Previously in Chapter 7

Bette: You mean, you want to go back to a man?
Tina turns away.
Tina: I think you should go now.

Numb, Bette jumps into her car and backs down the driveway as Tina hurries inside the house and slams the door.
Tina: Sorry Bette. I need to do this.
Tina says to herself as she sinks down onto the floor and cries.
_____________________________________________

Tina blinks her eyes as the sun peeks through the improperly closed blinds. Memories of Bette have again haunted her dreams. Vivid memories of holding hands with her. Laughter, touches, caresses, shivers as she kissed her lips. The easy companionship she felt. The scent of spices mingled with their lovemaking in Bette’s bedroom. She can still smell her on her skin, and taste her on her lips

Tina sits up slowly, trying to shake off the last tendril of the dream world. It has been 3 weeks since she last seen Bette. No words of good-bye to Bette, just a silent refusal to see her anymore. Bette has raged at her, pleading, crying. Each time, Tina quietly placed the phone receiver back into its cradle and buried her feelings deeper within her. She refuses to acknowledge her pain, but instead tells herself again and again that this is the right thing to do. She has not told anyone about Bette. Not that there are a lot of people to tell anyway. She finds it difficult to concentrate on little else. It has gotten so bad that she would forget what she was saying in mid sentence.

Bette, on the other hand, has been thinking of Tina seemingly non-stop. Every chance she got, she phoned her answering machine, praying for a message from her. As the messages accumulated, and none were from Tina, she stopped calling. Eventually, she accepted Tina has made her choice, and she tried to move on tentatively by putting all her concentration on her gallery.

At Bettes office

Bette is pacing at her desk, talking on the phone. Her assistant, James runs in.
James: Your sister Kit, still on line 3.
Bette: (phone) I understand your concern. We will talk tomorrow at the exhibition in New York. Okay. Bye.
Bette: (frustrated) What does she want?
James: This is the 6th time she has called today. She says its urgent.
Bette presses line 3. James leaves the office.
Bette: What is it?
Kit: Oh baby girl, Ive finally got you.
Bette: Can you make it quick? Im really busy right now.
Kit: Daddy called me and
Bette: (cuts in) So now he got you to keep an eye on me as well huh?
Kit: Listen baby girl
Bette: (cuts in again) Tell him he has got what he wants okay, so just leave me alone, please!
Kit: No, no Bette. Can you just listen to me for a second? I understand what youre going through. Im here for you.
Bette: Here for me?
Kit: Yes, Im here for you. Can we meet and talk it over?
Bette keeps quiet. She tries to hold back her tears.
Kit: You need somebody with you now, baby girl. Youre breaking apart.
Tears stream down Bettes face as they break free from her eyes.

Few hours later at Kits house

Bette and Kit is sitting on a couch, talking.
Kit: When she said those words to you, shes not looking at a man or a woman. Shes looking at the person she loves.
Bette: She sees what she wants to see.
Kit: She sees your love for daddy and she doesnt want to let your relationship with her ruin that.
Bette: We could have handled it together. But instead, shes running away.
Kit: This is her first relationship with a woman and maybe she feels insecure, thats why she freaked out. You have to go slow, Bette. Whatever pain you are feeling now, I believe shes feeling the same.
Bette: Why are you helping me?
Kit smiles and wipes a tear off Bettes face.
Kit: Cos you are my baby girl and I love you. Believe me, everything will turn well.
Bette: It will?
Kit: Yes. There’s only one thing that cuts across all our realities. It’s love – the bridge between all our differences.
Bette breaks down into tears. Kit pulls her into her arms and hugs her.

Another day passes. The house is empty as ever when Tina reaches home. She signs and takes off her suit coat and throws it on the table over her things. She walks to the phone and sees the indicator light on the answering machine. She walks to the kitchen and gets a drink before she returns and wades through the calls. She has just taken a drink when Bettes voice fills her apartment. She chokes at the unexpected sound of her soft words.

Hi, its me. I just call to say hello. And that Im leaving for New York at 9 tonight. Hope everything is well for you. Take care.

Tina frowns when the message trails into silence, before it clicks onto the next message. She hits the back button and listens to her words again. The time stamp placed the call at 1 pm today.
New York? Tina stares at the phone with confusion. Why is she going there? How long will she be there? Is she going alone?” These questions gather in her mind as her resolve not to call Bette is tested. She forgets about the remaining messages on the machine as she lifts the phone and dials Bettes number. The call is directed to the voice mail. Tina glances at the clock and gasps when she sees it is 7:55 pm. Instinct urges her to rush to the airport. She grabs her car keys and rushes out from the house. Despite her previous reluctance to meet Bette, suddenly she couldn’t wait to get there. If Bette wants to see her, she wouldn’t hesitate.

At the airport

Last call for flight 421 to New York.

Bette looks at her watch. 8:45 pm. She walks towards the gate and hands over her passport and boarding pass to the gate attendant.

Bette!

Bette turns around and is surprise to see Tina in front of her, catching her breath. They stare in silence for long minutes. Then, as if Tina is reaching down into the depths of her being to find words to describe her feelings, she continues.
Tina: Are you really going?
Bette: I guess so.
Tina looks misty-eyed and uncomfortable.
Tina: What about us?
Bette: You mean our
Bette pauses, afraid of saying the wrong words.
Bette: … friendship?
Tina: Us!
Bette looks down and they relapse into silence again. As much as she wanted to hold and kiss Tina and tells her how she wanted them to be together again, she is worried that Tina might freak out again. She recalls Kit telling her to go slow.

Gate Attendant: Miss Porter, youve to get on the plane now.
Bette nods at him and turns to Tina.
Bette: Ive to leave now, Tina.
Tina: How long are you going?
Bette: A week. We are holding an exhibition there.
Tina: Exhibition? I thought.
Tina pauses. In her heart, she is glad that Bette is not leaving for good.
Bette: You thought I am leaving for good?
Tina looks away in slight embarrass.
Bette: Anyway, Im happy that youve come.

Bette waits for her response but Tina did not reply. Sadly, Bette turns her back and heads towards the gate.

Tina: Bette!
Tina runs forward and wraps her arms round Bettes arms imprisoning them to her waist.
Tina: I love you.
Tina whispers as she holds Bette closer to her.
Tears spring into Bettes eyes and an absurd wave of relief overwhelms her. Tina releases Bettes arms and pulls her face down to hers. They kiss deeply. It is as if all the tensions between them for the past few weeks peaked and exploded in one huge mindless release of emotion. Bette can feel the salt of Tinas tears on her lips and at long last is able to bury her kisses into the scent of her hair and feel the taste of her lips on hers.

Tina gently pushes Bette away.
Tina: You must go now.
Bette: Will you wait for me?
Bette asks, afraid of being rejected.
Tina nods shyly, like a little girl.
Tina: Good luck.
Bette smiles and kisses her for the last time before she walks into the gate.


TBC