Shane grabbed a broom from the kitchen and swept the shards of glass up where Bette's beer bottle had fallen. She emptied the dustpan into the garbage realizing that Bette sat frozen beside the pool. "Hey, let's get on some bathing suits and go for a swim" said Shane. Bette began to stand up slowly and smiled at Shane. "Actually that sounds really nice" replied Bette. "I'll go change into my bathing suit and be right back" said Shane. "Hey Shane, why don't you borrow one of ours, I mean mine" said Bette. Shane cringed at the sadness in Bette's voice but did not acknowledge the fact that Bette had slipped with her wording. "All right then, be finding me something to wear Bette" said Shane as she attempted to lighten the mood.
The two women continued swimming, reminiscing and drinking well into the night. "Damn it's almost 1a.m. and I promised that I would help a friend of Carmen's move early this morning" said Shane. "Well it was great seeing you Shane, I've missed this. Almost as an afterthought Bette added "Shane does she ever mention me, us?" Shane could have sworn that she heard Bette's breathing stop as she waited for her to answer. "Tina is doing well and she does ask about you on occasion" said Shane quietly. She didn't want to tell Bette that every phone call was an "occasion." Tina never once failed to ask about her. "Would you tell her that I said hello and that I think of her often and hope she is doing well?" asked Bette tentatively. "Absolutely" replied Shane.
As Shane made her way next door she was so saddened by the whole situation that she almost called Tina and begged her to come home to Bette. Her heart was aching for her two friends but she really didn't think that she could re-hash everything with Tina right now. She had spent so many hours on the phone listening to Tina cry that she herself was emotionally spent and yet she felt helpless as to how to change things. Although to a great degree she understood why Bette had slept with Candace, she could not say that she was at all happy with her for doing it. They were "the couple", the couple that Shane admired more than any other. Her feelings toward Bette were more disappointment than anger. Suddenly her cell phone began to ring. Flipping the phone open she saw Tina's number displayed. Well shit thought Shane as she reluctantly answered the call. "Hey there Tina" said Shane. "Did you check on Bette for me Shane?" said Tina quietly. How is she doing? "She is doing about as well as you are" replied Shane. "Thank you - I'll talk to you later on" said Tina. As Shane told her good-bye, she once again heard the sounds of Tina sobbing quietly.
Bette reached over and swatted at the alarm clock impatiently. Here it was already Monday morning and all she had accomplished over the weekend was yet another hang-over. After showering she had planned on being at work very early this morning. It was barely 6 a.m. when she entered the CAC. At least when she was here her thoughts were occupied on things other than what a mess she had made of her life. She logged onto her computer and checked her e-mails silently praying that the day would go smoothly for her.
Bette did not hear the front door open and was startled when James walked into her office with the morning paper for her. "Hey James I didn't realize it was already 8:30" said Bette. James had seen Bette at the pinnacle of her career and now he could hardly believe the she shadow of the women who sat before him. Bette had always been vibrant and outgoing but when she met Tina she became even more beautiful, both inside and out. He had never seen two people more in love than Bette and her "T". James had noticed that shortly after they lost the baby that Bette had withdrawn into herself. He marveled at her ability to try and fight her demons alone. Unfortunately he also knew that Bette had somehow gotten herself involved with Candace. There was a fine line between working for Bette and worrying about her. He knew that although it was really none of his business that nothing about this affair made any sense to him. He knew that no matter the circumstances, Bette loved Tina more than anyone or anything in the world and he felt saddened but helpless to interfere. He didn't know all the details of how Tina found out but he did know that every time the subject of Tina came up, Bette would change the subject as quickly as possible. The Monday after the Provocations opening, Bette had shown up for work with no makeup, her hair unkempt and a huge bruise on one side of her face and what appeared to be a bite mark on the other side. Shortly after that day she had stopped accepting any phone calls from Candace and had him deal with finalizing their business deal. He had not seen or heard from Tina since the opening.
As the day progressed, Bette began counting down the hours until 6 p.m. It was not that she had anything planned, it was that she didn't feel like facing another client with a fake smile plastered on her face. Keeping up a front was beginning to wear on her and by pretending to be happy she felt as though she were betraying Tina yet again. She resented having to pretend that everything in life was great when in fact she had lost her soul mate.
Suddenly her office door flew open and Shane and Dana came bursting in. "Gee guys have you ever thought about knocking?" said Bette rather curtly. Looking at both of them she suddenly realized that both women were very upset and she suddenly felt light headed. "What's wrong with T" she screamed. "Bette you really need to sit down for a second" said Dana. "No! I need to know what is going on and I need to know now" Bette yelled. "What is wrong, what has happened to her?" Bette asked as tears began to slip from her eyes. Shane walked to the side of the desk and put her arm around Bette's shoulder. "Look Bette, T is in the hospital and we need to go to her now" Shane said quietly. "I am not going anywhere until someone tells me what the hell is going on" replied Bette - her voice now barely a whisper. "Bette she is alive but she is having a really rough time right now" said Dana. Please just get your jacket and your purse, Shane and I will take you to her.
"Is she still in San Diego?" whispered Bette. "Yes that is where we are heading now" replied Shane. "No I'll just follow you guys" said Bette. "Not happening, get in the car we are all going together" said Shane in an agitated voice. As Bette sat down in the passenger seat, Shane reached up from the back seat and handed her a letter. She immediately recognized the hand-writing as Tina's. "Read this letter and then we will talk" Shane said. With tears streaming down her face, her body wracked by sobs Bette opened the letter. The date on the letter was the day after Provocations had opened.
My Darling Bette,
I feel as though I am having some sort of nightmare from which I can't wake up. I am totally lost right now. I had planned to tell you this last night when we came home from the opening but we both know how that ended. Bette, I am carrying our child. I used the sperm that we had stored and was implanted with the sperm along with one of your eggs.
We will be parents. I am letting you know that I want nothing from you in regards to the baby (a girl by the way). Your actions made it very clear that you were not happy at home and I don't want you to feel obligated to me simply because of our child.
