Chapter 172

Bette sat at her desk at the CAC bouncing her pencil up and down and staring off into space. She wanted to be home with her family, but she knew working was something she had to do. As a matter of fact, she still loved her job. It just wasn’t THE priority anymore. She continued to drum on the desk with the pencil. Her thoughts wandered. She looked at the pencil and whispered. “Rest in peace Johnny!” The pencil reminded her of Johnny Carson. “I’m losing my mind. Now I’m talking to dead people. Dead people I don’t even know.” She looked around the office. The usually impeccable office she occupied was now more chaotic. She giggled as she looked at the crooked picture hanging on the wall in front of her. “Ah…the things that used to cause migraines – a crooked picture…a dust bunny under a piece of furniture. Who cares?” Bette thumbed through the folder in front of her that outlined the upcoming show she was planning. “I’ll pull it off…I always do.” She looked down at her belly and saw an elbow…a foot…a head….or was it a butt, move inside her. “Be nice you guys….cooperate. Give everyone a chance to move.” Another body part moved as she watched what looked like a punch from inside her. “God…take it easy on your mama will ya! We’re in this together and we need to coexist peacefully.” She smiled as she rubbed her hands over her belly. “Bette Porter pregnant…my God! Who would have thought? Not me. Thank God I’m still far from domestic!” Bette giggled again. “Oh yeah. Now this is a very productive day! I miss my BOO. Ok – so now I’ve become Usher. My BOO? Good lord!”

Just then the phone rang. Bette picked it up. “Bette Porter-Kennard.”

“God Baby I love the sound of that.” It was Tina calling to check in.

“You like that huh?” Bette smiled.

“So are you busy?”

“Talking to dead people and thinking about my BOO!” Bette raised her eyebrow and shook her head. She couldn’t believe she actually said those words to another human being. If she had to say them, saying them to Tina would be the best bet. She knew Tina wouldn’t give her an endless rash of ***** about it.

“Your BOO? So am I your BOO Baby?”

“Yes you are…as a matter of fact…you’ve always been my BOO.”

“Ok…I love being your Boo! Who died?”

“Johnny Carson.”

“Ok…yeah you’re right…he did. So did he talk back?”

“Shut up Tina!” Bette shook her head and grinned at the phone.

“Ok…sorry. So how late are you working?”

“Five…give or take five.” Bette let out a heavy sigh.

“Ok.” Tina paused briefly before continuing. “I miss you Baby.”

“I miss you too Sweetie. After all…you are so my BOO!”

“Bette…Babe?”

“Yeah T?”

“Please don’t call me your BOO in front of anyone else. I think it’s really sweet but….well…we’ll never hear the end of it. You know that right?”

“Oh yeah…I know. I can hear it now.” Bette lowered her voice and spoke like Yogi Bear. “Hey Boo Boo!”

“Oh God Bette. Have you gotten anything done today? Besides jumping head first into insanity?”

“Nope…not a damn thing T. Can’t concentrate. The babies are playing soccer – or doing kickboxing or something.”

“Awwwww…. I wish I was there to feel them kicking the ***** out of you!” Tina giggled.

“So nicely put Kennard!”

“Ya think?”

“Yup…I do!” Bette was silent for a minute. “God Tina…I really want to be with you.”

“I know Baby…you’ll be home soon.” Tina tried to sound like she was ok with the concept of Bette being home later, but found it difficult to carry off. “You’ll be home soon. Is it 5:00pm yet?”

“Not yet T…God it’s only 2:00pm…I need a BOO fix!”

“Oh God….Bette?”

“Yeah?”

“I miss you.”

“I know Sweetie.”

“Do you have time to talk for awhile? I mean, if you have stuff to do, I can talk to you when you get home. I really miss you.” Tina let out a heavy sigh.

“Is there something wrong T. Tell me what’s the matter.”

“I just…..”

Bette waited patiently for Tina to continue.

“I just miss you when you’re not here….that’s all. I know we can’t spend all of our time together. We might want to kill each other then…you know?”

“Yeah…but I hate being away from you too. Are we getting boring T?”

