“Hey,” Alice said sadly sitting next to me in the empty booth in ‘The Planet.’

“Hey,” I said sadly taking a swig of my beer.

“Rough night?” Alice asked.

“Horrible night,” I responded trying not to break down in tears.

“I never got to say that I’m sorry,” Alice said.

I looked at Alice’s teary eyes and I said, “for what?”

“For sending Tina to Joyce,” Alice said, “I shouldn’t have meddled in your life. I thought I knew what was right for Tina, but I don’t know shit. I thought Joyce would help her gain independence but then she hooks up Helena. I thought Dana loved me and she…”

“Alice,” I stopped her. But though her sentence went unfinished, we both knew what it was going to say. I saw her shoulders shaking and her face in her hands, and I scooted over to pull her into a tight hug.

“I thought I was right for Dana but I was wrong again!” Alice sobbed, “Lara is right for Dana, and You are right for Tina, and I am so sorry for almost ruining that.”

“You have no fault in anything Alice, I was the one who cheated,” I said, “besides, Tina doesn’t seem to think she’s right for me.”

“What?” Alice said turning her head to look at me.

Through her thick tears I saw her genuine concern for me and I smiled fondly before tearing my gaze away before she read my eyes. Shane, Alice, and Dana could read my eyes if I looked at them long enough, but Tina could read them instantaneously. I wonder if she still has that ability.

“Talk to me Bette,” Alice said softly.

“You know I don’t like to talk.”

“And that’s the problem,” Alice said, “that’s always been the problem.”

I sighed deeply and turned my eyes to her again. She was right. If I would have told Tina about my feelings during her first pregnancy. If I would have told her how I really felt about the miscarriage. If I would have told her about my fleeting attraction to Candace, maybe none of it would have happened.

“She doesn’t want me anymore,” I admitted breaking into tears.

Alice embraced me tightly, it was a deep hug that represented the grief we both felt in our hearts. “Why doesn’t she want you Bette?” Alice asked.