BACK IN HOLLYWOOD

Its been a month since Bette had left and still no one has heard anything from her. It seems like shes fallen off the face of the earth. It doesnt matter where she is now, all everyone wanted to know is if she was alrighthoping that she is still among the living.

Its been such a long day for Tina. All she wanted to do was relax for the weekend. Her baby girl was becoming more active as time goes on. Tina walks into her empty house, a place they used to call home. She picks up her mail and starts to sort through it. There was nothing but junk mail after junk mail until she came upon an envelope marked registered. She opens it and starts to read. Shes a bit confuse because as she read on, it seems like its the deed to the house with her name on it. She doesnt understand how can this happen? She certainly didnt pay off the house. Who could have done it? Bette? She goes through the rest of the mail and shes an envelope with Bettes attorneys return address. She opens it. Its a letter informing her that the house has been paid off from the sell of Bettes paintings and that the deed will be mailed to her soon. The letter continues to say that a trust fund has been created for her baby and of course, she is the executor of that trust fund. The letter goes on to say the Bette realizes she has no legal claim to the baby and that she will not pursue this matter in the future. So this is why Bette wanted to sell her paintings? Is it to provide for her and the baby?

What the ***** Bette? I know Im the one that initiated to see a lawyer and started the legal ***** but it was only because I had nothing. I had no place to live and no money. How can this thing spiral so badly so quickly. Now that I have a house and no problem with money, I am more unhappy and miserable than before. I dont know how the ***** my life got to this point. I feel like Im living in a nightmare. This is supposed to be the happiest time of my life with the baby coming but I feel like I just want to jump off the golden gate bridge. I am so confuse and feel so lost. None of these things matter because she doesnt know where Bette is? If she is ok or not. She wants to just have one more conversation with her just to clear things up. There were so many things left unsaid that needed to be said. For each passing day, she realizes that she may never get another chance to express what she has been keeping to herself all these months. Please Godgive me another chance to make things right with Bette.


BACK IN FLORIDA

Good morning, Dran. How are you this morning? Lexa asked.

I am fine. How about yourself? Bette greets her back.

Im glad to hear that. Are you ready for our office business trip tomorrow? I hope you are packed. Pack light, we can shop on trip. I am so excited. I cannot wait to introduce you to the artists. They will love you, I just know it. Besides, you can use some Pina coladas and some laying out in the sun. You need to get among the living, Dran. You cannot just stay in that little apartment of ours and not meet people. This will be good for both of us.

I am fine Dran. Actually I am pretty content with the way things are. My life is simple with no complications and no dramas. At least I can quietly work out my issues without people adding distractions to what I need to accomplish. Bette confides.

You know, I am a very good listener. Not only am I your boss but I hope you know I am also your friend. Sometimes it helps to share your heart to work things out. I promise I will not judge you. Hey honey, we all make mistakes. None of us are perfect. The only thing we can do is learn from our mistakes, thats all.

Thank, Lexa. I really appreciate that. You have been so kind to me since we have met. I really dont know how to repay you for your generosity. Bette looks at Lexa for reassurance that it will be ok to share her feelings with you.

Would you like to go to lunch today? Thats if you dont have any plans? I think you are right. Maybe it is time for me to share what has been going on inside of me all these months.

The gallery was pretty busy this morning due to the new arrivals of tourists. Business was going great. They have already had sold several paintings by the time lunch came around. Both Lexa and Bette were starving and needed a break from the busy morning. They couldnt wait to go get something in the stomach.

Lexa yells out to Bette, The last one to the restaurant will have to pick up the bill. Knowing damn well that Bette isnt the type of person that like to lose on anything.

Bette accepts the challenge then calls to Lexa. Hey, I think you have a phone call.

Damn, Ill get it real quick and we can head out. Lexa answers Bette.

As soon as Bette notices Lexa going back to gallery, she makes a made dash to the restaurant. Lexa realizes that shes just been had and yells out, Hey, thats not fair. Dont you have any respect for your elders?

Yes I do, but not when it comes to having to pay for the bill when I havent even received my first pay check. Bette complains.

Well Lexa, I think you finally met your match. She says to herself as she tries to chase Bettes back.

After their little game, they sat down and both placed their order.

Bette plays with her ring finger even though there is no longer a ring there. She notices Lexa giving her an inquiring look so she starts to explain.

I used towear a ring on this finger. And yes, it was a wedding ring. Im sort of still married but not only physically separate but most of all, emotionally separated. I Bette looks at Lexa for a sign that it is ok to go on.

Its ok, my dear, if you are not ready to share.

I was a fool and made the biggest mistake of my life. I cheated on the love of my life. I will forever pay for my mistakes and will be sorry until the day I die. Bette confides.

Your husband never gave you a second chance? Is that why you are trying so hard to hide from the world? Trying to cut yourself from any human contact except for work? Lexa questions.

No, not exactly. I cheated on my wife. Im *****! And no, she wouldnt give me a second chance. I tried so hard for so long to say and show her how sorry I was but nothing I did was good enough.

Well, it doesnt matter whether you cheated on a wife or husband. Pain is still pain. So what finally made you decided that that life is not worth fighting for, my dear?

