Summary of previous chapter: Bette and Tina grieve and ponder their future as they sleep in their bed. Tina reads Bettes letter of resignation.

Bette and Tina finished their coffee as Bette continued to examine the documents spread on the table. She looks up at Tina and takes off her reading glasses, Would you like to go to the Planet for breakfast. I know it is later than usual for us, but I suspect that our friends will still be there.
If you would like. Tina responds hesitantly. She feared what might happen, given the events that had been happening behind Bettes back at the Planet. However, she also realizes that avoidance is not going to make the problem disappear. She also hopes that she might get some answers to a question that is beginning to form in her mind.
Ill go grab and shower first if you dont mind. I need to make some phone calls. I can do that while you shower. Bette tells her.
Okay. Tina responds.
Bette goes off to shower and Tina continues to ponder why Bette is being so calm about the circumstances.
Tina is still pondering when Bette returns to the room dressed and smelling so good. Tina wants to go up to Bette, put her arms around Bette and bury her face in Bettes hair.
Tina goes to take a shower resisting her urge to touch Bette as she passes. For her part, Bette desperately wishes to reach out and touch Tina, but she fears rejection.
After Tina has showered, she and Bette depart for the Planet. They get into Bettes Saab. The situation is awkward, neither woman knows what to say to the other. Bette desperately wants to ask Tina some of the questions that have been plaguing her. She decides that she will do so before they go in the Planet reasoning that having to face their friends will force her to keep her composure no matter the response from Tina. After she parks, Bette turns to face Tina.
Why do you hate me so much that you arranged for me to see you in bed with another woman.
Tina is blown away by Bettes question so out of the blue.
I dont hate you, Bette. I was angry with you, and I made a terrible, stupid, foolish mistake that I regret more than anything in my life.
Why did you want me to see it?
I didnt want you to see it, Bette. I did not know you would be coming home.
They enter the Planet where they are nervously eyed by Shane, Dana, and Alice. Tonya is at the counter talking to Marina who looks like she is going over some numbers. Bette asks Tina to get their coffee while she goes outside to call make a couple of calls.
Oh, and I need your phone.
Tina looks at her quizzically.
Mine is turned off. I suspect that I am getting a lot of calls right now asking for an explanation.
Tina digs her phone from her purse while Alice says, Porter turned off her cell phone. I never thought Id ever see that.
Tina gives her a look telling her to shut up as she stands to go to the counter for their order.
Tina returns to the table. While in the shower she had decided that if she wanted to save her marriage, she needed to start thinking with her head and not with her hormones.
Al, why did you come over yesterday? She asks as she is trying to make sense of something nagging in the back of her mind.
Uh, Porter and I were going shopping.
In the middle of the day?
Yeah, I dropped in her office the day before to see if I could talk to her about something. She said that they were going to be replacing some insulation on the air conditioning ducts in the ceiling above her office. She was going to leave work around 1:00 yesterday because she couldnt work with the guys banging around in the ceiling above her head. Are you sure you want to know this?
Yes. Tina responds impatiently.
Bette said that she felt bad because of all of the ***** that happened over Provocations and she wanted to get a surprise for you. She knew you would be working at the Center yesterday afternoon so she was going to go to the house to measure something. We were going to meet up there and go shopping.
Okay, Al. Very important question. Did anybody else know Bette was planning to leave early yesterday?
Yeah, as far as I knew everybody knew about it. I heard Bette tells James to send out an email memo.
That ***** *****.
Hey, you cant expect her to send out her own email.
Not that. I mean not Bette.
Huh?
Al, I was set up.
Tina, what are you talking about?
Tina explains to Alice and Dana about the resignation she had read. They realize that Helena wanted to replace Bette. She knew that Bette was leaving early. Helena set up Tina to be caught in bed with her so that Bette would be so angry and embarassed she would resign from the CAC.
She used me to hurt Bette and let I her. Tina says as she feels even worse than she was already feeling.
Al and Dana agree that Helena should die.
No one has noticed that Shane has slipped out. She patiently waits for Bette to finish her calls.
How are you doing, Bette.
Im okay, Shane. How about you.
Surviving. Can I ask you something?
Do I have to promise to answer?
No.
Okay, then you can ask. Bette says with a smile for her friend.
Im worried about you, man. This isnt like you at all. You are being so calm. Where is Bette Porter?
Im doing what I think is right, Shane.
What do you mean?
I mean that I love Tina. If she wants to leave then, I want to make it easy for her. Im not going to put up a big messy fight and make it harder for her.
What makes you think she wants to leave?
Um, Shane did you miss Alices summary of yesterdays events?
Bette, people make mistakes. They ***** up for whatever stupid reason. It doesnt always mean that they want to walk away. Sometimes it just means that they made a really stupid mistake.
I think that this was more than just a simple mistake.
Hey, Bette I am just saying that I think you should talk to Tina before you make too many assumptions. For what its worth, Ive said my piece.
Thanks, Shane. I appreciate your concern for us.
Bette proceeds to make another call while Shane returns inside. She tells what Bette has said and in exchange she is told about the conclusion that Tina has reached regarding Helenas motivations.
Shane agrees that Helena should die, slowly and painfully die.
Bette returns to the table. In accordance with her new approach to life, she makes a statement. Look, Id love to act as if nothing happened, but you all know that it did. So, can we please act as normal as possible around each other. Will you all stop looking at me as if you think I am Mount Saint Bette about to blow.
Okay, Porter. We should go anyway. You and Tina need to talk. Alice speaks for the group.
Actually, Ive got to leave now. Im meeting with my broker about what to do with my 401K. She turns to Tina. Im sorry, but she is fitting me in so, I have to hurry. Do you want to wait here or, Im sure Al can drop you off at home.
Tina decides to wait at the Planet hoping that her friends will stay.
Bette leaves for her meeting. As she has so often done, she is running out of the Planet, cell phone in hand, leaving Tina and the gang to the topic du jour without the benefit of her wisdom.
Tina looks at her friends. What do I do?