“Agent Johnson was not implying that you are gold digger, right, Kevin?”

Agent Johnson didn’t answer but looked at his partner with ill-concealed contempt.

“So you were in Geneva for the last three months?” Agent McKinnon continued, ignoring the other agent. “When we spoke to your boss at the museum he said you took a leave of absence to visit your family. Do you have some other family members left?”

“Oh, I see. No, there’s nobody else,” Bette sighed. “To be perfectly honest, Tina and I had an argument that involved my ex. When I left for America to reunite with my father, I heard that my ex-girlfriend was killed in a skiing accident. Until now I have not had an opportunity to go back to Geneva to visit her family and grieve with them. America was such a new experience for me, so different from my life as a foster child. My adopted parents were nice and caring but there was always something missing.” Bette paused, as if she was reminiscing about her past.

Agent Johnson coughed and asked, “What does it have to do with your trip to Geneva?”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Bette smiled sweetly. “I forgot to mention that my ex didn’t die. She was injured pretty badly but she survived. Tina found out about that through some research but never told me…that’s why we had a fight. I guess she was worried that I would leave her for my first love. I needed some time to reflect on my life. Also, I never had the closure so I went back and spent sometime with the only people I had left in Geneva. Turned out my ex got married…to a very nice man. They were also expecting their first child. I had a lovely time with her family, got my closure and went back home…because America is my home now and Tina is my family.”

Bette suddenly felt a wave of emotions because it made her think of Christina. She got her closure but it didn’t lessen the ache she buried deep inside.

“You needed three months to get a closure?” Agent Johnson asked skeptically.

Bette wiped one errant tear and sighed, “Some things take time, Agent Johnson. I also realized that I wouldn’t be coming back to Geneva again so I wanted to spent as much time as I could there.”