They were both crying at this point.  Bette just held Tina until she was ready to continue.  “In my heart I knew you weren’t dead but I continued to wonder what had happened.  We hadn’t had an argument so I didn’t think you had run away.  I was scared that you were out there somewhere hurt and in danger.  Angie sensed that something was wrong.  She knew you were supposed to be home.  She would ask about you each night and then as I cried she would wrap her little arms around my neck and tell me she loved me and that it would be ok.”

“Peggy had her investigative teams out looking for you but you didn’t use your credit cards or your cell phone anywhere so there really no trail.  I didn’t know what artist you were going to see or even the village you were going to.  I beat myself up over that for a while.  I should have asked you…I should have known that.”

“Tina, you had no reason to think that anything would happen.  Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“Bette most days I could hardly get out of bed but I did for Angie’s sake.  As the days and weeks went by, I turned more and more into myself and I just took care of Angie.  Helena finally had to ask me to take a leave of absence because I couldn’t concentrate on the scripts.  That was probably about 3 weeks ago.  I had just stayed home with Angie since then.  I think I was really going crazy.  My whole life was falling apart but I just kept reminding myself that you were out there and would come home to us.  I couldn’t let myself believe anything else.”

“I did come home T and I will never leave.” 

“You bet you won’t.  I am not letting you out of my sight for a long time.” 

“T, what has happened with the gallery?”  Bette was almost afraid to ask.

Tina just smiled.  “James has been a trouper.  He has continued to plan the next show.  He keeps running everything by me but really Bette he has done a wonderful job.  The artist you went to Peru to visit is actually going to be in the next show.  I think it is scheduled for 3 weeks from this past Friday.  Oh we need to let James know that you are back.”

Bette just smiled.  “Let’s surprise him in the morning after we take Angie to school.  When is Helena expecting you back?”

“Bette you are not going to start back to work full-time so soon.  Helena has told me she won’t allow me on the lot for at least 2 more weeks.”

“Tina, I promise not to go back full-time right away but I do want to go by the gallery tomorrow.  Maybe I can put in a few half-days this week and next week then start back full strength the week of the opening.”

The house phone rang and Bette got up to answer it.  She came back in a few minutes.  “That was Alice.  She is stopping by the Planet to pickup our dinner and then she is bringing Angie home.  I can’t believe it is so late.  But, I am glad we had the time to talk.  Tina, I can never make up for the past 6 months but I can promise that we will never be apart for that long again.  I am going to stick close to home or you are going to be by my side.  I don’t ever want to lose you again.”

“Me neither Babe.”  Tina walked into Bette’s warm embrace.  They were home and that is where they were going to stay.