"The trouble with love is that it's always been blind" said Tina
"Yeah, and deaf, dumb and stupid" replied Shane, smiling to herself while letting out a small laugh.
Tina laughed too, almost despite herself. "I think I need to go now before any more philosophical musings are unleashed"
"OK, but take care of yourself, and call me" said Shane
"Bye Shane, and I will call."
When Tina's new boss at the studio suggested that she supervise on location production in London for six weeks she knew it was the perfect opportunity to get some distance, some perspective on her life in LA. She had cried everyday for two months after leaving Bette asleep on their bed, in their house. After leaving her ring on the bedside table for Bette to see when she awoke. However, today was different, she felt a curious detachment to everything that had brought her down. Her call to Shane was a test of her new resolve, they had mostly engaged in small talk, but this was the first such conversation she had with any of her friends without feeling on the edge of breaking down.
"Tina, it's time to leave" shouted Kate, her assistant.
This shook Tina out of her thoughts and into the real world. She had been working with Kate for two weeks, preparing for this trip and now here they were ready for Tina's entry back into the movie world. She was nervous but tried not to let it show. However as Tina was beginning to realise Kate was an astute judge of character and incredibly perceptive.
"You really have nothing to worry about. Just because you took some time out it doesn't mean that you aren't going to do a great job on this project" said Kate, hoping that these words would provide the right reassurance.
Tina smiled at Kate as they walked towards the car that was going to take them to the set. "Thanks, but how did you know?"
"Know what?" replied Kate
"That I had first day nerves"
Kate just shrugged in response whilst opening the car door for Tina to get in. For a split second Tina remembered a time when Bette would open every door for her, it was a small ritual that they had fallen into which always made Tina feel like the luckiest woman alive. It was always the little things that made it special.
"Is there a problem with the car?" asked Kate
"No, it just that......."
Kate had noticed Tina's habit of starting a sentence but not always following through on what she wanted to say. So far she had yet to figure out why her boss did this but was aware of the industry rumours of why Tina had left her role a Alphaville and her sudden return from the wilderness. Tina was cagey about her reasons for returning but Kate knew that Tina had been hurt badly by a woman named Bette Porter and had leapt at the chance to leave LA to get some respite from that pain.
"I think we need to the set as soon as possible before I back out all together." laughed Tina, and with that the moment had gone for Kate to dig a little deeper.
"Sure thing boss." answered Kate, happy that the distant look in Tina's eyes had been replaced by something that nearly resembled happiness but still intrigued by all the things that Tina almost said.
The car ride passed by in silence while Tina contemplated her return to the executive position that she thought she had left behind when she fell pregnant with Bette's baby. Tina knew that this was the right thing for her to do, she knew that she had to get some of her own identity back and what better way to achieve that than move over five thousand miles away, even if it was only for a short period of time. She doubted whether Bette would even recognise her now, with her power suit and heels but it made her feel good, a mask to cover up all the doubt that raged within her. As they got closer to the set Tina started to feel something that she hadn't felt in a long time, anticipation.
"This feels right."
Kate looked at Tina out of the corner of her eye. She wasn't sure whether she was supposed to respond to this statement so she kept quiet hoping that this was a sign of things to come.
