Chapter 23

Later that evening, Tina were situated on the couch, with her leg up. They were getting ready to eat. Bette had ordered in, pizza, easy for Tina to eat with one hand.
“What do you want to drink?” Bette calls in from the kitchen.
“Coke please.” Tina replies.
“Coming right up.” Bette says and hurries back with a bottle of coke and two glasses.
She takes a seat on the chair right next to Tina and they start eating.
“Oh this is good.” Tina says after a few bites.
“Yeah, really good.” Bette agrees.
They are talking about the last few days and finishing up dinner, when there´s a knock on the door.
“Are you expecting anyone?” Bette asks.
“No, maybe mom or Mikey, Dana. I don´t know.” Tina replies.
Bette jumps up and walks over to the door, she´s very surprised to find Joanne and Paul there.
“Baby, who is it?” Tina calls out. She sees that as soon as Bette walks back with Joanne and Paul following closely behind.
“Mom, dad… What are you doing here?” Tina asks, pretending to be surprised. She had hoped it would be them, coming to appologize, or at least talk about it.
“Hi, I hope we´re not interrupting anything.” Joanne says.
“No, we´re just finished eating. Come in.” Tina replies. She motions with her good arm, to get them to sit down on the couch opposite her. They do, silently.
“Shall I descretely dissapear?” Bette asks softly.
“No, you´re staying.” Tina pleads softly, looking up at her.
“Okay.” Bette says, giving her a little smile. She takes a seat again.
“So, what are you two doing here?” Tina asks.
“Well, we watched the DVD you gave us.” Joanne starts, she glances over at her husband.
Tina watches her father closely. He seems shy, for the first time. Tina has never seen her father this way. Bette also looks at Paul, and realize that he might not talk with her in the room. She leans close to Tina.
“I´m going into the kitchen, make some coffee. He´s not talking with me here, so, hear what he says, I´ll come back in a little while. Okay?” Bette whispers.
“Okay.” Tina replies softly. Bette give her a comforting squeeze on the shoulder, before she leaves the room.
“Okay, dad, she´s not here, you can talk now.” Tina says.
He looks up, with tears in his eyes. He quickly wipes them away. Joanne takes his hand in hers.
“It was a hard video to watch. A little too hard for my taste.” Joanne says. “We could´ve lost you there.” She adds.
“Yeah.” Tina whispers. “You could´ve” She adds.
“Paul, tell her what you told me earlier.” Joanne says.
“What dad?” Tina asks, getting a little angry, that he won´t talk.
“I…” He get´s out.
“What dad? Why couldn´t you come and visit your daughter who was seriously injured, almost died…” Tina shouts out, her heart rate starts getting up. “You should´ve been there, who I love, shouldn´t matter. Damn you dad. How am I supposed to forgive you for that?” Tina shouts even more. She starts having problem with her breathing. Joanne notices it.
“Tina?” She asks concerned.
“Get Bette.” Tina gets out, between the breathings.
“Bette?” Joanne shouts out.
Bette walks in.”
“What is it?” Bette asks.
“Tina, she´s having difficulties breathing.
Bette hurries the last few feet, she gets down on her knees beside Tina, takes her in her arms.
“Baby, calm down, breathe.” Bette says calmly to Tina.
“Oh my God, what´s wrong?” Joanne asks getting beside her daughter.
“Baby, please, you have to calm down, breathe for me.” Bette keeps saying softly.
After a few minutes, she calms down. “That´s it, breathe.” She says. “She shouldn´t get too excited yet. Her heart went through a lot, and stopped, she doesn´t need any excitement that will cause her heart to raise like this. It´s still weak from the heartattack.” Bette says looking at Joanne, then at Paul. Tina is still in her arms calming down.
“Maybe we should´ve waited a few days for this conversation.” Joanne says.
“No mom. I´m okay, go on. Bette, please stay.” Tina says and looks up at Bette.
“Sure.” Bette whispers.
