Chapter five

The weeks flew by and Bette and Tina were together for almost three months now. Bette had gotten to know Alice, Dana and Shane a lot better and they were like family to her. She had some friends at work too and everything was wonderful between her and Tina. She had met Tina’s parents with Thanksgiving and they had accepted her in their home with open arms. The day they were exactly three months together, Tina finished work earlier and wanted to surprise Bette. Even though three months wasn’t that much, she still wanted to celebrate it. She would celebrate each day if she could because each day with Bette was heaven. She drove to the company were Bette worked and walked in the building. She saw the bodies of Bette and another woman through the translucent walls of Bette’s office. She froze when she saw Bette hugging the other woman. The woman leaned forward and kissed Bette. Tears rushed to Tina’s eyes as she quickly walked out of Bette’s office. She didn’t know where to go. She couldn’t go to their apartment because Bette would be there soon. She didn’t want to see Bette anymore so she decided to go to Alice. She pushed the speaker button and waited for Alice to answer.
Alice: “Hello?”
Tina: “Alice…It’s me. Tina. Can I please come up?”
Alice: “Tina, are you okay?”
Tina: “Yeah, can I please just come up?”
Alice buzzed Tina in and let her in her apartment.
Alice: “Tina, why are you crying? What happened?”
Tina: “Bette…She…She cheated on me.”
Tina began crying even harder and almost fell on the floor. Alice held her and sat them both down on the couch. She tried to comfort Tina, but Tina was really heartbroken.

Bette was working on the inventory of the company when someone knocked on her door.
Bette: “Come in.”
Sarah came into Bette’s office and Bette saw that she had been crying.
Bette: “Hey Sarah. What’s wrong?”
Sarah: “It’s my father. He had a stroke. They think that he won’t survive.”
Sarah started sobbing again and Bette held her in her arms.
Bette: “Shhh, it’s okay. I’m here for you. Let it all out. That’s okay.”
Sarah: “Oh Bette I’m so sorry. I wet your shirt.”
Bette: “It’s nothing. You’re much more important than some shirt.”
Sarah: “Thanks Bette, you’re such a good person.”
Bette: “I try.”
Sarah looked into Bette’s eyes and misread the support for passion. She leaned forward and kissed Bette. Bette was taken by surprise and pushed Sarah away from her.
Sarah: “I’m sorry.”
Bette: “Look Sarah, I like you a lot but only as a friend. I have a girlfriend that I love whit all my heart and I would never hurt her. I understand you’re going through some difficult things so let’s just forget it happened, okay? Just take the rest of the day off.”
Sarah: “Okay Bette. Thank you so much. Your girlfriend is really lucky.”
Bette: “No, I’m the lucky one. Bye Sarah.”
Sarah: “Bye Bette. Sorry again.”
Sarah left Bette’s office and Bette sighed. ‘How am I gonna explain to Tina what happened? Should I tell her? Yes, I should definitely tell her. She always said I could tell her anything.’ Bette got back to work and left the office at 6 o’clock. On her way home she stopped at the grocery store to pick up some truffles and strawberries. She unloaded everything in the kitchen and started cooking dinner. She prepared Tina’s favorite dish, pasta with truffles and strawberries with whipped cream for desert. She expected Tina to be home at 7.30. She set the table with candles and put on a cd with soothing music. She lit the candles and changed her outfit to something casual, but *****. When Tina still wasn’t home at 8 o’clock, she decided to call Tina’s cell. She was surprised when she heard Alice’s voice.
Bette: “Al? Could you pass the phone to Tina please?”
Alice: “She doesn’t want to talk to you Bette. I can’t believe you would cheat on her. I thought you took your relationship serious and that you were really in love, but I guess I was wrong.”
Bette: “What? I didn’t cheat on Tina!”
Alice: “Oh Bette come on, cut the bullshit. She saw you!”
Bette: “I swear to God Alice, I did not cheat on Tina. I would never do anything to hurt her.”
Alice: “So kissing doesn’t count as cheating?”
Bette: “Kissing? I never kissed anyone…Wait a minute, did Tina come to my office today?”
Alice: “Yeah, she saw you kissing another woman. Stop denying it Bette, she saw you, okay!”
Bette: “This is a big misunderstanding. I’m on my way to your place. See you later Al.”