Her Portrait Is Black and White

Moving Forward

Three Months Since the Shooting

Tina had refused to go back to Bette's house after the shooting, the moment she had arrived their she'd had a panic attack and Bette had known that they couldn't be there. They had rented a house until the house on Tina's land was finished, which a couple of days ago it had been. They had paid the best team to put their dream home together. They had designed it together while Tina was recovering, it had been their way of bonding.

Bette had paid for her house to be packed up including all the art work and paints that were in the studio, she had decided she wanted to sell the house, since seeing Claire shot herself in the driveway she didn't want to be there.

Today they were moving into the house and Shane, Alice, Dana, Helena and Kit had come to help them move in, They had spent a lot of money on the house as well as the studio that had been built for Tina.

Bette was setting up her new home office in a room on the first floor, that was closed off from the rest of the downstairs area, it overlooked the steam that ran down the bottom of garden area, she was setting her Mac up when Kit walked in,

"The girls are trying to order take out,"

"I'm sure somewhere delievers out here,"

"They don't," Kit smiled, "Shane and Helena have gone to find food."

"We're only twenty minutes out of LA, there must be somewhere,"

"They will find somewhere." Kit smiled watching her sister,

"Where is Tina?"

"She's unpacking her studio," Kit smiled. "I think there are too many people here,"

"she's quieter than normal. she has been since Claire died."

"She relaxes the moment you are near her." Kit smiled at her sister. "She loves you."

"I love her Kit, so fucking much, watching her going through this is so hard, I mean we were sat with Dan yesterday and she didn't say anything for an hour. She couldn't form the words. He is there to help us both but she couldn't cope with her emotions. He is being great,"

"Of course he is, even if you sat in silence he gets paid,"

"Tina is paying before you say anything,"

"How?"

"Tina's not poor, Kit. She's got money from her mother and father it's just away in locked accounts, she unlocked one to pay her medical bills and for our counselling." Bette said slowly.

"Really?"

"Yeah, she's been very clever with her money. She wants to make it as a painter not because she's got money. Her father was very successful and her mother was from some rich family. she was left millions."

"And she's hidden it all away?"

"Money doesn't mean a lot to Tina, she wants to enjoy her life. she's a brilliant artist. She wants to success in her own right. she doesn't want to buy her way forward. She locked all the money away. Her father was self made and taught Tina the value of money."

"You know a lot about her," Kit said,

"This may shock you Kit but she talks to me," Bette smiled as she set her printer up.

Kit took a deep breath.

"She makes you happy?"

"Yes Kit, she makes me happy. She's a remarkable woman. I love her,"