Chapter 25

Bette placed her hand on Tina’s right leg as they drove up the Parkway back to the city. “I’m sorry our time together got cut short.”

They were in their middle of their second week of vacation when Bette received a call from Alice that morning notifying her that she, Dana and Shane were on a plane from Los Angeles and was about to pull up at their gate at Liberty Newark International Airport. She expressed to Alice how much she detested surprises, but inside she was pleased that her friends had made the trek to the East coast to get reacquainted with Tina. She knew deep down that she wasn’t the only one who had missed the blonde. She woke Tina and quickly they closed up the house within half-an-hour.

“It’s okay, Bette.” She took her eyes briefly off the road gave Bette a smile. She took the brunette’s hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Call Alice when we’re almost at the airport and tell them to meet us at the arrival flights level.”

The time they had together was productive. Bette helped Tina with the grant writing. Tina was able to tackle a few scripts that needed her attention. Writing notes with her red pen on and feeling like a teacher correcting essays.

Bette was able to sort through the demands the various chairs had had conference calls with them in Tina’s study. James had sent Bette’s divorce documents to Tina’s house via courier service. Tina hadn’t questioned Bette about the large envelope and knew it was the divorce papers when she saw the attorney’s name on the left hand corner. Bette would tell her about it when it was time. She was not going to push her.

“Are you sure you won’t mind them staying with you? I don’t want you overwhelmed. You’ll be back to working 12-hour shifts at the hospital and well, you know how they can be.”

“I have the room Bette, don’t worry. Besides that condo where you’re living right now is owned by the university. You can stay with me too, you know. You don’t have to stay at the condo if you don’t want to.”

“I would love to stay with you. You still have a few days left before you go back to work and I still have a week after that.” Bette reached out to caress Tina’s right cheek during the drive. “How about we play it by ear?” Bette leaned over and gave the blonde a quick kiss on the cheek. Bette settled back in her seat. She watched the passing scenery. “I got the divorce papers.” She turned in her seat. “I haven’t opened it yet.”

“I know,” Tina admitted. “I didn’t want you to think I was pushing you to sign them.”

“I’ll have to read it,” Bette paused. “I don’t want you to think I’m stalling about signing it.” Bette sighed.

“I understand Bette. You’re ending a relationship…a marriage. I’m sure it hurts.” Tina knew the feeling. Even though she and Bette were never legally married, she had always considered Bette her wife. She knew the hurt Bette was feeling. She knew it very well. She glanced at Bette who had turned to look once again at the passing scenery.

The remainder of the drive was done in silence as each woman was lost in her own thoughts, each thinking back to their own relationship of long ago and what they each hope to happen this time around.

tbc