Chapter 5



Tina was nervous. She spoke to Teresa over the phone that morning, Tina invited her to Alice’s place thinking it would be best not to meet in public where there was a chance of running into someone she knew and then have to answer too many questions. The truth was that she was afraid of running into Bette, or worse, Bette and Candace. Alice had mentioned to Tina that she heard they are still seeing each other.


Tina called Alice around 7:00pm to ask what her plans were for that evening. Alice replied, that she is going to be home late. Tina already knew that, and mentioned that she might have a friend over for dinner. Alice told her that it is okay and she shouldn’t even ask.


Tina looked at her watch it was 7:10pm. Teresa will be here at 7:30 she thought.

She tried to calm her self down “Why I’m I nervous? I’m not doing anything wrong, why do I feel guilty? It’s just a date, we are just having diner, just a friend visiting, nothing more.”

She picked up the phone and dial Teresa’s number. Maybe she could still cancel, she thought, while dialing the number.

She heard a knock on the door. She placed the phone down and opened the door. It was Teresa, holding two large shopping bags. She could hardly see her, but was able to see her beautiful smile peeking out behind the bags.

Tina: “Come in.” She said surprised to see Teresa there so early.

Teresa: “Did you just call me?… I could not answer my hands were full.”

Tina: ” Yes…. Yes…. I did….. I just wanted to see if you needed directions.” She lied.

They walked into the kitchen and placed the bags on the table. Tina saw a chocolate moose cake peeking out of one of the bags; she looked at it and smiled looking back at Teresa.

Teresa: “I did not know what kind of desserts you liked so I brought the whole dessert section.” She said blushing hoping that Tina would not think that she is crazy.

Tina: “That is my favorite.” She said, referring to the moose cake.

Tina: “Actually they are all my favorites.” Taking a look inside the bags.

Teresa smiled and Tina noticed how beautiful she is. She was wearing jeans that showed her incredible figure, a tight white V-neck blouse showing just enough of her breast, her hair was long and dark cascading beautifully onto her shoulders.

“My God she is beautiful.” Thought Tina.” If I saw her on the street I would think that she is a model, not a dentist.”

Teresa noticed that Tina was looking at her so she turned around and walked into the living room, letting Tina check her out.

Teresa: “Nice place” she said, as her eyes caught Alice’s chart on the wall.

Tina: “Oh this is not my place, “she said as soon as she noticed what Teresa was looking at. It’s my friend Alices, you know her. I’m staying with her until I give birth.

Teresa turned to face Tina and said with a smile,” interesting decor.”

Tina made coffee and served Teresa in the living room. Teresa seemed uncomfortable with the fact that pregnant Tina is serving her. She asked Tina to sit down on the couch and she took over the kitchen.

Tina looked at Teresa as she was cooking. She moved so gracefully in the unknown area that Tina easily felt that she was the guest and Teresa the hostess.

Teresa talked while she cooked telling Tina about herself, her work, life, and her daughter. The way Teresa spoke, her beauty, her expressions, everything about her captivated Tina. She reminded her so much of Bette and yet was so different from her, more open, less restrained.

Tina could not describedthe way she felt, all she knew was that she felt very comfortable with Teresa.

Half an hour later, Teresa served dinner and the conversation was going so well. Tina stopped for air only to take another bite of Teresa’s delicious cooking.

Tina told her about her work at the center, her previous job in the Hollywood scene, the friendship she had with Oscar, Alice and the whole gang. The only thing that she neglected to tell in details was her relationship with Bette. She only mentioned that she was in a long-term relationship with a woman before she became pregnant and that it turned out bad. Teresa did not push her for more details. She understood from Tina’s tone of voice that it was still painful for her to talk about it.

After dinner, they moved into the living room after Tina showed her the bedroom that she was staying in.

