The centertainment complex housing the multi screened movie theatre was an absolute godsend for anyone with a bunch of eleven and twelve year olds to entertain on a rainy afternoon in LA. The latest J- Lo feature and half a dozen buckets of butter popcorn along with cherry flavoured slurpies packed with E numbers and you had the perfect recipe for an effortless birthday celebration even if it wasnt entirely your idea of fun.

Bette and Tina sat together at one end of the row, looking up at the screen watching the movie, but not really taking any of it in.

The modern day hetro slushy romance thing had never been Bettes kind of thing. Ellie had woken them up at the crack of dawn, and what with all the extra hours she had been putting in at the gallery, Bette was finding it difficult to keep her eyes open.

Tina elbowed Bette in the semi darkness. Bette. She hissed.

Huh!

Wake up, your missing the movie.

I am? Sorry T. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and stretched out her long legs.

Whats the matter Bette? Is this too boring for you? Tina demanded.

What! No T, Im just tired thats all, its been a busy week, you know that.

Yeah, and whos faults that? Tina muttered under her breath, but loud enough for Bette to hear.

Bettes expression demonstrated that she was definitely not in the mood for an argument.

Oh dont start Tina, you know theres no way I can just up and leave everything.

Let someone else take control for once, you own the goddamn place. Fumed Tina.

Thats not the point. Bette protested.

So what is the point Bette? Demanded Tina, even though she knew what she was going to say.

The point is . . . Belaboured Bette.

That youre the Gallery owner, we know, we know, Interrupted Tina, more to annoy her, than anything else.

Whatever, anyway, the point is I am responsible for all the artists and what work goes on display, I need to be there in case anything goes wrong.

Its the twenty first century Bette, Tina reminded her we have Telephones to communicate to each other these days, Im sure someone at your gallery is quite capable of dialling a phone to let you know if something is wrong. Or do you have to stand over them and make sure theyre even doing that right? She added sarcastically. Drink your coffee its going cold.

Bette grunted and took an ill – tempered mouthful. T, my work is not a joke you know. She commented.

Isnt it?

Tina!

Yeah well, were not all emotionally constipated, you know.

That really hit home. Bette prickled like a pissed off porcupine. Oh, and whats that supposed to mean?

Tina laid her hand on Bettes and looked her straight in the eye.

Look, I know you have a lot of responsibilities, but theres such a thing as over doing it.

I do not over do it!

Yes you do! You feel responsible for everything. And I mean everything. Youd feel responsible for the sky being blue if you thought you could get away with it.

Tina had hit the nail on the head, and Bette knew it. She drained the last of her coffee. I thought you understood? She said sullenly. You know what my gallery means to me.

I do understand Bette, thats the problem. But were your family, Ellie, and I, and we would like to see you more often than not. Just try and relax more will you, before you drive everybody crazy, including yourself.

Shhh! A small voice said from half way along the row, giving them a disapproving look, and they promptly shut up like guilty 7th graders.

But Bette was still looking at Tina.

Forty Two years old and Tina Kennard was still as beautiful as the day she had walked in to the Gallery, Bette thought. Even now she could still turn heads when she went in to room full of strangers. She smiled as she basked in the beauty of her wife, not only was Tina beautiful on the outside, but she was beautiful on the inside too, she exuded the kind of genuine amiability that made people instantly warm to her and feel safe. The very characteristic that had drawn Bette to her all those years ago and which now even in the dark provoked a feeling in Bette akin to drowning in warm milk. She loved this woman more than life its self, and knew she was the luckiest person on earth to have been given a second chance at loving her. She will slow down at work and put in less, hours. She had to. She, wasnt going to risk losing her family again, even the thought petrified her. ‘***** it’ Bette thought, ‘I can live without the gallery. I can’t live without Tina.’

T. Bette whispered, tugging at her sleeve.

What Bette? She replied, still staring up at the screen.

I love you T.

Tina reached for Bettes hand and intertwined their fingers.

I know. I love you too.





(To Be Continued.)