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After the Kiss: Chapters 26 to 28 A Woman of Her Word
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Bette – Before we discuss price … there is something that I need to talk to you about.
Eric – Yes?
Bette – In other circumstances, I would not discuss this, but you are a client of mine and I want to be open with you.
He frowns with curiosity.
Eric – Sure, what is it? Don’t tell me that the piece is broken.
Bette – No … nothing like that! (pause) What I need to tell you is personal.
She leans forward on her desk and steeples her hands.
Bette – I know that you and Tina broke up.
He raises his eyebrows in surprise.
Eric – How do you know?
Bette – She told me.
Eric – Really? When did you see her?
She looks uncomfortable and tries to choose her words carefully.
Bette – Well … (pause) She just became the proud owner of one of Janet Crow’s pictures.
Eric – Oh … I guess some of my passions rubbed off on her.
She sighs, clenching her hands.
Bette – I know that it may seem odd to you right now, but I want to be honest with you before any future transactions between us.
Eric – Honest about what?
She looks straight at him and pauses for a moment.
Bette – I am attracted to Tina.
He glares at her.
Bette – I just wanted you to know.
Eric – That you are going to pursue her?
She stares at her hands before looking back at him.
Bette – I don’t want this to get in the way of our commercial relationship. But if it bothers you, I will understand.
Eric – It bothers me, of course. I’m not over her. But as you might know, she is over me.
She looks straight at him in silence.
Eric – But you have a technical problem, Bette …
He smiles with cockiness.
Eric – She is straight!
She stares at him without flinching.
Bette – I will let Tina be the judge of that.
His smile disappears. He pauses.
Eric – Fair enough.
They stare at each other in silence for a moment. He smiles sarcastically.
Eric – I have to grant you this one, Bette. You could have sold me a sculpture today.
Bette – I hope that I still can, Eric.
Eric – Perhaps. (pause) But not today.
He stands up and makes his way to the door.
Eric – I’ll tell you what, Bette … I’ll be back another day and we will start again. And this time, we won’t talk about Tina.
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Poor Tina…..when you discover that you love a woman, there is the discomfort and the fear that accompanies coming out to your friends and family. Not an easy process nor is it an easy conversation. Some accept with joy and happiness. But many will reject and chastise you. For suddenly, the coming out person is not the person their friends and family thought they were and they simply do not know how to respond. And for the person coming out, there is the fear of rejection and disappointment for living the life which seems so natural and freeing. And until you go through it, you never know for certain how its going to turn out.
Poor Bette – its not easy to be the hidden lover. She wants to announce to the world that she and Tina are together and until Tina is ready, that simply cannot happen. They have made the first step by indicating to Eric that Bette was attracted to Tina and Tina telling Meg that she had been dating Bette for a month. So we will see how this goes. If Meg gives a supportive understanding response, coming out at work will be the next step. Family will be the last step and the most difficult. Fortunately Tina is a self-supporting adult and not dependent on her parents for food and shelter. At least she will be able to continue a normal life regardless of how her family responds to this information. Loss of their relationship will be painful, but it may only be temporary.
This chapter was very well written. I feel the hurt and pain Bette is going through. She is so in love with Tina but feels so much hurt by keeping it private. When love is new, there is never enough together time. And when you are not with them, its painful. Even Tina is missing Bette even though she surrounded with friends.
Love this story….
Thank you for the new chapter!
Tricky situation. I think i understand both sides of them, but Tina leaving Bette’s house in such a hurry was a little harsh, no? I hope Bette wouldn’t do something that she’ll be regret later
P.S. sculpture Desert Bloom, hmm :)
Doesn’t every author secretly wish to be a part of the story? :D
:)
A nice Chapter in this great Story.
Thank you for posting.
I love your way of writing and your version of these Characters.
Please post again soon.
SG
I hope Meg reaction on Tina’s news wouldn’t be negative and she’d support her friend.
Second – i think Bette and Tina needed more discussion about their relationship and where and with speed there both comfortable with this relationship.
And third – Bette, just go home, alone.
We are always afraid of her actions, aren’t we? Let’s see what happens! :D
I feel for both of them!
Tina took the first step to come out to Meg, i really hope that Meg will support and accept her and doesn’t shake it of as a gay fling.
It is hard for Bette to stay quit when she wants to let know the whole world that Tina is her girlfriend. I admire her that she talked with Eric about her attraction to Tina before she was going to sell that sculpture to him. Maybe it will cost her him as client, but she made the right decision ????
Looking forward to the next chapter!
** one tiny spoiler there so don’t read, fellow Tibetters ! **
My dear talented author,
I just had to express how much I love this chapter because it truly is a masterful way to depict our dear two’s emotional turmoils at this moment of their story, such a pivotal one since no “l word” has been said yet,
Tina discovering so new emotions in her life and fearing all the lifealtering changes, Bette being afraid that all this could only be a gay fling for Tina and also being afraid to be in love for the very first time of her life, everything is depicted so truly…
Since I already read the first version of your story – her was the tiny spoiler I talked about ! – , I know what a marvelous supportive friend is Meg and I had to say it : from all the various best friends of Tina in so many stories I read all these long years, your Meg is the one I always remember better and with tenderness : she’s funny, deeply endearing and wonderfully supportive. A true best friend !
And this kind of chapters are the kind I love because they’re emotionaly powerful.
I’m so deeply emotional myself, for the best or the worst, so I love nothing more but feeling so deeply moved by a story about my favorite couple.
Following your so nice private message, I have to say that I will always prefer a simple kiss scene full of and feelings that the hottest sex scene without real emotion. With writers like you, Bette and Tina always make love and not simply have sex and that’s essential for the deep romantic heart I am :-)
Thank you SO much for this amazing new version of your story, dear dbff !!
A.