I found out that she was pregnant. For the second time, I was the last to know. We lost our first baby by miscarriage and we never recovered. We found different ways to cope with the pain and I coped by turning to someone else. She wasnt even the one that told me she was pregnant again. I had to find out from a stranger who during the same evening, she took to our friends bachelorette party. Tina flaunted the fact that she had moved on with her life. That she didnt want me to be part of her life in any way. As for the baby, she said it wasnt even my baby since we were not together anymore. I finally accepted her decision so I left. I needed to find a way to go on with my life without her. I couldnt do that if I had stayed in West Hollywood. Everywhere I went, I would run into her. We had the same friends and went to the same places. Every time I saw her, I felt like I was being beaten down. Then when I fell to my knees, I would be kicked so I would stay down. I wasnt trying to run away from my problems, Lexa, Im just trying to find the inner strength to think and go own with what life I have left. Every day I think about her and every time I see that painting in the gallery, I wonder if she is that big now. I wonder if she touches her stomach and smiles that way. Im tired of being sorry for what I did. I am just human but she couldnt accept that. She loved me with all her being until I fucked up. When I wasnt perfect in her eyes anymore, she wouldnt give me the time of day. I was no longer worth being with. Most of all, I wasnt good enough to be a mother of our child. I love her unconditionally, especially when she lost the baby. I felt inadequate because I couldnt help her. I couldnt stop it. I have always thought that we have control of our own destiny but when we lost the baby, I began to question that belief. I began to question my own self, my own identity. No matter how hard I tried, we couldnt find a common ground to mourn our lost. She became distant and I felt even more left out of her life. She couldnt see that my world revolved around her being in it. I left everyone I love. My friends which I consider my family, and my one and only older sister. The pain that I felt whenever Tina rejected me and put me down become too much. I know you probably think I am a coward but it was my only choice at the time. Tears start to roll down Bettes face.

Lexa hands Bette some tissue and holds her hand. Have you spoken to anyone since you left?

No, I cannot deal with the third degree questioning. I plan on calling my attorney this afternoon to at least find out if something I asked him to do has been accomplished. I wanted to make sure that Tina and the baby was provided for even though she doesnt want me to be part of their lives. I paid off our house and had the deed sent to her. Ive established a trust fund for the baby so she doesnt have to worry about the babys future. No matter what has happened, I will always feel responsible for them.

My dear, at least let your sister know you are ok. You dont have to tell them where you are but I am sure they are worried sick about you. Youve been gone a month and for all they know, you could be dead. Please show them you still love them even though you are not around. Let them know that they are still in your heart and mind. You can use one of the cell phone from the gallery and we can block the number so they wont know where you are calling from.

Bette looks down to her hands. If I call Kit, she will tell me to come back home and right now, I feel like I am not worthy of their love. Tina didnt think I was good enough to be part of the babys life why would I think that I would be worthy to be part of anyone elses life.

All of us are worthy to be loved. We are put on this earth by the Creator to share our life, thus our love. If you do not share your love to other human beings, you are wasting the life that is given to you. Each life is a gift from the Creator. The best way for us to show our appreciation is to share our lives. Only time will show you how to love ourself again. Just give it time. Meanwhile, why dont we go back to the office so you can call your sister. I am sure she is worried sick about you.

Thank you, Lexa. They get up from the table and start their walk back to the gallery.

Your welcome, Dran.

Actuallyits Bette, Bette Porter. Bette finally reveals.

Nice to meet you Bette Porter. Like I said before, I dont care what you call yourself. You are still an amazing person. So lets go back to the gallery so you can make that phone call. Besides, Mrs President, I dont pay you to take two hour lunches. Lets go back before our customer thinks weve left for the day. Lexa says jokingly.


BACK IN WEST HOLLYWOOD

At the planet, everyone is sitting down with their usual coffee in hand.

So I take it no one has heard anything from Bette still? I just cant believe she left us. Alice asked almost in a whisper trying to cover her pain and disappointment.

No. I dont think Kit has heard anything from her either. How about you, Tina? Shane asked as a last resort.

No, either have I. I dont think I would be the first one she would call anyway. Just to let you guys know, I hired a private investigator a couple of days ago. So far he hasnt found any trace of Bette. Theres no reservation under her name anywhere and she has not rented an apartment. No car registration has turned up either. There havent been any credit card activities in the past month. It seems like she has really gone underground. Tina explains.

What does that all mean? Alice asked

Well, seems like Bette is not staying in any hotel nor has she leased an apartment under name. She hasnt bought a car since there is no car registration. She hasnt used her credit cards so maybe shes been living off cash. There is also no record of employment anymore. The P.I. will be checking all of the hospitals and morgue but of course, that will take time. Ive asked him to look throughout the entire United States. Tina says trying to sound hopeful.

Kit sees the girls and decides to walk over to their table to say hi. As she is walking, her stride is interrupted by the vibration of her cell phone in her pocket. She stops walking and pulls out her phone. She looks at the caller I.D. but it says private. Wondering who it could be, she answers it.

Hello?