Chapter 21

Bette walks through the doors at the gallery, and then into her office, for about an hour her main focus is on responding to email and phonecalls. After that one focused hour, her mind drifts off towards the hospital. What is she doing here, she should be there, she should be by her loves side. She´s alive and will nbe alive. Bette thinks to herself. “I Can´t believe I left. I have to go there.” She says to herself, she quickly closes her iMac, grabs her cellphone and purse and leaves.
“I´m going back to the hospital. Hold all my calls, tell whoever´s calling that I´m dealing with something personal.” Bette says to her assistant as she walks past her and outside to her car. She drives fast back to the hospital, parks the car and hurries towards the main entrance. Once outside, she stops, she struggles for a few mintues, until she closes her eyes tightly, slowly opening them and walking inside. Her pulse is going a mile a minute, she takes the stairs up to the right floor. Slowly making her way down the hallway, until she stops in the waiting room. She sees Alice standing by the coffee machine, Dana is seated a few feet away, reading a magazine.
She quickly looks up at Alice and then noticing Bette.
“Bette, you made it.” Dana says and smiles. This makes Alice turn around, walking towards Bette and give her a hug.
“Hi, how are you doing?” Alice asks softly.
“My heartbeat is fast.” Bette simply replies. “Is she still sleeping?” Bette asks.
“We don´t know. Joanne and Michael is in with her. You should go and see her.” Alice says.
“Yeah. Thank you for being here. And for getting me that day, when it happened.” Bette says and hugs Alice tightly.
“It´s what friends are for.” Alice whispers back. “Now, go and see your girlfriend.” Alice adds.
Bette smiles and walks further down the hallway, until she stops in front of Tina´s door. She gently knocks a few times, before she slowly opens it and peak inside. She sees Joanne and Michael sitting by the bedside, softly talking with Tina, who is awake. Tina notices Bette after a few moments. Tears starts falling the second she sees her. Both Joanne and Michael turn towards the door and smiles.
Bette slowly walks into the room and to the other side of the bed. Tears are streaming from her eyes too. No words are needed as Bette leans down and kisses Tina´s forehead and then hugging her close.
Joanne watches the interaction and sees right there, that this is real.
Bette eases up a little and then gives Tina a soft kiss.
“Thank you.” Tina whispers.
“I woudn´t want to be anywhere else.” Bette whispers back. They look into each others eyes. “I love you.” Bette whispers.
“I love you too.” Tina replies back.
“How are you feeling?” Bette asks.
“I´m good, now that you are here.” Tina replies with happy tears streaming down her face. Bette moves her hands up to Tina´s face and softly wipes the tears away with her thumb. She looks over at Joanne and Michael after a few seconds. Michael is smiling, while Joanne is a little uncomfortable, but you can see she´s trying. Tina looks over.
“Mom, are you okay with this? Tell me the truth.” Tina asks.
“As I said to these two here, I don´t understand it, I don´t understand how a woman can fall in love with another woman, same with men, but what I do understand, is love, the kind of love that you have with your partner, that all consuming love, that fills you up and takes a good hold of your heart. That love I understand. And I clearly see that you two are on your way there, pretty fast. I love Tina, you´re my little girl, nothing will ever change that, and who you choose to give that love I described too and who you let have yours, won´t change that either. I will however admit that it feels a little awkward and strange to see you together.” Joanne says, Tina is crying again, she holds on to Bette´s hand with her healthy hand. “But I know that with time, it wil be better, because I will see you as two people in love, who just happens to be two women.” She adds, she looks up at Bette. “And you, I am so, so sorry for what I said to you the other day, you have no idea how much.” Joanne says looking into Bette´s eyes.
“You´ve said that already, it´s okay.” Bette says.
“I know I said it, but I wanted to say it in front of Christina too.” Joanne says and looks down on Tina.
“I love you mom, thank you, thank you so much for what you just said.” Tina says and gives her a little smile inbetween the tears.