“Why don’t you come over with me? Maybe you two will finally get to sit down and talk.”

“Nah, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. I’ll be fine.”

“Tina, I don’t think you should be alone right now,” Shane pushed a little harder.

“No, I’ll be fine,” Tina sighed. “The person I should be talking to right now is Henry.”

Shane chose not to comment. “In that case, I better go.”

“It’s not what you think, Shane. I need to talk to Henry and make things clear to him before it goes to the dumps.”

The woman nodded. “Give me a call if you need anything.”

She followed Shane to the door, giving the woman a tentative hug. Knowing what lies ahead of her, Tina basked in the support her friend so willingly gave her.

“Thanks for being here.”

Shane grinned. “I’m just a phone call away.”

“Of course,” Tina smiled; Shane’s light mood was a nice change.

“Hey Tina?” Shane called out to her after taking a few steps. “You know the group misses you, right?”

“Everyone but Alice and Kit, I bet.”

“They’re just hurt you treated not just Bette but all of us like shit,” Shane said plainly. “You know that two are very protective of her. Besides, that crazy Alice invited you last night. She’s trying to make amends.”

Tina let the silence linger, watching her friend’s retreating silhouette. She has much soul searching to do, and she opted to tackle the Henry issue first.

She lied down on the couch, resting her head on the pillow. Many nights, sometimes days, she stayed in the same spot, only to have Bette’s lap as her pillow. She remembered spending all those hours with Bette, talking about the future, sometimes not talking at all.

Bit by bit, memories of the early days of their relationship overtook her conscious mind. It filled her with a warm feeling, a blanket of security she though she had found in Henry.

It came as no surprise to her when the tears flowed freely onto the pillow. Tina closed her eyes slowly, letting the gamut of emotions wash over her. She didn’t bother to wipe them away, knowing she needed this ritual of release.