Tina was walking through the corridor, on her way to her office. She didn’t know why, but it seemed like every person she passed smiled at her differently today, and a couple of them had even given her a playful wink. ‘What is up with everyone?’ As she approached her office, Sandi walked by. “Hey Tina…” She gave Tina a playful wink and nod. “So…Elaine just gave you a ride home from the bar that night, huh? Well, it looks like things have definitely progressed from there!” Sandi patted Tina on the back. “Way to go Tina! Hey, we are all happy for you.”

Tina had no clue what Sandi was talking about. “Sandi, what are you talking about? What is going on with everyone today?”

Sandi just grinned. “You…Elaine Brown…hey, the cat’s out of the bag, you don’t have to hide your relationship any more. I mean, that was a sucky way for it to come out, but now everyone knows, so you can relax and be yourselves.”

Tina started to get a terrible feeling in her stomach. She reached out and grabbed onto Sandi’s arms with a look of fear on her face. “What do you mean the cat’s out of the bag, Sandi? What relationship? Elaine Brown and I are just friends.”

Sandi looked at Tina, confusion in her eyes. “Huh, well…the pictures of the two of you that just came out in the tabloids. I’m sorry Tina, but you two don’t look like just friends in those pictures.”

Tina now had look of sheer panic on her face. “***** Sandi, what pictures?” Tina’s voice got louder, and heads were starting to turn. “Show me these pictures, NOW!!”

Sandi took a hold of Tina’s hand, thinking she had never seen Tina like this before. She was always calm and gentle. All of a sudden, she realized that the pictures must not represent what they had all assumed…that Elaine Brown and Tina Kennard were a couple. ‘Uh oh, this can’t be good,’ Sandi thought to herself, as she led Tina over to her desk.

Tina looked down at the magazine sitting on top on Sandi’s desk. What she saw caused her to gasp and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh my God…NO!!” Her eyes filled with tears, knowing that Bette was going to see these pictures, and would no doubt come to the same conclusion everyone else had. “Oh Bette…baby.” She closed her eyes for a moment, oblivious to the people standing around looking at each other, all wondering who the ***** Bette was.

“Tina.” Tina turned around to see Elaine standing about ten feet away, looking at her with the saddest expression on her face. “Tina, I am so sorry.”

Tina didn’t hesitate. She walked over to Elaine and hugged her with everything she had. “God Elaine. I am sorry too. I hope this isn’t going to hurt anyone in your life, or hurt your career.”

Elaine couldn’t believe that Tina was worried about her, when she knew the uproar this would cause in Tina’s life. ‘God this woman is incredible.’ “Listen Tina, I am fine. I’m not dating anyone, and I have been out of the closet for a long time. These pictures won’t hurt me at all. But it’s not me I am worried about. I’m sorry for what this will do to you. It’s only a matter of hours before someone will leak you name to the press, and then it will be all over the place. God, Tina…are you out to your family?”

Tina smiled at Elaine’s genuine concern. “Yes, I came out to my family when I fell in love with Bette.” Tina’s eyes filled with tears again, thinking about Bette. She looked at Elaine. “I don’t know if she will understand. I’m afraid she won’t let me explain. God Elaine, we have come so far these last weeks. *****!” Tina started to walk away already moving on, thinking about what she had to do. As she did, she looked back over her shoulder to Elaine. “I’ll talk to you later, I have to call her.”

Elaine looked at the people who were still standing around, rooted to their spots, watching the scene unfold. She stood up straight and said to them in a strong and commanding voice, “Now you all know…those pictures DO NOT tell the truth, so I would appreciate it if you would not add to the rumor mill, and give Tina the privacy she needs and deserves.” She didn’t wait for a response, as she turned on her heel and walked out of the room.

Sandi was the first to move after Elaine left. She grabbed the magazine and threw it in the garbage. She then looked at everyone. “Ok, you heard what Elaine said. Tina has been so wonderful to all of us, the least we can do is leave her alone and to not talk to anyone about this…agreed?” There were a bunch of nodding heads and then they all dispersed.

Tina was desperately trying to reach Bette. She had tried her cell first, then home, getting voicemail at both numbers. She was dialing the CAC to see if Bette was at work yet. James answered the phone as usual.

“Bette Porter’s office.”

“Hey James, it’s Tina.”

James hesitated for just a moment. “Huh, hey Tina…huh, how are you?”

“Not good James, I need to talk with Bette.”

“Huh…Tina, she’s not here.”

Tina could tell by the way James sounded. “She saw the pictures didn’t she James?”

“Yea Tina, she did.”

“James, tell me how she reacted…please.”

James took a deep breath, and lowered his voice. “Well, I know she was crying. I could hear her from out here. Then she came out and said not to bother calling her, cause she was turning off all her phones. I asked her what I should tell Franklin, and she said she didn’t give a flying *****…and then left.”

“***** James. Did she seem really angry?”

James thought about it for a minute. “I don’t know if she was angry…she seemed…well she looked kind of…defeated. I’m sorry Tina.”

Tina felt the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Thanks James. Take care.”

Tina hung up and still crying, picked the phone back up and called Alice. “Alice, it’s Tina.”

Alice sounded sad. “Hi Tina. Huh…so, I guess I don’t know what to say…I mean I thought you and Elaine Brown hadn’t …”

Tina started to get angry, not wanting to have to explain herself to someone she trusted. “I haven’t slept with Elaine Brown, Alice. I’m not going to sleep with Elaine Brown. I don’t want to sleep with Elaine Brown.” She softened her voice, knowing she wasn’t being fair to Alice. “Please…I need to find Bette. She walked out of work, and has turned off all her phones. Have you heard from her?”

Alice was now feeling bad about not trusting Tina. “***** T! I have no idea where she is. She hasn’t called me.”

“Ok, look, I can’t talk about this now Ok? I need to find Bette. Please call me if you hear from her, or have her call me. ***** Al, I can’t let this happen…not now.”

“Ok Tina. I’ll call you if I hear anything. And T…know that we are all here for you.”

“Thanks Alice, bye.”

Tina dropped her head into her hands. She knew she needed to call her parents and her sister, but just wasn’t up to it at that moment. “Dammit Bette…where are you?”

~ ~ ~

Bette stepped into the garden and walked over to the little wooden bridge, staring down into the pond. She had come here to try to calm herself, but it was no use, her emotions were totally out of control. She stood there for a while, sobbing/purging…just like Tina told her she needed to. She then slowly walked back out of the garden, knowing exactly what she was going to do…and knowing it was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done in her life.