paths there before.

“Hi, Tina.”

She hadn’t been crying, but Tina could see the strain in Bette’s eyes.  Her partner looked almost defeated and shaky.  “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I’ve got to get back to the office.”

“Could you spare time for an ice cream cone?”

Bette smiled, Tina’s invitation lifting her out of her funk.  “I guess I could manage to devour a double scoop of rum raisin.”

“It’s a block away.  I don’t think we’ll melt before we get there.”

“Can you believe this heat?”

“I know.”

They walked in step toward the Haagen-Daz shop.  As they passed the psychiatrists’ building, Tina turned to Bette and said, “I’m in love with you, Bette.  It would be so much easier if I weren’t.”

Bette stopped walking, turned, and stared at Tina.  “I love you, too.”

“I want to trust you.  I want to be able to go through our life together without doubting you when you say you’re preoccupied or working late or just in a bad mood.  But right now, I think my reaction to any of those situations would be, ‘is she seeing someone else.’”

Bette nodded.

“You mentioned couples counseling.  I talked to Foxworthy about it.”

Bette cringed.  She wondered why Tina had to mention it to him. 

“He didn’t give me any advice except to think about what’s best for me.  I want you to be best for me, so I want to try to make it work.  If the offer is still open, I’d like to go see your therapist with you.”

Bette burst into a smile.  Her shoulders that had been tight and holding tension, relaxed.  She nodded several times.  “When?  I’ll arrange it right away.”

“Anytime.  In five minutes, tomorrow, next week.  It’s time for us to stop shitting around.  If we’re going to be together, let’s figure it out.”

They reached the ice cream store and Bette asked Tina to order for her.  While Tina stood at the counter staring up at the menu to make her own selection, Bette pulled out her cell and called Suzanne O’Brien.