Team Spirit II


Despite the late hour Tina was awake she looked down at her daughter sleeping peacefully beside her and sighed there being no way to avoid the empty space next to her daughter.  Bette had been sleeping in the guest room since Tina had gone on her infamous business trip to Vancouver.

Tina:    Bette I have to go away for a few days for work.  Do you think you’d be okay taking care of Angelica by yourself?

Bette:   I’m not sure how much I like the idea of you traveling for work but I think I can handle it.

Tina:    Bette we already discussed this.  Going back to work in the film industry means I have to travel but it pays the bills a whole lot better than working at the center and gives you the flexibility of working freelance on projects you are passionate about.

Bette:   Where are you going?

Tina:    Vancouver, there are some problems on Josh’s set I need to take care of in person.

Bette:   That’s just great.  I take it nobody else but you can handle these problems or do you two just want some alone time because you miss each other.

Tina:    Bette you were the one who told me to do what I had to do to figure out what my feelings were.  I haven’t seen Josh in months, I didn’t ask to go to Vancouver but it’s my job to go.

Bette picked up Angelica and took her out of the room.  Tina packed her bags and set the alarm for 5:00 a.m. and they barely spoke for the rest of the evening.  Once they had settled into bed for the night with Angelica between them Tina told Bette she would be home as soon as she could and would call her in the evening because she probably wouldn’t have time during the day.  The following morning Tina kissed Angelica goodbye and Bette reassured Tina she and Angelica would be fine.

By the time midnight rolled around Tina still had not called Bette.  Regardless of how busy Tina was and the up and down nature of their relationship Bette found it hard to believe that Tina hadn’t called to check in on their daughter.  Bette dialed Tina’s cell phone and it went straight to voicemail so she sought out the paper with Tina’s hotel phone number and dialed.  The operator put Bette through to Tina’s room but once again voicemail answered and Bette chose not to leave a message.

The following day the phone rang and the caller id flashed Tina’s name.

Bette:    Did you have night shoot last night?

Tina:    Well hello to you too Bette, but no I didn’t why do you ask?

Bette:    I called you in your room and on your cell at around midnight and got your voicemail.

Tina:    I’m sorry Bette.  I was in meetings and on the set all day and then went out for a drink with some of the production drew.  I thought it was too late to call you when we wrapped after 11:00.

Bette:   I guess finding out your life partner and daughter are doing takes a back seat to having fun with the crew.

Tina:    Bette can we please not fight about this now.

Bette:   Angelica is doing quite well not that you’ve asked.

Bette could hear an assistant in the background.  “Tina they’re ready for you.” and Tina’s reply, “Okay give me a minute.”

Tina:    Bette, I need to go now, but lets get one thing straight you’re in Angelica’s life because I trust you.  I left Angelica with you because I trust you to take care of the most precious thing in the world to me.  Do not presume that I don’t care about the well being of my daughter.  Do Not confuse my trust with indifference ever again.  I’ll call you later.

Tina hung up the pone and could only think of one other time she was angrier with Bette.  Tina should have understood Bette being upset with her for not calling and Bette’s jealousy about Josh but at that moment all she could focus on was how low a blow Bette had leveled and it made her regret the trust she had placed and question the choice she had made.

Tina had to put her personal anger aside and go into her meeting and negotiate with and soothe temperamental artistic egos.  It was a skill that had served her well.  If only she could have applied those skills to her own relationship that day but something had snapped when Bette accused Tina of not caring about her daughter.

Josh could tell all was not right with Tina and after a long day of meetings he asked her what was wrong, he showed concern, took her to dinner and lent a sympathetic ear and plied her with wine and when he dropped her off at her room they kissed goodnight.

Tina closed the door to her room and rested her back against the door for a few moments before taking out her cell phone and calling Bette not bothering to look at the clock.

Bette:   Hello T.

Tina:    How’s my daughter? [Tina asked with concern.]

Bette:   She’s fine, sleeping like a baby as was her momma B.

Hearing that Bette had been able to sleep easy after their earlier conversation pissed off Tina all over again.

Tina:    I’m glad you can sleep easy Bette.

Bette:   Well I didn’t get much sleep last night.  Why are you calling so late?

Tina:    I spent some time with Josh.

Bette:   What the fuck does that mean?

Tina:    He could tell I was upset so we went for a drink and talked

Bette:   Tina did you sleep with him?

Tina:    No Bette I didn’t sleep with him but we kissed goodnight.

Bette:   If I hadn’t asked were you going to tell me?

Tina:    I don’t know.

Bette:   That’s great, that’s just fucking great.

This time it was Bette’s turn to hang up on Tina.

The next night when Josh dropped Tina off at her room he asked if he could come in and Tina said yes.  Tina got some wine out of the mini bar and poured it into glasses.  They sat on the couch of Tina’s suite and when Josh asked Tina if he could kiss her she said yes.  Tina’s blouse was half unbuttoned when she finally came to her senses and said no.

Tina:    Josh we have to stop.  Tina took her hand and placed it on Josh’s removing it from her breast.

Josh:    I thought you wanted to explore these feelings you are having for men.

Tina:    I do but not like this it’s not fair to you or Bette.  I’m in no shape to make such a huge decision.

Josh:    Tina this doesn’t have to be a big deal.

Tina:    Josh we work together, I have a daughter and a partner in L.A. that makes it a big deal for me.  My flight is at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.  Thank you for everything you have done for me these past few days, I appreciate it but I can’t take this any further.

Josh:    No problem, it was my pleasure and thanks for getting production back on schedule.  Those rewrites wouldn’t have gotten done and the Giant Ego wouldn’t have gone back to work without you.

Tina:    That’s why they pay me the big bucks.  Just keep me posted.  If you have any problems, I won’t be in the office tomorrow but you can reach me on my cell phone.  

Tina got up off the couch and walked Josh to the door.

Tina:    Good night.

Josh:    Good night have a safe trip.


*****

When Tina got home Bette didn’t exactly welcome her with open arms.  Tina on the other hand was genuinely glad to get away from the temptation of Josh and see her darling daughter Angelica who in Tina’s unbiased eyes was the one of the cutest baby’s she had ever seen.

Bette:    I hope you don’t have to work this weekend.

Tina:    I wasn’t planning on it.  Why?

Bette:   I need some time to figure out how to deal with what’s happened to my life.  I’m going on a Buddhist retreat this weekend.

Bette had gotten into Buddhism after attending a lecture by Mark Epstein a psychiatrist and well-known Buddhist philosopher and author.  Bette had started reading a great deal on the practice and meditating.  She wanted to explore Buddhism further hoping it would help still her restless soul.

Tina:    Okay, as long as this isn’t just an excuse not to spend time with your family.

Bette:   Do I have a family anymore Tina?  You’re macking on some dude from work and I have no legal rights to Angelica.

Tina:    Bette I told you I didn’t sleep with him and I’ve told you that you will always have a role in Angelica’s life.

Bette:    I’m not sure that’s enough for me T.  You could change your mind next week and I’m not sure can live like this anymore.


The weekend came and went and when Bette returned she moved in the guestroom.  Much of their life stayed the same.  Tina worked at the studio while Bette watched Angelica and worked on her Art of Dissent exhibit.  The women spoke about Angelica and domestic arrangements surrounding Angelica and little else.  Tina took to putting the stereo on in the evenings to fill the silence.  She could have lived without the reminder of how Bette felt all those months Tina had shut her out.