(Previously)

Bette was oblivious to anything as she put her head on her father’s chest and began sobbing, whispering something that Tina couldn’t understand. She placed her hands on Bette’s shoulder, rubbing them, offering some comfort and mindless of her own tears.

Time stopped for them just as Melvin’s heart stopped beating.

~~~~~~~~

Reunion Challenge: You are the best I ever had

Unofficial JLBT challenge #1 – Part 4C

Chicago, 2006 (cont.)

Bette didn’t remember much after the night her father died and didn’t know how she got through the viewing or the funeral. It was like she was in a fog and all she could see was Tina…making her eat, making her sleep, holding her at night, comforting her and then standing by her side during the ceremony.

Though there were only a few distant cousins at the funeral services and Bette was the only one left from her immediate family, a lot of Melvin’s friends came to say goodbye and Bette was surprised to see how many people loved and respected her father.

“I’m going to stay for a few more weeks here to take care of his will and estate,” Bette said to Tina when everything was over and they were finally alone. “I think you should go home, T.”

“Are you sure?” Tina’s heart was breaking to see that Bette was withdrawing from her again and building walls between them. “I can stay longer, I know Helena won’t mind.”

“I’m sure she won’t but it’s just dreadful bureaucratic bullshit…it would be a great comfort for me to know that when I come home I will have someone waiting there for me. Will you wait for me, T?” Bette asked tentatively, taking Tina’s hand and looking searchingly into her eyes.

“Yes…just come back and I’ll be there…I will wait forever for you,” Tina replied softly, knowing that she could do nothing to change Bette’s mind. She gazed into the brunette’s eyes and her despair began slowly to disappear at the look of longing that she saw there.

“Thank you for everything, T…I wouldn’t make it without you…” Bette brushed her lips across Tina’s. The kiss was so soft and gentle that it felt like a touch of a butterfly’s wing.

“You know that I’d do anything for you, Bette…you only have to ask.”

Los Angeles, 2006 (a week later)

“Hello, Bette…this is Helena Peabody. How are you doing, darling?”

“Much better…considering,” Bette sighed, relieved and disappointed that it wasn’t Tina. “Thank you for asking, Helena…uh…how’s Tina? I haven’t spoken to her for a few days. I just can’t…you know…” Bette’s voice trailed off and she bit her lip, knowing that her excuse for not calling Tina was pathetic.

“Yes, I know, Bette. Tina seems to be fine, though I think it’s only on the outside…” Helena hesitated just for a second and then asked, afraid that Bette will tell her to mind her own business, “When are you coming back?”

“Two weeks from Monday,” Bette replied absently as her mind was on Tina, thinking how much she was missing her already.

“That long? I think you should talk to Tina. She’s really upset that you haven’t call and…and honestly, I think she’s a mess without you.”

“I know…” Bette sighed again, “I will call her soon. I just need to get my mind clear…I need to be away from everything and everyone I know.”

“Away? Are you going somewhere?” Helena tried to sound nonchalant so she could find the way to help her friends.

“I have a distant cousin who thought that a Caribbean cruise will help me to deal with my grief,” Bette chuckled softly. “At first I thought it was a joke…my father just passed away and I’m going on a cruise to deal with that? But then a realized that maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. I’ll drink myself to death if I face it alone but I can’t go back to my ordinary life…not yet. There is also something personal I have to do while…” Bette paused, unsure if she should reveal more and decided not to say anything.

Helena sensed Bette’s hesitation but remained silent, waiting for her to continue. “Sunday I’m flying to Florida to get on the ship and maybe two weeks at sea will do me some good,” Bette said after a pause. “On the cruise I won’t be alone but I will be among strangers who won’t care who I am and I won’t have to explain myself to anyone.” 

“I understand what you mean, Bette…absolutely.”

“You do?” Bette was surprised because she didn’t completely understand it herself.

“Yes, I do…but when you come back, I think you and Tina should talk.”

“I know…it’s just…well, I want to be strong for Tina and right now I’m too vulnerable. I don’t want her to see me like that and feel pity…I love her too much to…” Bette gasped when she realized what she just confessed to Helena. It was the first time she said those words out loud to someone else other than her own reflection in the mirror while practicing saying it.

