Helena nodded. “I’m from England.”

“I love your accent.”

“Thank you,” Helena smiled. “Where are you from?”

“I was born in Florida, but I was raised in Philadelphia.”

“Is your mother still alive?”

Sonja nodded. “Yeah—she went back to Florida.” Helena nodded.

“So do you like that you have a family?”

“Of course I do, I love the fact that I have a family. Kit has welcomed me with open arms, but Bette—,”Sonja sighed. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get through to her.”

“It’ll take some time, but she’ll warm up to you.”

“Hey Helena—,” Helena looked up and saw Kit.

“Hey Kit,” Kit looked at Helena and then Sonja.

“I see that you finally met Sonja.”

Helena smiled. “Yes I did.”

Kit nodded. “Can I talk to you for a second Helena?”

“Sure,” Helena excused herself and walked over by Kit. “What’s up?”

“Why are you messing with her? You don’t know if the girl’s straight or a lesbian.”

“I can’t have an innocent conversation with your sister.”

“She’s young Helena—just be careful with her okay. If you’re not—child.” Helena smiled and nodded.

“I completely understand what you’re saying Kit. I’m not going to do anything to hurt her. I just met her.” Helena smiled softly. “You can trust me.”

Kit sighed. “All right—just don’t let Bette know you’re talking to her sister. Oh lord—what am I talking about? She doesn’t even acknowledge Sonja as her sister.”

“She will eventually. We’ll just have to give her some time.” Kit nodded.

“Okay, you behave yourself.” Helena nodded and walked away from Kit. Kit watched Helena take her seat back by Sonja. Kit closed her eyes and exhaled. She walked back over towards her office.

****

            Bette pulled into her driveway and turned her car off. She grabbed her bag full of her clothes and got out of the SAAB. She walked to her front door and unlocked it. She sighed as she walked into her house and noticed that Tina must still be asleep. She closed the door.

“It’s nice to see you home again.” Bette groaned softly and turned around. Tina stood in front of her with her hands on her hips. “Where were you?”

“Tina—,” Tina butted in.

“Who’s clothes are you wearing? What did you have fun last night? Were you fucking somebody else?”

“Tina—calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down! I called you about a hundred times wondering where the hell you were at! Who is she? I hope she was fuckin’ great for you! Did she scream out your name?”

“Tina—calm the fuck down! Can you listening to me for one god damn minute?” Tina closed her mouth and stood there pissed. “I know that I didn’t come back home until now. I’m sorry for that. I know that you were worried about me, but you would have been more worried if I would have ended up in an accident if I had driven home. Devon was nice enough to let me sleep at her place until today, and I was sober enough to make it home. So I hope you’re done with the fuckin’ belligerence and the questions.”

“Who’s Devon?” Bette rolled her eyes.

“She’s the PA at the University, she works with me.” Tina exhaled and looked away from Bette. “I wanted to come home and talked to you about what happened last night, but I have a headache now.”

“Bette I’m—,”

“Stop right there. I guess you’ll never understand the reason why communication is our main problem in this relationship.”

“But I wish you would have called me and told me where you were.”

“Tina you were upset with me. I knew you didn’t want to talk to me, so I left you alone.” Bette began to walk away and stopped next to Tina. “I love you, but I don’t know if I can handle being with you anymore.” Bette walked away from Tina and walked towards their bedroom.