Chapter fourteen

Tina: “Yeah Alice, I really think Bette would love it if I you hooked me up with some chick.”
Alice was always talking to Tina about women she met and Tina was certain that this woman was just the same as the others.
Alice: “I’m not hooking you up, she works at the magazine and her kid is feeling quite off the past few days so I told her I knew a good pediatrician. Is that so bad?”
Tina: “Okay, just give me her name and number, I’ll see what I can do.”
Just then the phone rang. Tina thought it was Bette, so she rushed over to answer it, but was surprised when she heard Jessica’s voice on the other side.
Jessica: “Hey Tina, it’s me, Jessica.”
Tina immediately sensed something was wrong. Jessica had never called her before and the sound of her voice was only more frightening.
Tina: “Hi, how are you? Is everything okay?”
Jessica: “I’m afraid not. Bette had an accident. She’s in a coma right now.”
Panic and pain rose inside of Tina and she was amazed that she could still speak.
Tina: “What? Where is she?”
Jessica: “Don’t worry, she’s in the hospital. They are flying her over to LA tomorrow morning, so you can see her then.”
Tina swallowed and tried to compose herself before answering to Jessica.
Tina: “Thanks Jessica. I…I have to go now.”
Jessica: “Okay Tina, bye.”
She put the phone back in the receiver and turned to face Alice. Her face was still filled with shock and sorrow as a tear slowly ran down her face. She knew from the moment she said goodbye to Bette something bad was bound to happen. She felt her knees buckle and almost fell on the floor, but Alice was fast on her feet and grabbed her friend just on time. She held her and gently caressed her hair. Something terrible must have happened for Tina to completely fall apart like that.
Alice: “Hey…Tina what happened?”
Tina: “Bette…She…She…”
Tina struggled with her words but was able to choke some out.
Tina: “She’s in a coma.”
Alice: “Wha…How?”
Tina: “I don’t know. She had an accident. I’m so scared Al, what if she doesn’t make it?”
Alice: “Shhh, calm down Tina. She’ll make it, I promise.”
Alice truly hoped that Bette would make it, she had to.
Alice: “Where is she now?”
Tina: “They’re flying her over from Greenland tomorrow morning.”
Alice: “Okay. I’ll stay here with you tonight and inform the rest of the group. We’ll visit her as soon as she gets here, okay?”
Tina: “Okay. Thanks Alice. I’m going to take a nap.”
Alice: “Are you going to be okay?”
Tina: “Yeah, I just need to rest for a while.”
Alice: “I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Tina walked over to the bedroom while Alice called Shane and Dana and told them what happened. She also called the hospital and they told her that Bette would arrive tomorrow afternoon and they could visit her then. She went to take a look at Tina, who was now sound asleep. Her face was still covered with tears and she held Bette’s pillow tightly in her arms. She went back to the living room and grabbing a blanket she settled herself on the couch. Not to long afterwards, she too drifted off to sleep, afraid of what the next days would bring.