“I’m scared Alice, I don’t think I am up to the rejection if she does not want to work on our relationship. She agreed to work on friendship and I think that is all I can ask of her right now.”

“Do what you know in your heart is right.” Shane looks at her friend with knowing eyes. She has been on both sides of this kind of pain and knows that it can be debilitating if left unchecked.

“OK   ...  OK, so lets plan a great long weekend and hope that we are all together.” Bette tries to get off of the Tina subject.

Two days later and no word from Tina, no call, no coming into the Planet. No one has heard from her. Bette cannot stand it anymore and picks up her cell phone to call her. As she flips it open to dial, the cell phone rings. Bette looks at the caller ID and it is Tina. “Hi Tina, I was just getting ready to call you.” Her voice was hopeful.

“Hi Bette. I needed some time to think. Thanks for not pressuring me.”

“Tina I said I wouldn’t but, I was getting a little worried.” Bette’s voice is a little stressed because Tina’s does not sound happy.

“Bette, this whole long weekend away is a huge step. It might be more than I can manage. It seems a lot like, well .... more than friendship to me.”

“I don’t think Alice or Shane feels that way about it.” Bette is a little irritated but tries not to sound to angry.

“Neither of them was once your partner with whom you are working on a new type of friendship, Bette.” Tina has no problem expressing her indignation.

Calming herself and her tone, “I meant that .... well anyway, Tina, I would love for you to go. Kit, Alice and Shane would love for you to go. I promised to not put any pressure on you and I won’t. Let’s just go and enjoy ourselves.” Bette was trying to keep her true feelings in. She hoped her desire could not be discerned in her voice.

“I will call you tomorrow to let you know what I have decided.” Tina’s voice was quiet, not a whisper but, emotionally quiet.

“Thank you Tina. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Bette hung up the phone and tried to reconcile her emotions.

Tina was scared and unsure of herself, her emotions, her feelings for Bette. She could not commit to a long weekend, she was sure of that. But, she told Bette she would think about it and that is what she’ll do.