Dear Readers,

I just wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten about our B&T. I am preparing for a board examination in one month’s time and so I will be away for a bit. I don’t want to rush these chapters and have the quality suffer. Just know I’ll be back when time permits, but I have not forgotten you guys.

The Roommates – Fast Forward to 2019: Chapter 58

They were all curled up in the bed. Bette was in her spot, Tina on her side of the bed and Dylan hugged closely to Tina in the middle. The morning had been devastating. Almost everyone had been in the room when Sidney was removed from life support and she breathed her last breath. The only thing good to come from the tragedy was that Sidney was an organ donor. Bette and Sidney’s parents had honored her wishes; her organs would help others live. That’s where the silver lining ended.

Tina hadn’t been present when the ventilator was turned off. She had stayed behind with Dylan in the waiting area. Bette hadn’t wanted him to see his aunt pass away. It was too much for someone so young.

They had all hugged and cried until their emotions were spent. The family drove a sad caravan back to Bette’s home, leaving Melvin and Patricia to take the first shift in staying with a slowly recovering Kit. After her surgery, she’d been placed in a medically induced coma. The neurosurgeon had indicated she might be in the coma for weeks, depending on how the swelling in her brain responded to treatment. She wasn’t out of the woods by any means and her prognosis was dependent on her day-to-day progress.

Tina had immediately called for her security team, more afraid for Bette’s safety than ever before. Whenever her father realized Bette was still alive, she was certain he’d come after them with everything he had. She just hoped that Tasha was able to work her magic and get a warrant for his arrest. Knowing he was in jail would take a heavy weight from her heart.

Sidney’s parents were resting in the guest room and Jack was sleeping on the couch. Max had come and gone, bringing with him enough food and coffee to feed a small army.

Bette had been sleeping, dreamlessly, when a soft tap pulled her from slumber. She followed the sound with her dark eyes and saw Dana standing outside her bedroom, in the backyard. She smiled at her friend and looked back at Tina and Dylan. They were both in a deep sleep. Bette slipped from bed and grabbed a spare blanket, moving outside to talk with Dana.

The Roommates – Fast Forward to 2019: Chapter 57

When Tina first told her about what Steven Kennard had done, how he had orchestrated the car accident which critically injured both Sidney and Kit, Bette had felt pure rage and anxiety. It was a combustible mixture that had the power to decimate her, her relationship, and everything in her path.

The knee-jerk reaction to escape, to let cocaine or alcohol soothe her fiery tempest, was awake and alive within her. Her throat was dry, her skin was tight, her heart began to race, and she could feel the heat. The heat was always the worst part of it. It was like having a heater on inside of her skin. A warmth that built and could not be contained or controlled.

Usually, the thoughts began to whisper as well. Feverish whispers of her failures, her inability to cope, and the promise that everything would be easier as soon as she got high.

But Bette had made a promise to Tina. She’d promised her that she would stop giving in to that call for escape. She would push through the fire and let her cooler side prevail.

She had gathered a shaking Tina into her arms and held her until the shaking stopped. She’d let Tina’s tears mix with the salt of her sweat until the love of her life was able to breathe without gasping. When they separated, Tina’s loving hazel eyes studied her, wiping the sweat from Bette’s heated brow with the sleeve of her own shirt.

Bette’s cheeks were rosy and her voice was firm and soothing when she answered the question in Tina’s gaze. “I can do this, T. I promised you I would be okay. I am okay. I can handle this. Let me do the heavy lifting this time.”

Tina’s eyes watered and she continued to dab at the moisture on her lover’s face. Bette got Alice’s attention and asked her to sit with Dylan while Tasha joined her and Tina in the cafeteria on the 1st floor. The three of them sat together at a four-top, deep in conference about the plan in Bette’s mind. For the most part, Tina was quiet. She gripped Bette’s left hand tightly, almost afraid to let her go. Afraid that she might just disappear. Her father had unsettled her.