Tina: “My room used to be Alice’s storage room, she had a lot of junk here, its not much but big enough for me.” The room was small and only fitted a single bed and a small closet. Tina did not need more than that; she hung a mirror on the wall, which made the room seem a bit larger, and the few pictures of her family and friends. There was not a picture of Bette, not one clue of their past together, a past Tina was trying so hard to forget.

Tina sat on the couch, Teresa sat next to her telling her about her daughter Karina. Tina could feel the love Teresa had for her daughter in her voice. She was anxious to have the same felling to her own child.

Tina felt that Teresa’s presence, sitting next to her, made heruncomfortable for a moment. She looked into Teresa’s eyes and thought that she felt the same.

There was a moment of silence between them. Tina lowered her eyes blushing.

Teresa: “Do you want me to sit on the chair?”

Tina: “No it’s okay” she smiled nervously,” Im just not used to this”

Teresa: “You’re not used to sitting in the same couch with another person?” she teasd.

Tina laughing: “No, Im not really in the position to date right now” she said, holding her belly.

Teresa: “Well……we don’t have to call this a date ….lets just call it……a friendly dinner “.

Tina smiled. It was clear to both of them that it was more then just a friendly dinner.


Teresa leaned over, her face now close to Tina’s and said, “Can I ask you for something?”

Tina’s heart stopped beating, “Please don’t ask me to kiss you she thought, but only managed to say “yes.”

Teresa: “Can you lay down?

Tina:” Lay down ???”

Teresa: “Yes …lay down on the couch,” she replied.

Tina raised her eyebrow as if to say why?!?!.

She did as Teresa asked her to and laid on the couch, her feet touching Teresa’s body.

Teresa reached out and took Tina’s feet in her hands, she started massaging them in slow motion.

She clearly knew what she was doing and Tina moaned with pleasure.

Tina: “Mmm….how did you know my feet were hurting me?”

Teresa: “I was pregnant once ….remember?” she said as she continued to rub Tina’s feet

Tina was in heaven, Teresa’s touch was so soft and gentle. The embarrassment she felt earlier quickly faded as she fell into a deep sleep.

Twenty minutes later Teresa stopped, she got up carefully not to wake Tina. She took a light blanket that was laying on the chair and covered Tina’s body.

Tina looked so peaceful lying there; Teresa couldn’t take her eyes off of her. She stood there for a few minutes before she realized the time. “It’s late “she thought, “Karina must be sleeping by now.I better go and pick her up from Candace’s place.”

She leaned down toward Tina and kissed her gently on her cheek, then she turned the light off and left the apartment, making sure the door closed behind her.

Teresa felt as if she was walking on air and as she was driving the image of Tina sleeping on the couch did not fade away until she got to Candace’s house.



“Im back, she said as she entered the house, no one answered.

She walked in and saw Bette sitting on the couch with her eyes closed ….she must have fallen sleep that way.

Teresa walked over to the bedroom, she saw Karina sleeping peacefully on the big bed. She returned to the living room and gently touched Bette’s shoulder. Bette opened her eyes.


Bette: “Hi” she said still half asleep.


Teresa: “Hi Bette, go on, ….go to bed, Im taking Karina home.”


Bette: “Oh ….Mmm….yes, thats good.”

Teresa: “Where is Candace?”

Bette: “Oh, she had to go,,,,,,,some emergency with Yolanda…. (Yawning).

She asked me to stay with Karina ,….how did your date go? ”

Teresa: “Great …it went great she replied smiling “go to bed.

Bette: “No, no, Im not spending the night here, Im going back to my apartment “.

Teresa: Oh, Im sorry you had to stay here so late, I would have taken Karina to Anna’s house if I knew Candace would be busy.

Bette: “No that’s fine, you know I love spending time with your daughter, she’s adorable, “, she said and went to the kitchen.

Bette How about a drink before you go?” she asked Teresa lifting a bottle of beer.

Teresa: “Sure …if your not tried” she said taking off her shoes.

Bette: “I’m not” she smiled, “….you can tell me all about your date.”