Fan Fiction
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Chapter 20 – The love of your life
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”That sounds right”
Salma advised Bette to try to let in Tina’s attempts to show that Bette is really her only love interest, even after relationships with other people. Try to believe that she really wasn’t going anywhere else. Bette, in turn, admitted that Tina’s final move means a lot to her. It was as if up to this point she still had those bits of a different life in Canada, separate from her family. The bits that interfered with their full-fledged comfort, which sometimes alarmed Bette. Every time Tina went to Canada, it was something very unwanted for Bette, something that reminded her of that terrible time when they got divorced. Now that they had turned the page completely, Bette felt happier, more at ease, completely reunited with Tina.
_____________________
Several days had passed since Bette and Salma’s conversation, as well as the subsequent conversation on the same topic between Tina and Bette. All the while, Bette had one thought that was becoming more and more obvious – she wanted to hang photos of Oli in the house and disassemble the box with what reminded of her. She wasn’t sure how ready she and Tina were for this, but in the end, she decided that the idea wouldn’t just come up and maybe it was time. She brought it to Tina, who said she’d been thinking about it for the last couple of days, but didn’t dare suggest it because she didn’t want to rush Bette.
9 p.m., Bette took a medium-sized beige box from the top shelf of the closet and brought it to the bedroom where Tina and Angie were sitting. Until a few months ago, none of them could have imagined that they would deliberately even think about Oli, let alone look at her belongings and photos. It was very emotional moment, extremely important for their family and exceedingly necessary to move on. They did it consciously, knowing how painful it would be, because despite the successful course of therapy, despite their development, it was still the most difficult topic in their lives, which could not be touched on calmly.
Bette sat down on the bed and looked first at Angie, then at Tina, and opened the box. First time in 5 years. In a fairly deep box was a photo album, two ultrasound scans of the surrogate mother, Oli’s hand and foot prints, her first favorite toy that Kit had given her, and the second toy that Oli liked to play with the most. Also inside the box was a vest in which Oli was discharged from the maternity and which she often wore at home, and a baby’s bonnet. Seeing all this, Bette immediately began to cry. Tina held back until she picked up the vest and held it up to her nose to sniff. Of course, the smell had long since disappeared, but it was as if it could be restored from memory. Tina closed her eyes, thinking back to 2015 – a sunny morning when Bette had already left for work, Angie for school, and the bedroom smelled of coffee and baby massage oil. Oli is lying on the couch in this very vest, giggling and playing with the sunbeam that peeks through the window. Tina comes to her, bends down and kisses the baby first on the nose, then on the plump cheek. She feels that missing the smell – smell of happiness, the smell of love to the her little girl. This is the smell of the past, which is a completely alternate universe, which sometimes seems real, and sometimes dissolves as if it never existed – it was so different.
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Hi Ada,
Wow, such a powerful chapter. From Tina’s conversation with Margot – I loved Tina telling her not to disrespect her wife. So glad they put up pictures of Oli; the scene with them going through her box was so well-written and moving. I felt like crying with them. When Bette gave the ring back to Tina – I was just blown away. Just a beautiful moment.
Such a nice words!
Thank you, Westy!
The sadness of going through Oli’s things and watching the home movies of Oli. Then hanging the pictures of Oli in the house. The acknowledgement that she was a part of their lives and loved is very emotional. Committing as a family that she will never be forgotten is a true step forward in the healing process. The hurt from her loss will never go away, but grieving and acknowledge her and the joy she brought to their lives while with them, helps the soul to adjust.
The returning of the ring to Tina is significant of Bette trust that Tina is truly back. Tina’s suggestion of an exchange of vows also helps to diminish Bette’s fears.
So they are going to allow a 16-year old to plan and organize their twenty-fifth anniversary celebration? Wow…. that is a leap of faith. “Just let me know what you and I’ll arrange it.”
Thanks for the chapter….
A leap of faith strengthens relationships with children, I think. Thanks, Martha!
Ada,
I wont quote this whole chapter back to ya, but it really was a very fulfilling meal.
Like that Tina met quickly with Margot after returning to LA for good having finished tasks in Canada. Liked that Tina confronted Margot asking her flat out “What’s the matter? Do you have a problem with my wife?” She was respectful knowing that she & Margot were going to be working on future projects, but there was NO mistaken that she was going to side with Bette first if there was a misunderstanding or conflict.
Bette continuing to confide honestly with Selma wanting to understand why jealousy continued to arise in her psyche when thinking about Carrie & Margo. And they seemed to work through that nicely. It’s a scary thing to wonder if your beloved might be having thoughts that there may be something or someone better than yourself.
You were masterful in writing about the coming together of this family to deal with the “memories” of a lost baby was exceptional. How they opened that sacred box of physical memories and all three of them let the tears flow freely on what the items meant, and the emotions that were attached. Quietly they removed all the items and to their great surprise, the weight of the sorrow of that even lifted from each one of them.
Now they would be able to still have joyful memories that NO longer had the sting of death in them. They were going to decorate their home with the art that was Ollie. Reaching this point in momentous in life.
And then, Bette taking the chance to bring forth the commitment ring that Tina had left behind when she left never asking about its whereabouts. Twenty-five years together could now be celebrated with renewal of vows in the presence of family & friends. How cool is going to be that Angie is “in charge” of that upcoming celebration!
Bravo to Angie!! Now if she can just keep Bette out of the middle of it, it will be good-to-go!!!
Angie is a good daughter :)
I love reading your opinion on this story. Thank you so much!
Hi Ada,
I am mostly a silent reader, but want to tell you that i love this story!!!
Did i read it correct it’s almost finished? Sad to read.
It’s all coming together, they have made a major progress, dealing with their own issues and together and feel confident, Bette, that their relationship will last this time.
I love your therapist Salma, she is great and knows what she is doing, and Bette the anti therapy lady likes her as person and has made so much progress.
Glad that Tina spoke with Margot and set bounderies between them. If Tina made one little hint she wanted more then friendship, Margot wouldn’t wait for a second and jump her. But Tina is madly in love with Bette and has no interest at all.
About Oli, i agree with DumplinT comment, i don’t know what i could add, well said!
And the return of the ring and what it means, beautiful, the circle is round again!
Thank you so much for this incredible story!
That’s very kind of you! Yes, the story is coming to an end and it is so strange for me, as if during this time it has become for me some kind of native or something :)
Thank you, Bibi!
I’m a silent reader and want you to know I love this story.
I’m very pleased to know this.
And I’m so glad you like it!
Thank you for the chapter!
It was a great idea to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary, but Angie as an organizer? Hmm, and Bette did allow her to do all work?
We’ll see what comes of it :)
Thank you for reading!
Also a silent reader and I have enjoyed reading your story.
Thank you! It’s important for me to know that.