“I´ve been a jerk. I´m not proud, and you have every right to hate me.” Paul starts. “I didn´t see your life, Christina, I saw mine, my life in Chapel Hill, all our friends who will not take this lightly. You know we´re christians, and I believe in that faith, but what I also believe in, is family and… love. I won´t say I understand it or accept it, but I´m willing to respect it as a part of who you are. Maybe in time, I will be more comfortable with it. I love you Christina, and I hope you´re able to forgive me someday.” Paul says.
“I´m sure I will, but you have to understand, that this isn´t something I chose. I were created this way, Why it took me so long to realize it, I don´t know, guess I didn´t find the right one. But now I have. You will have to get to know Bette to, because she´ll be a part of me for a long long time.” Tina says.
“I understand. I will.” Paul says and looks at his daughter and give her a small smile.
“Thank you.” Tina says and gives a small smile back.
“Can I get you something to drink? Coffee?” Bette asks.
“No, we should get going. It´s getting late. We´ll come by tomorrow, if that´s okay, to say goodbye, we´re going home. I see you are in good hands here with Bette, so, no need for us to stay here anylonger.” Joanne says.
“Okay, thanks for coming by. I means a lot dad.” Tina says and looks at him.
“Yeah, it´s a start right?” He says and looks down at his daughter.
“Yes, it is.” Tina replies.
“I´ll walk you to the door.” Bette says and walks with them out.
“Bette, can we talk to you for a second outside?” Joanne asks.
“Sure.” Bette says and follows them outside and closes the door.
“We just want to thank you for being there for our daughter. We failed, and it´s good to know that she´s had someone there with her, during this difficult time.” Joanne says.
“You don´t have to thank me. I love your daughter, I wouldn´t want to be anywhere else.” Bette replies.
“I am truly sorry about your family. No one should ever have to go through that, to loose someone they love. The video we got, showed us that, we could´ve lost Christina, and that is painful to think about, even now when we know she´s going to be okay.” Paul says.
“You should be telling her this, not me.” Bette says.
“We will, we just don´t want to upset her anymore. We will come back soon, when she´s better, or maybe we could invite you down to us.” Joanne says.
“Maybe that´s a little too soon?” Bette says and smiles.
“Maybe, and maybe not. Anyway, we´ll let you know. We´ll come by tomorrow before we leave. Michael and Megan will come by too, a little earlier, if that´s okay. They´re leaving before us.” Joanne says.
“That´s fine. I should get back inside.” Bette says.
“Sure, thanks again Bette, for loving our daughter.” Joanne says. “Can I give you a hug?” She asks shyly.
Bette smiles and gives Joanne a warm hug.
“See you tomorrow.” She says before letting go and walking inside and joining Tina on the couch again.
“Where did you go?” Tina asks curiously.
“They wanted to talk to me.” Bette says. “So we went outside.” She adds.
“Did they say anything to upset you?” Tina asks.
“No. Nothing like that. your mother wanted a hug at the end. We´re all good. They are trying Tee, so don´t be too hard on them yet.” Bette says and leans in for a kiss.
“Okay, I won´t.” Tina replies smiling.
“Mikey and Megan will come by early tomorrow, before your parents to say goodbye.” Bette says.
“Okay. Maybe I should get to bed?” Tina says. “Will you help me into the bathroom?” She asks.
“Off course. Come on.” Bette says and helps Tina into the wheelchair and then into the bathroom. 30 minutes later, they were both in bed, with Bette holding Tina closely.
“Thank you.” Tina says softly.
“What for?” Bette asks.
“For everything, for being here, for loving me.” Tina replies.
“You don´t have to thank me for that. I´m honored to be able to do that and to love you.” Bette says and smiles, as she lifts her arm and softly moves a few stray hairs from Tina´s face, and tucks it behind her ear.
“Still… I love you so much. Let´s sleep.” Tina says,
“Yes, please. Sweet dreams my love.” Bette whispers and kisses Tina´s forehead softly. Shortly after they are both asleep.