Kit: Sure. Whatever you want. (She smiles as Bette turns and disappears around the corner, before
turning her attention to the drama unfolding in chapter eight of her romance
novel. But after a few minutes of reading, Kits attention began to wane from the
sordid lives of Estella and her forbidden lover in favor of the events that
lead to this very appointment.)

Alice had called her late one night pretty upset.
She really wasnt making much sense, just kept repeating that something bad had
happened. That Tina had left Bette because she found out that Bette was having
an affair. Kit was tempted to ask Alice
if she had been drinking because what she was saying couldnt possibly be true.
But in the background she could hear the faint sounds of Tina crying and knew
instantly that something was very wrong in the Porter-Kennard household. And
that something happened to be her sister. After hanging up with Alice, Kit immediately dialed Bettes. After her
three attempts went unanswered, Kit quickly dressed and headed out the door.
Bette needed her, even if she did possibly ***** up the most important thing in her life.

When Kit arrived close
to twenty minutes later, the house was completely dark. She rang the bell and
knocked, but when Bette didnt come to the door, she used the spare key hidden
away in the front garden. Upon entering the house Kit was somewhat surprised to see
Bette sitting on the couch, not ten feet away from the front door. Edging
closer Kits eyes took in her sisters despondent posture and more importantly
the half empty wine bottle at her feet. Sighing, she crossed to the seat across
from Bette and sat down and just waited. But Bette never acknowledged her
presence and continued to stare down at her hands, folded tightly in her lap.
It was only when Kit attempted to reach for her that Bette appeared to come to
life. Snapping her hands away from the touch, Bette scooted back onto the couch
out of reach. Kit noticed for the first time that Bette was actually holding
something in her hands.

Kit: Baby girl, what
happened?

They sat in silence
for a while. It was obvious that Bette was trying to process whatever it was that had gone on
earlier. Bette was upset and had been drinking. A lot. Kit knew enough not to push. Emotion and
alcohol never mixed well together. And attempting to force Bette into telling
her what happened was an idea Kit was not willing to entertain at that time. She made herself a bit more comfortable and
prepared herself for a long wait. She
closed her eyes and attempted to order the questions in her head. Did Bette
really cheat on Tina? Who was it? How did Tina find out? Did Bette tell her?
Did Tina catch her? Did?

Kit opened her eyes
with a start, immensely confused at the sudden wash of light that filtered
through the slats of the partially closed blinds. Glancing at the clock on the
far wall, she gasped as she realized that she had fallen asleep. Turning back to Bette she noticed that while
Bette had not moved from her seated position on the couch, she was at least
looking up at her. It was a step in the right direction. Getting her sister to open
up was no easy task. Bette tended to
internalize everything until it boiled over. Making eye contact, like they were
doing now, was progress in Kit’s book.

In the dim light Kit could see the toll last
nights revelations had on her sister. Bettes eyes were bloodshot and attested
to the fact that she probably got little or no sleep. There was the beginning
of a bruise along her cheek and Kit absently wondered if Tina did it or if
Bette had done it to herself after Tina left.
Whatever happened between Bette and Tina left its mark on Bette,
literally and figuratively. Looking at Bette sitting there Kit was suddenly at
a loss for words. She opened her mouth to speak, to say anything to alleviate
the tension building in the room, when Bette beat her to it.

Bette: I fucked up.

Three whispered words
spoken with such sorrow and condemnation that it broken Kits heart then and
there.

Kit: Oh Bette. What
happened?

Bette: I fucked up.
And now shes gone.

Bette stood, placed
the object in her hands on the coffee table, and walked out of the room. Kit
watched her leave, sighing as she heard her enter the bathroom and start to run
water for a shower. Rubbing her eyes tiredly, she stretched and moved to stand
when something caught her eye.

On the table sat Tina
Kennards commitment ring.

Kit: Oh baby girl,
what happened here?

(TBC…?)