“Can I get you anything?  Something to drink?”  The offer was warmly accepted so the brunette stepped away to grab two bottles of water.

The brief interlude tolerated private reflection for both.
 
Taking a detour, Bette returned to the bedroom to again call James then Franklin.  She wasn’t going to be in she communicated.  Confirming they had everything needed for the meeting.  Packaged and bound copies and all. 
 
Yes she realized the day’s importance.  More than they would ever comprehend.
 
She refuted lack of responsibility, past actions of support and dedication were more than enough to dispel that feeble case.  An apology shortly followed the frustrated charge, ultimately traced to concern regarding the absence of her valued fervor. 

Still, Bette left no room for argument.  Personal reasons.  No elaboration offered.  The message clear.

“I won’t be reachable.”  Without exception. 
 
After promptly ending the second call, she stood in place to collect herself.  The silence in the room a reminder of her not so recent constant companion.  It was audience to confessions and admissions of weakness held captive in her mind. 
 
The personal retelling torturous, reinforcing the absence she felt entirely.
 
Wanting to chase the hurt away, salvage their fractured relationship and reclaim her life partner, how many times had she pictured Tina in view while she ‘spoke’ words that echoed only in her head? 
 
Often enough that the initial minutes of consciousness after dreamless nights were laden with confusion as to whether the dialogue actually took place. 
 
Then she would feel her solitude.  On the bed.  In her heart.
 
Yes, she’d said the words repeatedly as if rehearsing a play.  The discourse at one point seemingly memorized by rote.  The phrasing arranged then rearranged, repeated over and over until exhausted.  Purely.
 
Yet now Bette’s mind blanked.  It had been a while since an imagined conversation was held.  Consequently there would be no speech to rattle off today.  Just passion, specifics, emotions and thoughts.  Her thoughts. 
 
Would Tina understand?  Admittedly, she herself didn’t fully identify with all the elements of what happened.