“Would it be Ok if I called you in Seattle…you know, just to catch up some more?”

“I would love that Bette.”

And with that response, Bette felt her heart skip a beat. “Yes?”

“Yes Bette. I also feel like we have just started the conversation. I’m sorry I don’t have more time so we could continue this, but hearing from you again would be an absolute treat.” Tina pulled a card out from her wallet. “Here, Dan made these up on the computer for me. That’s my home address, phone number and cell. Give me a call anytime.” “Oh, and Bette, thanks for a wonderful dinner and for the ride tomorrow. That’s really nice of you.”

Bette smiled at Tina. “You’re welcome Tina, and don’t worry about tomorrow. I tell them to be there in plenty of time to pick you up.” Bette reached up and put her hands on Tina’s arms. “It was so wonderful to see you again Tina. Thank you for everything you said. After all this time, my heart feels more at peace knowing you have been happy and that you have forgiven me. Believe it or not, 15 years later, that means a great deal to me. Take care, and please tell Dani that I am looking forward to seeing her work.”

Bette moved in closer, wrapped her arms around Tina and whispered, “My beautiful Tina, thank you for tonight. I will treasure this.”

Tina’s heart was in her throat, and she struggled to gain control of the tears that were threatening to fall. “Oh Bette…” She couldn’t get anything else to come out. Her throat was so constricted that she could barely breath. She finally managed to tell Bette that she would pass on her message to Dani.

The cab was waiting for her, so she let go of Bette, but before getting in, she gently laid her hand on Bette cheek. “Take care of yourself.” She then turned and quickly jumped into the cab, and with one last wave it pulled away.

Bette watched the cab as it disappeared around the corner, and let out the deep sigh she had been holding in all night. She turned and looked back down the street and gave a distinct nod. About twenty seconds later, a sleek black limousine pulled up to the restaurant. The driver got out to open the door for Bette. “Thanks Mike, time to go home.”


~ ~ ~


Tina quietly let herself into her sister’s house, and leaned against the door. So many emotions were rushing through her, that she could hear a slight buzz sound in her ears. How could she have ever thought she could let go of the love she felt for Bette? Tonight had been so much like their first date, yet very different and unique in it’s own right. She unconsciously brought her hand up and fingered the locket around her neck, thinking about the love she could see shining in Bette’s eyes tonight. Maybe…

“Did you have a good time?” Tina jumped a little, startled by hearing the quiet voice.

“Hey Susan. Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Well?”

Tina smiled at her sister. Susan had always loved Bette, and had taken Tina and Bette’s breakup very hard. She knew the love they shared was rare. “Yes, it was wonderful. Bette has changed so much, yet she is still undeniably, irresistibly…Bette!” Tina laughed, shaking her head. “And all it took was one look.”

“And??”

Tina started undressing, looking around her room, silently checking off in her mind what she still had to pack. “And what Susan? I live in Seattle, she lives in New York. I’m a Mom with three active children, she fly’s all over the world finding art for her galleries. How can you possibly combine two lives like that…not to mention the fact that I have no idea whether Bette would even want to be with me again. And, she is still not over the death of her partner, who died three years ago.”

“Wait. Her partner died three years ago? I thought you said you met her partner.”

Tina sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. “No, I met Leslie, who is the sister of Bette’s partner Veronica. They were together for 11 years, when Nica was killed in a car accident. Bette and their adopted daughter Milaine, both took her death very hard, and I’m not sure if she is ready to date again…especially a soccer mom who lives on the other side of the country!” Tina looked at Susan, her face expressing an overwhelming sadness. “Maybe some things are just not meant to be…”

~ ~ ~

At 6:00am the next morning, the doorbell rang. Tina was just finishing getting everything deposited by the door, including her three kids, all of whom were half sitting, half laying on their suitcases. This was way too early in the morning to expect them to not only be awake, but to be happy about it as well.

“Dani, could you get the door. It’s the driver who is taking us to the airport.”

“Ok Mom!” Cool, we have our own driver? Dani opened the door, expecting…well…hoping to see a man in a uniform. Instead, standing in front of her wearing a warm smile was Bette Porter.

“Good morning Dani! All set to go back home?”

Dani looked at Bette with surprise and then got real shy. She shuffled her feet a little and looked down. “Hi Ms. Porter…I mean Bette. YYeeaaa, I guess I am ready.” Dani didn’t quite know what to say to Bette. She didn’t understand why she was so shy around her. ‘Maybe cause she’s the coolest, most beautiful woman she had ever seen AND she owned two art galleries…hello?’

Bette smiled to herself, sensing Dani’s crush on her. Ah…to be young and to have those innocent crushes again. “Is your Mom home Dani?”

“Oh, yea…sorry. Come on it.” Dani opened the door for Bette to enter and turned around at the same time. “Mom, it’s Bette Porter, not the driver!”

Tina came rushing around the corner, sliding about the last six inches on the hardwood floors. “Bette! What are you doing here?”

Bette flashed Tina a smile. “I hope you don’t mind, but I decided to come along for the ride. I wanted to talk with you a bit more, and…well, I wanted to meet your other children.” At that moment, a man in a uniform walked up behind Bette and cleared his throat. Bette turned to him and then back at Tina.

“Tina, this is Mike. Tell him what all needs to go in the car and he’ll start loading things up.”

Tina and Dani both looked past Bette and Mike, to the beautiful limousine sitting in Susan’s driveway. Dani let out an involuntary squeal. “Is that what we are going to the airport in? That is so cool!! Paul, Alex…come look at this car!!!” Seconds later, all three of Tina’s children were up off their suitcases, running out the door to inspect the car they were getting a ride in.