The Roommates – Fast Forward to 2019: Chapter 56

As her shorter legs worked to keep up with Bette’s pace, Tina realized just how much taller her lover was. Bette had a vice grip on Tina’s left hand, and they were walking quickly through the halls of Cedars Sinai Medical Center. The gallery owner was talking to Alice through her earbuds as they stalked the quiet corridors at 6 am.

At last, they came upon a waiting area and the hodgepodge mix of extended family members. Dylan raced to Bette and she held him tightly. She bent down to her knees and Tina stroked her unruly dark curls.

“You came,” he said.

“I would have been here faster if I could have. Tina got us a flight. She worked her magic and got us here,” said Bette.

Tina bent down and Dylan hugged her, too. He was sobbing, his little eyes swollen from tears.

“Hey Bette,” said Alice, her eyes red and puffy too.

Bette stood up and hugged her. They cried together. It was like déjà vu. Cedars Sinai Hospital yet again. Another loved one flirting between life and death. This time two.

“What’s going on? How are they?” asked Bette.

Tina grabbed Dylan’s hand and walked with him to a chair. He refused to let go of her, holding on to her, sitting in her lap. Tina kissed his forehead and held him tightly. She guessed she was his Bette substitute.

The blonde watched as the rest of the adults gathered around Bette and Alice. She saw an older brown-skinned man who she assumed was Bette’s father. He stood near Patricia. There was an older white couple that she knew must be Sidney’s parents. They all looked distraught. Tina felt her stomach flip. A tall man with curly blond hair and an ever-present 5’oclck shadow sat down next to Tina.

He said quietly, “I’m Jack. Sidney’s my sister. You must be Tina.”

“I am. I’m so sorry about all of this,” she said. She felt uneasy. Afterall, Jack was her competition’s brother. She wasn’t sure how she would be received.

Jack wiped at his tears. “Thanks.”

Tina wanted to ask what was going on, but she didn’t want to do that while holding on to Dylan. She didn’t want to upset him anymore. As it was, his head was against her neck, his tears slipping down her shirt.

The Roommates – Fast Forward to 2019: Chapter 55

2007: Twelve Years Ago
Orange County, California
Kenneth Raymond Residence
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Steven Kennard took a deep breath and placed a strip of peppermint gum into his mouth. His throat was dry, his nerves already shaky. Tracy looked at him as they stood together by their parked car.

“Don’t be nervous. Ken already likes you,” she said.

He nodded, his eyes squinting against the bright sunshine of the late fall afternoon. “I hope so. This could be huge for us. This guy is worth billions. He said his friends are also shopping for investment companies. If this works out, it’ll change our lives.”

Tracey smiled at him, walked around the car and took his arm. “Just be you. You’ll be fine. No matter how it turns out, we’ll be fine.”

Kenneth Raymond was having an afternoon cocktail party to introduce his circle of friends and investors to Steven Kennard. The couple was welcomed into his home and Kenneth’s wife whisked Tracey away the moment they were in the door. Steven could hear soft, classical music playing in the backyard as Kenneth led him to his home office.

The room was located on the second story of the expansive home. What stood out most to Steven was the giant white and black marbled cross hanging on the painted teal wall. Above it was a bible verse, written in black script:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1, 7

Steven walked toward the wall, staring at the decoration and the words. “Very powerful proverb, Mr. Raymond.”

Kenneth Raymond smiled. He was a portly older gentleman with hardly any hair left on his balding head. There were wisps on the sides that he combed down every day. He was tall and broad, but thick and heavy. His voice was deep and warm when he spoke.

“Yes, it is. It’s a constant reminder to watch myself and wait on the word of the Lord.”

Steven smiled at him. “Amen.”

Kenneth moved to the brown leather couch in the room and sat down, motioning for Steven to join him.

“Thanks for inviting us down. Tracey and I have a daughter at UCLA. We always love the chance to go by and visit with her,” he said.