Valediction

Chapter 1 - My love and my life

She drove into the darkness of the night and the darkness that had become her lifenow ever so bleak and endless in being void of light, of hope, of love.  How had it come to this?  How had the life she had won back for that one moment when she made love to a pregnant Tina disintegrate so terribly, so painfully, so beyond her control?  Angelica was asleep in the passenger side car seat.  The angel at her side was her only love now, her only hope, she thought.  She couldn't part with her, she wouldn't let anyone take her awaynot even her birth mother.  'My God, what have I done?' Bette thought to herself.  'But what could I do?  What can I do?  I don't knowI don't knowI don't know'

Her call to the lawyer earlier that morning was not in time to stop the papers served on Tina's attorney for sole custody.  Tina went into a painful state when her lawyer called midday.  Her heart sank, she hung up, her shock set in, and then her anger rose out of a pained and perplexed heart.  'What is she doing?!!!' Tina said aloud.  'What the hell is she doing?  Why Bette?  Why?  How could you?  My childmy child Bette???  Why?  Why?  Why?'  She called the lawyer back and instructed him.

Tina's lawyer called Bette's and advised that Tina would be rescinding any offers of joint custody.  Any custody of any sort was now off the table and she would fight her with every resource and in every way.  Bette was at home when her lawyer called with the news.  If her love for Tina had seem to be dying a thousand deaths recently, and dying ever so slowly each time, her heart now was enduring a pain that paralleled and somehow went beyond what she suffered in losing her lovera pain she did not think was possible, but it wasAngelica was a love of her life.  She never intended those papers to see the light of day, and now they had done far more than survivethey delivered a blow that Bette could not bring herself to extend.  She was at a loss now. 

Tina was supposed to come by shortly to pick up her daughter.  Bette was to have her for the day while Tina was having a full day at work until the early evening.  Tina, beside herself now, left her office and wandered the lot.  She didn't know what to think.  It was all so unbelievable.  It was coming time for her to go and see Bette and pick up Angelica.  She couldn'tshe just couldn't.  She called Henry and asked him to do it, and told him she was held up at work.  Henry wasn't too fond of the idea, but he liked Bette even though she wouldn't give him the chance or the light of day.  He drove to Bette's place.  No one was there.  The door locked, the lights out, the Saab gone.  He called Tina.  She didn't think anything of it, but said she'd call Kit, because Bette was likely therethere wasn't any other thought that came to mind at that point.      

TINA-  "Kit, it's me, Tina.  Hi.  Listen, do you know where Bette is?  I have to pick up Angelica but Henry's gone over to the house and no one is there."

KIT-  (Her mind went blank.  Something was wrongthis didn't sound right.)  "Tina, I don't understand.  What do you mean 'pick up Angelica?'"

TINA-  "Well, she's with Bette.  She was going to look after her until an hour ago."

KIT- "TinaII don't understand.  I thought she already dropped her off."

TINA- "What?  What do you mean?  Why?"

KIT-  "Oh my God."

TINA-  "KitKit what's going on?"  (Her voice started to rise and chest tightened.)

KIT-  "My God Tina, I don't know.  I don't understand.  Bette called me an hour ago.  She said she was leaving for a business trip and she'd call me in a few days.  Something came up, she said, at work and she had to go.  I got the impression that she had dropped off Angelicawhen she called me she was already on the roadout of the city."

TINA-  "Nono.she didn't drop her offsheKitoh my God Kitoh my Godwhere's my baby?  Where's Angelica?"  (Her voice had started to crack.)

KIT-  "Tina it's going to be ok.  I'm going to go to her house."

TINA-  "But Henry said she's not there.Kit"

KIT-  "Tina, listen to me.  No matter whatAngelica is safe.  She's with Bette.  I don't know what's going on, I don't know what my sister is doing.  But you knowyou have to know that she'd never do anything to hurt her.  She loves her.  She told me about the custody problems.  I'm thinkingwell, the only thing I can think of is that she panicked.  I know she'll do the right thing.  Please Tinaplease stay calm.  I'm going to go to her house.  I have the key.  Meet me there.  Maybe we can find some clue inside of what's going on.  Please Tina, please stay calmAngelica will come back to you safe."

TINA-  "My God Kithow could she?!!!  What am I going to do?  My child Kit, my child"

KIT-  "TinaI understandbut she's her child tooor at least she wasyou know she loves her and regardless of what craziness has led her to this, you have to know that she'll bring her back.  I can't imagine that she wouldn't come to her senses.  Please Tina, please just meet me at the house."

TINA-  "Ok."