Helena stayed quiet on the other end of the line and Bette pleaded softly, “Please, Helena, don’t say anything to Tina. I want to do it myself, in person.”

“I won’t, don’t you worry, darling,” Helena contemplated on adding something else but decided against it. “Take care of yourself, Bette and remember, you have Tina and me…you’re not alone and we’ll be here when you get back.”

“Bloody lovesick fools,” Helena uttered, shaking her head with a laughter as soon as she hang up and then dialed another number, “Mommy, could you do me a favor…”

Shaolin Studios (the next day)

“Why hasn’t she called me?” Tina was pacing inside Helena’s office and crying, throwing used tissues all over the floor. “It has been one week since I got back and she only called me once to see if I got home safe.”

“She’s probably busy with her father’s estate, Tina…give her time,” Helena was sitting on the edge of the desk, holding the tissue box and offering it to Tina every time the blonde was finished with another one.

“I know she’s busy but all I ask is one phone call to know if she’s okay…one phone call, that’s all.”

“Besides, she still thinks that you’re with Jenny…it’s not like you declared your undying love for each other. You never told her about Jenny, don’t you?” Helena continued in somewhat accusatory voice.

“I just didn’t think it was appropriate to bring up my problems while her father was dying, you know…and during the funeral she wasn’t responding to anything, so I decided to wait and talk to her when she gets back. I tried to call but she’s not answering her cell phone…I hope that she’s okay,” Tina sniffed and grabbed another tissue.

“She’s okay, Tina,” Helena sighed and finally decided to confess about her conversation with Bette. “I talked to her last night…she’s okay.”

“You…talked to her?” Tina stopped pacing and stared at Helena, wiping away her tears. “Why would she call you and not me?”

“First of all, I called her and I was just lucky to get hold of her. Tina, she misses you very much but she’s grieving and she needs to deal with her grief alone right now. She promised me that she’ll be back in two weeks and the two of you will talk.”

“Two weeks? Another two weeks will gonna drive me crazy,” Tina exclaimed in despair and collapsed on the chair.

“Why don’t you take a few weeks off, Tina and go somewhere to relax, to think and decide what you want to do?” Helena offered, trying to keep her excitement hidden so she could execute her plan. “Take a vacation, go on a cruise, just go away for a while. You’ve been working hard these last few years, making our little studio so successful and you deserve some pampering and lots of rest, physical and emotional.”

“Thanks, Helena but I don’t think a vacation will help me with what I am feeling right now.”

“I’m still your boss and I’m ordering you to take a vacation. Don’t go anywhere if all you want to do is to stay home and sit on your couch, watching movies and eating junk food but I don’t want to see you in the studio at all for the next two weeks. If you come in to work tomorrow, you are fired.”

“Where would I go? There’s only one place I want to be but I can’t be there.”

“Well…” Helena’s eyes narrowed with mischief. “I happen to have one last ticket for a Celebrity Cruises ship, leaving Fort Lauderdale in a few days and sailing through Aruba, Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Cabo San Lucas and ending up in Los Angeles.”

“Good for you,” Tina rolled her eyes, thinking of Bette and wondering where she was and why she wasn’t calling her.

“Imagine…” Helena closed her eyes with a pure pleasure on her face, “…two weeks of deep, vast and beautiful ocean, fresh air, cool breeze, incredible food and entertainment…maybe even some hot women, if you’re lucky.”

“If I’m lucky?” Tina repeated, slow to understand what Helena was suggesting.

“You don’t think that I was going on a cruise without my family?” Helena smiled and opened her purse. “I only have one ticket and if you don’t have any idea what you’re going to do for the next two weeks, it’s yours…unless you want to stay home, wallow in your misery and get fat on ice cream and chips.”

She waved the ticket in front of Tina’s face, seeing that she was still unsure and said rapidly in monotone voice, “The last ticket on the sold-out Celebrity Cruise to the wonderful land of the Caribbean islands. Going once, going twice, going…” she laughed as Tina snatched the ticket out of her hand and put it in her pocket.

“That’s what I’m talking about. You can take Peabody private jet to Florida, the ship leaves in two days…have a nice trip, darling.”