“Can we go home?” she whispered.

Tina turned to her wife. She had been watching Nale, director of consumer affairs, trying to read his body language. He was scared of the outcome as were the rest of them.

“Um, let me talk to Nale first.”

Tina shifted forward to stand but was stopped by Bette’s gripping hand. She looked into her eyes and asked, “Babe?”

Bette didn’t answer.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Tina told her wife realizing the woman’s fear.

With her free hand, Tina caressed Bette’s cheek. She leaned in close and kissed her. A reassuring kiss that caused all in the room to stop and stare.

“Okay?” Tina asked pulling away.

Again Bette didn’t answer . She watched as Tina went to speak to Nale then turned away.

*****

Evan opened her eyes to the darkening blue skies. She wasn’t in the backyard sitting by the pool in the lounge chair. As a chill ran through her, Evan felt arms pull her closer; not her mother’s arms.

“Hey,” as soft voice called.

Evan shifted her gaze to the head beginning to block her view. Big brown eyes stared back. She began to open her to speak.

“Don’t try to talk.”

Evan closed her mouth. The inside of her mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton. She gagged.

“Easy. Here.”

Sabrina quickly opened a bottle of water, one of many she gathered and put it to Evan’s lips.

“Swallow,” she instructed pouring a little bit of liquid at a time into the girl’s mouth.

Sabrina poured a little more before recapping the bottle.

“What hap…ach ach,” Evan started coughing before finishing her question.

“I told you not to talk,” Sabrina reiterated.

She waited until the girl calmed.

“You just rest. Don’t worry about what happened. You’re safe now.”

Evan relaxed in Sabrina’s arms.

“Your name?” Evan mouthed.

“Sabrina.”

“Evan,” Evan whispered.

Before Sabrina could scold her for talking, Evan closed her eyes.

*****

Tina pulled the blue convertible Saab to a stop. Bette’s car. But right then Bette wasn’t exiting her car. She was hiding inside it’s darkness.

“Why are they here?” Bette asked her partner.

Tina turned away from the brightness of the porch light and into the withdrawn face of her lover’s.

“It’s probably on the news,” Tina looked again at the house.

She shut off the engine and climbed out the car. Bette followed.

*****