“Oh, don’t start. We get enough of that from Alice.”

“Yeah you’re right.”

“So …can we just chat?”

“Sure T…let’s taaaaalk…oh God. Someone just kicked a field goal….and scored. Man these little guys can kick.” Bette placed her hand on her belly. “Now knock it off kids…”

“Baby…are you ok?” Tina was concerned. She knew the triplets had become very active recently, but not to the point where she could hear discomfort in Bette’s voice.

“Yeah….I was thinking T…a few more of these little guys and we’d have our own team!”

“Funny Babe. Don’t even think about it ok?”

“Awwwww come on T. Let’s do it one more time so we can even the score. You know…. another little T?”

“Bette? You HAVE lost your mind, haven’t you?”

“Ummmmmm….yeah, probably. You’re right, five is enough.” Bette paused and felt her belly again. “But 6, 7, or 8 would be so much fun.”

“Baby…before we decide to have more, after Sam, Rene and Dante are born, we’ll have a serious discussion with Pert and Sassy ok?”

“Tina…I didn’t mean me!”

“Really? Hmmmmm. So you want me pregnant again?” Tina rolled her eyes. “Bette, my body is just getting back to normal…”

“Are you saying I’m not normal?”

“Oh God Bette. Yes, for a woman pregnant with triplets, you are totally normal! And very ***** I might add.” Tina was beginning to feel like she needed to choose her words more carefully lately. Bette was getting so sensitive. “Do we need to go over this again?”

“Go over what?” Bette was truly stumped.

“Go over how beautiful you are. How I adore you. How I can’t get enough of you. How I…..”

“Oh GOD! Ooooooouch!” Bette got kicked again.

“Baby…are you ok?”

“Yeah I guess. The babies just seem to be really active today. And it kind of hurts.” Bette held her belly as she got kicked again. “Ooooouch!”

“Baby? Are you sure you’re ok?” Tina was becoming concerned.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure.”

“I’m calling Dr. Wilson and I’m coming to pick you up. No arguements. You wait for me right there. I’m coming to get you.”

“Tina, I’m ok. Really.” It was Bette’s turn to try to be convincing. She failed at her attempt.

“I’ll be there in 15 minutes. Do you want to call Dr. Wilson or should I?” Tina waited two seconds for an answer. “I’ll call. You tell James, Franklin, the Pope or whoever that you’re going to the doctor. I love you. My cell will be on. I’m on my way.” Tina hung up the phone.

Bette hung up the phone and stared at it. She rubbed her belly. Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sure we’re fine guys. Just overreacting. We’re all ok.” Bette called James into her office and asked him to tell Franklin she’d be leaving early.

James helped Bette over to her couch. She sat down and then laid down. James threw a blanket over her. “Do you want me to stay with you until Tina gets here?”

“No….ummmm…..yeah…please.” Bette closed her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

James sat on a chair next to her. He reached over and took her hand in his. Bette felt herself relax a little. “Just relax Bette. I’m sure everything is going to be ok…I’ll stay right here with you. Just relax ok?” James was very calm. He continued to hold Bette’s hand. He had a firm yet gentle hold on her hand.

“James…thank you so much for staying with me.”

“Franklin can be the last to know. After you go I’ll call him. It’s more important to be with you. Don’t worry about it Bette. I want you and the babies to be happy and healthy too.”

Just then Tina came through the door. “I’m here Baby.” Tina bent down and kissed Bette gently on the forehead. “How are you?”

“I’m ok…I guess.”

“Dr. Wilson’s waiting. Let’s go.”

Tina and James helped Bette get up off the couch. James gave Bette a peck on the cheek. “Good luck mama…I’m sure you’ll be fine. Call me.”

Tina looked at James. “Thank you James. Thank you.”

Bette and Tina left the office.

James picked up the phone. “Hi…Franklin….James. Bette had to leave to go to the doctor. I don’t know. Hopefully everything is fine. She’s pretty upset. Ok…yeah. She’s supposed to let me know. I’ll call you later. Bye!” James turned and left Bette’s office after straightening the picture that Bette had been looking at earlier. He turned off the light and closed the door.


TBC