Bette and Candace …..

Chapter 2


Bette was devastated, she had been absent from work for a week, she told James she was sick with high fever, but he knew something had happened so he didnt ask her too many questions, he just said take whatever time you need Ill take care of everything for you .

One after the other they all came to see her, first Alice, then Shane, then Dana and of course Candace, who tried to say as little as possible and just held her through the night .
Kit was the last one to come. She seemed more shocked than Bette herself, I had no idea, I cant believe Tina is pregnant, ” said kit , this is crazy .
Bette did not respond, they sat there and talked for hours, it was finally sinking into Bettes head that the closure she needed had forced itself upon her .


(Two weeks later, Candaces apartment)

Candace: I’m glad youre here Bette,….remember the place I wanted to take you a couple of weeks ago? Well ……do you wanna go?
Bette looked at her, she was not in the mood to go anywhere but said yes anyway, thinking it would be a good idea to go out with Candace as a start to the new page in her life, without Tinas presence.

Candace drove them to a side of town Bette did not usually visit, an area more known as the country side, Candace drove the car into a driveway of a beautiful 3 story house. Bette noticed that the house was not expensive, but well taken care of. Candace stopped the car and said I want you to meet my family ….. do you mind?
What ?!!…. your family? said Bette surprised, it took her a few moments to digest….okay ….but why didnt you tell me that before ?……I would have brought something with me.
Candace: No ….thats not necessary, trust me ……..my family is a little crazy .
Bette laughed. I mean in a good way continued Candace smiling .

They got out of the car. Bette could hear music coming out of the house, it was Latin music and she was amused.
Candace: You may be a little overwhelmed in the beginning……but dont worry, theyre all great.
All? said Bette you make it sound like there are 50 people in there .
Candace: Well…..almost.
They walked in to the house, a beautiful woman greeted them with open arms and a big smile, mi ninia, you’re here, finally, I thought you wouldnt come to see your old mama.
Candace: No mom, you know I wouldn’t miss Karinas birthday party…..this is Bette, I told you about her mama.
Ho , yes , finely…. , I herd a lot about you said the woman and gave Bette a worm hug .
Bette I didnt even know you had family here she said looking at candece .
Woman : I know …candece is embarrassed of us ….she never brings her friends over …..come inside and meet the family she took Bettes hand without waiting for a reply . Bette laughed and fallowed her .
She took her to the back yard , where there seemed to be a party .
Im maria she said and this is the rest of the familypointing at the backyard,
Bette looked around , there were about 30 people in the back yard , eating drinking , dancing . Her face reviled her surprise ,.
Bette: O my god , what a party !…..I wasnt expecting this .
She felt Candaces hand on her back , she turned around and smiled . Candece took her to the main table where a men in his late 60′s sat .
Candace: this is my step father , Martin , he raised me since I was 4 years old
Bette: hello…nice to meet you she smiled at the man .
The old man got up and gave Bette a big hug , mucho gusto , Linda .(Spanish: nice to meet you , beautiful)
Bette smiled , still a little surprised.
Candace :these are my brothers ..Jose, David , peter and Alex……and over there by the garden are my sisters.
Bette nodded her head looking at the guys , they nodded back . Candace led her to the other side of the back yard , children were running everywhere and bete couldnt help laughing at the sight of the dog chasing them .
Candace …..come have some food a female voice yelled .
Candace: yes, Im starving she replied , she turn to Bette and said these are my sisters , Anna , Teresa and Mercedes , but we call her merci ,they were all beautiful , lighter skin then candace but Bette could still see the resemblance .
Hi said Bette and with in a minute she found herself in the middle , chatting with the girl and eating marias delicious cooking .
Bette was very happy and immediately conceded with everyone , the warmth she felt that evening remained her the good times she use to have with her own gang ,Alice Dana and Shan , before everything collapsed.
Someone turned the music up and everyone started to dance , it was the merengue a dance Bette didnt know very well , Jose was the first to take her in to the center of the backyard , he was tall and handsome and he looked like African king , what a handsome man taught Bette he would have been a perfect canidat to have a child with.
The memory of Tina snicked to her mind and her eyes wondered .
Jose : you are a good dancer he smiled .
you are a good leader replied Bette forcing herself to kick Tinas presents from her head . One by one Candaces brothers and sisters pulled her in to improvised dance floor , spinning her around , her head dissy , Bette felt that they are a very close family
the song was over and Bette returned to sit by Candace , what a great family you have …..how come you never mentioned them ?
Candace : I dont know …….we never really talked much she said with a ***** smile on her face .
Bette: maybe its about time we did ….how long have you been living in L.A. ?….I remember you said you were from NY .
Candace: for about 7 years , I moved here with my mother because of her health , she couldnt take the NY winter anymore , I liked it here and one by one everyone else joined us , Alex and Teresa were the last to arrive , they just moved here six months ago .
Bette: wow… I m very impressed ,candece……. I m getting to know a side of you I never knew
Candace : I want you to know all of me she paused for a moment , I want to know all of you , they looked at each other , they both knew things are changing between them .
This is getting personal , thought Bette to her self and said I wish I sherd with my family ,the same connection you share with yours
candace : ho …we are much more similar then you think .
Bette: in what way ? she was curios .
Candace : my real father died when anna ,Jose and I were very young , my mother married martin a year after and had 5 more children with him , I dont remember much of my father ….he was Nigerian .
Bette : Ho…. I see …half black , half Hispanic …..I can relate . She smiled
Bette felt closer to Candace that moment then she ever did in bed with her .
Bette : are you completely open with them ? About being ***** ?.
Candace laughed ; completely…….I m not the only one ..Jose and Teresa are ***** too ….I guess 3 out of 8 is not bad .
Bette: not bad at all , she said , surprised and amused , the memory of Tina seemed so far away .

candace looked up , her eyes were shining as she noticed karina , the birthday girl ,walking towards them ,.
Candace : happy birthday she said clapping her hands ,.
Karina: thank you Tia she reply , she was beautiful ,she had long dark heir and the most beautiful big brown eyes .
Karina: what did you get me for my birthday Tia? she said to candace with spark in her eyes .
candace : its in the car , I ll get it and youll find out , she got up I ll be right back she said turning to Bette ., and then left .

The girl approached Bette ,and stared at her .
Karina: what is your name?
Bette : smiling Bette …..and yours ?
Karina : my name is karina and I m 6 , its my birthday
Bette amused : thats a beautiful name …..happy birthday

Karina !!…did you eat something ? Bette herd someone saying , it was Teresa , candaces sister , she was gorgeous , with long silky dark hair and the same big brown eyes as karina , she looked like she just came out of a cover page in one of those Latin magazine .
Karina: yes, mom , I did ……can I show Bette the presents I got ?
Teresa: sure , honey she said and sat down next to Bette .
Karina disappeared in to the house , and Bette and Teresa had a nice chat , Bette wasnt surprised to hear that Teresa was married before coming out as a ***** , Bette herself dated many man before realizing she was ***** .
They both felt very comfortable with each other and talked like they knew each other for years .

The night came to an end and candace drove Bette back to her apartment , when they arrived , candace leaned over and kissed Bette , goodnight she said I hope you had a nice time .
Bette told her that she was feeling great and that she had a good time .
Bette : beside …..what do you mean by goodnight ?.
Candace smiling : do you want me to come up ?
Bette : yes she said softly .
They went up to Bettes apartment , Bette took her close off and stood in front of Candace, Candace did the same and for the first time Bette felt there was something else in the way they touched , it wasnt just passion , it wasnt just lust .

TBC