Chiaroscuro

Chapter 27

 “Oh good, you decided to come…everyone is out on the deck.” Karen called out to Bette.

Bette continued toward her, somewhat surprised that Karen remembered her from their one meeting at the gallery.

Karen watched as Bette’s smile suddenly faltered as she slowed her pace and then stopped before reaching her.  Bette looked past Karen with a quizzical frown on her face. 

“Oh, Bette, this is a friend of Richard’s…”

Tina took a deep breath and turned to face Bette as she walked back to close the distance between them. All the pieces fell into place and she felt suddenly foolish that she hadn’t realized until that moment who they had been talking about all night.  So many hints: Shane’s inability to make eye contact with her through the evening; Mari’s obvious discomfort with her; Richard trying to get Eduardo to stop talking about his Elizabeth.

Bette wasn’t sure if she could breathe or move.  She watched Tina move toward her as if in slow motion, illuminated by the outside lights—a halo of light seemed to surround her.  She thought, “She looks like an angel coming out of the darkness.” Neither of them heard Karen’s introduction.

Tina tilted her head and, looking up at Bette, her hand moved of its own will to touch Bette’s arm. 

Bette’s thought process began working and her mind began a mantra, “Don’t run. No more running.” 

Karen watched them and then moved silently into the kitchen; this obvious reunion was not for spectators. 

“How?” Bette shook her head as she spoke, as if to clear the vision she was seeing.

Tina’s voice reflected her inner resolve, “I came to find you—to tell you that Angelica is your daughter as much as she is mine. We have a lot to talk about but I need you to hear me say that, right now.”

Bette stared at her as her mind tried to take in the enormity of what she was saying. She saw in front of her a tired woman, dark circles under her eyes not quite hidden by makeup—she had clearly traveled a long way to be here to bring her this message. Tina’s eyes were clear—clearer than Bette had seen them in a long time; their amber glow focused on her without wavering, waiting to see if she heard what she had said, waiting for her response.  Bette felt the words go through her entire body—something changed inside her as she took in Tina’s words—the hollow sense of longing that had been with her for so long seemed to melt away.

Tina watched the change come over Bette and felt her own body relax. Bette had heard her, had not run away. Where once there might have been only anger and defensiveness, there was none. Where once there had been unbearable despair and hopelessness, there was none.  The woman standing before her had changed through this emotional ordeal that she had gone through and had found something inside herself—Tina didn’t know exactly what but she saw the difference.  She felt it within herself as well, as if now they could finally discover each other again.

“Well it’s about time that you arrived!  Ah—I see you have met our newest guest!” Eduardo turned to Richard as they walked toward the front of the restaurant, “You see—I told you that my Elizabeth would not disappoint us! We cannot leave now.”

Richard tried to move Eduardo away to no avail—Eduardo pulled Bette into a hug and turned toward Tina, “You see!  Did I not tell you how beautiful she is! And wait until tomorrow night—her talent will eclipse anything you have ever seen.”

Bette, perplexed at this, stared at Eduardo and turned to Richard. “Richard?”

“Yes, hello Bette—we finally meet—I think under very unusual circumstances.”  He pulled Eduardo away from the two women, “He is somewhat inebriated as you can see. And he is the only one here tonight, other than yourself and Tina, who hasn’t figured out who you both are to each other.  I’m sure that Tina will fill you in on this rather remarkable evening. I am going to take him home before he causes any further damage.  Tina, forgive me, but I am sure someone will drive you back to the inn.”

Both women watched as the men left—Eduardo continuing to argue and Richard very firmly guiding him out of the restaurant.

“I think we should talk, don’t you?”

Tina smiled at the understatement.  “Yes, I think so.”

“You are staying at the Posado inn?  Why don’t I drive you back?” 

“I need to go out to the table and get my bag.  Why don’t you at least come out to say hello to everyone?  It’s been such a strange night—but I think they’d all like to see you.”

Bette looked hesitant and then laughed at the understatement. “Sure.”

They walked out to the deck together. 

                   **********************************************

Mari was glad that Richard decided to take Eduardo home—when he got like this, he was capable of saying or doing almost anything.  She was ready to go home herself but wasn’t sure where Tina and Karen had disappeared to.

Shane leaned over to Edwin and asked, “How did they enjoy the whale watching?”

Both of the men laughed.  “I am not sure if your friends will ever forgive Alice—or you, for managing to avoid it.  They all got very seasick. I think they slept the rest of this afternoon away.”

Shane laughed. “I can’t wait to hear them tomorrow.”

“Did they see any whales?”  Julie asked.

“Oh, yes.” Carlos responded, “But I don’t think that they cared! I tried to warn them that it could be very rough water this time of year but your friend Alice is very persistent.”

“I am a little mixed up, Shane.” Edwin asked, “You knew Elizabeth from before now?”

“Yes, she’s a friend from home.”

“But the others—they don’t know she is living here?”

“None of us knew she had come here before I ran into her. And Bette—she prefers Bette, actually—didn’t want the others to know until the opening tomorrow night.”

“Ah.  And this Tina?  Does she know Bette as well?”

“Well, yeah, but she doesn’t know that Eduardo is talking about the same person.”

“She does now.”  Tina interjected as she and Bette got to the table.

Everyone looked up in surprise to see the two of them standing there.

Mari looked at Bette and caught her eye.  Bette shrugged her shoulders and smiled at her.  “I’m not staying—I’m taking Tina back to the inn.”

Mari nodded and turned to Jose, “We are leaving as well. Tomorrow is a big night and I need my beauty sleep.  Elena—thank you so much for tonight.  I will see you and Karen tomorrow night at the gallery. Julie—not too late—we have a busy day tomorrow.”  She nodded at Tina who reached out and took her hand as she said goodnight.  Mari lifted her hand and touched Tina’s face as she said goodnight and whispered, “Destino.”