What time will you be home? Tina asks, resting the phone between her ear and shoulder as she reaches out to straighten a print on the lounge room wall

Ill be outta here on time today so I should be home around six Bette checks her appointments for the day and notices she has a clear afternoon.

Good, I have something that I need to discuss with you Tina takes a step back and frowns at the picture, trying to work out if its now in the right position.

Yeah? Bettes question pulls her back to the conversation.

Tim Johnson has come back with an offer and its pretty good

OK, do you want me to pick something up? Bette offers

No, Ill cook, just come home with an open mind The lightness in Tinas tone veiled the meaning of the statement

OK, T Tina can hear the smile in her wifes voice and cant help but smile herself knowing that Bette understood Id better go, Im expecting a call from New York

Bye Babe

Bye

Tina presses the end button on the phone and wanders back to the kitchen, placing the handset back in its cradle. She heads back to the lounge room and flops down on the sofa, her eyes fixed on the contract and job description which rest on the coffee table immediately in front of her. She reaches out and picks up contract, looking again at the generous salary that this new position would provide. Shed only needed to look over the job description once to see that the role had been custom written. She had been pleasantly surprised to find that Alphaville valued her enough to create a role. They wanted her to oversee the development phase for all projects new projects. This would be less of a hands-on role than shed had in the past but would allow her to determine her level of involvement in each project. At the end of the day this role wasnt likely to provide many new challenges but nor was it likely to be the high stress position that she had ended up hating only twelve months ago. It was more of a 9 to 5 position, a very well paid 9 to 5 position. Its not like money had ever been an issue in their relationship, both of them had always held well paying jobs. Bettes contract with the CAC was particularly lucrative and Tina never had reason to worry about her financial well-being, not until she found herself pregnant and Bette was facing early termination over her attempt to procure Provocations. Tina shook her head, still amazed at how much impact that single exhibition managed to have on their lives.

True to her word Bette walked through the front door right on time. They had made small talk over dinner, mostly about Bettes dealings with a new sculptor in New York and the latest gossip Alice had provided Tina with over coffee at The Planet.

So Bette clears her throat, her index finger tracing around the rim of her half empty glass of merlot Alphaville have put forward an offer?

Yeah, its a pretty good one too Tina smiles, genuinely pleased Theyve created a new role for me

Wow, thats great, T Bette smiles broadly, her eyes light up with pride So youre going to take it?

I want you to look over the contract Tina states I need to know that youre willing to support me on this Bette sees the smile growing on her partners face and knows that she could never deny Tina something that makes her so happy.

Baby, of course Ill support you Bette implores If this makes you happy then you should do it. My only concern is for you. I just worry about how stressed out you became during that last year before you quit. I dont want you to have to go through that again

I know, I was burning out and I hated it but this is different. The role is low stress, Im basically going to be an advisor to the development teams so I wont be in the front line having to work those long hours. Its a 9 to 5 type of job and the money is great

If its what you want then Ill support you all the way

Tina saw the expression on Bettes face and knew she had something else to say

But? Tina prods Bette to continue

When are you due to start? Bette asks cautiously

Next week, why? Frowning at her wifes sudden change in demeanor

Dyou think you could push it back a week? Bette pleads with her best please say yes smile – the one designed to melt Tinas resolve

I guess Tina replies slowly What are you thinking?

How does some time out of town sound? Bettes smile expanded

Where? For how long?

Where ever you want to go, for as long as youre willing to put up with me

Really?

Yeah, I just want to spend some time with you. I need to spend some time with you. Away from all the distractions, just you and me

Whats brought this on? Tina questions, Bettes motivation still unclear

Bette shakes her head and sighs

You were right the other day Bette looks directly at her wife, sadness evident in her deep eyes There are still so many issues that we havent even discussed yet. Its like in one day we leapt from not even speaking right back into the routine of our daily lives like wed never been apart. Its weird T, and I dont think that its been entirely healthy. Most of the time everything seems fine and normal but every now and then something happens and I find myself realizing again that theres still so much pain there for you

Is this about the rings? Tina picks nervously at a chipped fingernail

They just highlighted the issue

Do you understand why I cant Tina hesitates

Yeah I do Bette assures her partner Im not trying to push you T, but I think that we need to start dealing with some of these issues otherwise theyll end up undermining us

Are you prepared to listen? Tinas brow furrows with concern at what ugliness might be unleashed as they face their mutual failings

Yes The response was swift and resolute

Its going to hurt Bette Tina warns Im gonna say things that you wont like

I will do whatever it takes to get you back to a point where you can trust and believe in me Bette vows Im not going to lie to you. It really hurts to know that you arent in a place where you want to commit to spending the rest of your life with me. That cuts deep Bette pauses to choose her words but then I look at what happened to make you feel that way and I understand that what I did cut you even deeper. That kind of wound is going to need a lot of care and attention if its going to heal. At the end of the day Id rather know how you feel and be hurt by it than live in the dark believing that everything is OK. If all the issues are out on the table then we can find ways of dealing with them, together

Im not even sure that I know what all of the issues are Tina drops her eyes to the empty plate in front of her, unable to hold Bettes steady gaze

Well work it out Bettes focus remains steadfast, her hand reaching out to cover Tinas Thats all Im asking for, a chance to work through some of this stuff. I really believe that we need to do this

Were not going to fix everything in a week

I know its just a place to start Bette began to sense Tinas resistance. We need to make a start, T. We cant keep running away from these things, ultimately were running away from each other

God Im so confused Tinas quiet confession caused Bettes heart to thud heavily

I know you are, Baby Bette offers what reassurance she can Thats why Im pushing this. We need to get far away from here to a place where theres nothing but time for us to be together

What if I hurt you? What if I say things that make you question why were even back together? Tina lifts her eyes to meet Bettes once again, silently pleading Bette to let this go.

I know why Im here and Im not afraid of what you might say. I love you without restriction, without condition. There is nothing you can say that could ever make me love you less

Bettes sincerity is apparent in both her words and expression. She paused briefly wondering whether to say what came next.

I know I did a really, really stupid thing but I never stopped loving you, not for one minute. Let me be there for you, like I should have been before. Let me love you and take care of you, the way that you deserve. Let me help you work this out.

Tina shook her head

I dont know She replies in a small voice I dont know if Im ready

Were never going to be ready, T Bette smiles weakly But we have to try

I know youre right, its just

Hard?

And frightening. Im so scared that Ill push you away

You can try, T. Ill just hold on tighter

Promise?

Ill hold on to you with all that I am, I promise you Baby, Ill never let you go

Never is a long time Tina mused

Thats what Im counting on

Bette lifts Tinas hand and places a simple kiss.

Yes Tina whispers

Yes, what? Bette lifts her eyes to meet Tinas.

Lets go away, lets face our demons

TBC