Tina sat there for several minutes thinking about what her mother had said and all of the things that Bette had said to her in the past week and she knew in her heart that her mother was right. She was letting her fear and her pride run her life and she realized for the first time that she owed it to her self and to Bette to not let that happen

Would you mind? Tina said as she went over and hugged her mother.

Not at all Julie said as she left the kitchen to finish getting dressed.

Oh and Mom would you mind hurrying? Tina asked. I really want to catch that plane. I cant wait to be with Bette. If I hadnt been so blinded by my fear she wouldnt be hurting right now.

Bette had only driven for a block or so before she pulled the car off of the road in to a parking lot. She was crying so much that she was afraid to drive on for fear she might have a wreck. She sat there trying to get her emotions under control but it seemed like an impossible task. When she felt as if she could drive again she started the car and started to pull back out on to the street. For one moment she thought about turning the car around and going back to try to talk to Tina one more time, but she didnt because she couldnt bear the thought of Tina telling her no one more time. When she pulled out on to the street she didnt notice the debris lying in the street until it was too late and she felt a thud on the underside of the car. She looked back in her mirror to see what she had run over and she saw a jagged piece of sheet metal lying in the street. She was relieved that was all it was and she sped off and headed towards the airport. She had driven about a mile when the car started to make a thumping noise. She changed lanes and pulled off the road so that she could check the car to see what the noise might possibly be. When she got out she found that the tire was flat.

*****! Just what I need Bette muttered under her breath. She debated whether to call the rental car company or to try and change the flat herself. She knew she needed to get to the airport within the hour in order to make her flight so she decided she would try and change the tire herself. She reached back in to the car and pulled the ***** to open the trunk so that she could get the spare out of the trunk. When she pulled the spare out she realized it was flat. *****! Bette said as she put the tire back in the trunk and shut it. She got back in to the car and reached in the glove box to get the rental car agreement so that she could call them to come and pick her and the car up. She shoved her cell phone into her overnight bag and cursed her luck as she thought Can this day get any worse?

Just about the time that Bette had gotten back in the car, Julie and Tina drove past her on their way to the airport and never even saw her. While Bette was waiting on the rental car company to arrive, Julie had just dropped Tina at the airport check in gates and made her promise to call soon and let her know how things were going. Tina checked in with the ticket agent and took her boarding pass and headed down to the gate. As she walked towards the gate she was thinking about the look she knew she would see on Bettes face when she saw her. That thought make her walk a little faster. When she arrived at the gate she scanned the area looking for Bette and was disappointed that she wasnt there yet. Tina sat down to wait for her and as time passed she kept checking her watch.

Meanwhile Bette was waiting in the car when one of the rental cars shuttle buses pulled in beside her. She got out of the car as the rental car employee approached the car.

I really need to get to the airport Bette said. I am going to miss my flight if we dont hurry.

Okay, let me grab your bag he said. I was supposed to fix the tire and let you drive the car back but Ill take you to the airport and get one of the other guys to come back with me.

Thanks Bette said as she got in the shuttle and waited why the guy grabbed her bags from the car.

As time was fast approaching for them to start boarding the plane Tina was getting worried and wondered where Bette was. She tried calling her cell phone but she got no answer. She decided she would ask the ticket agent, who was now at the counter at the gate, if they could help her find out the telephone number to the rental car agency they had used. The agent provided her with the number and she called and inquired about whether or not Bette had turned in the rental car. The rental car agent put her on hold and when they returned they said their records indicated that they had been notified by Mrs. Porter that the car was being taken out of state and would be turned in at one of their hubs. Are you sure? Tina asked the agent. The agent assured her that is what their records showed. Tina hung up the phone and sat there wondering why Bette would take the car out of state and she came to the realization that maybe Bette had decided to drive back to LA rather than flying. Tina debated as to what she should do because they were now boarding the plane. Should she get on the flight or try to reach Bette on her cell phone and see if she would come back and get her. She tried Bettes cell phone one last time and when she got no answer, she decided she was going to get on the flight. Tina checked her boarding pass and located seat 8C, sat down and fastened her seat belt all the while wondering why on earth Bette would have decided to drive back to LA. She was worried that Bette was too upset to be driving.

Bette was standing outside of the shuttle bus waiting on the driver to unload her bags. She pulled some cash out of her billfold and handed it to the driver as she took off running for the ticket counter. The ticket agent told her that her seat had been given to a standby passenger but they did have one seat available in first class but it would cost extra. The agent got her boarding pass and told her she would need to hurry if she wanted to make in on the plane before they closed the doors. Bette was the last person to board the plane and as she sat down she felt like crying. She was tired, she was hurting and she was dreading going home and finding an empty house. She closed her eyes and wanted to sleep but her thoughts just kept going back to Tina and how was she going to live without her. The stewardess asked if she would care for anything to drink and offered her a magazine or a paper to read. Bette took the magazine hoping that maybe she could get her mind off of Tina. After they had been in the air for a while Bette unhooked her seat belt and got up to go to the bathroom and when she did she dropped the magazine that she had been trying to read. Before going to the bathroom she bent down and picked up the magazine and tossed it back in to her seat. If she had been paying attention she would have seen that Tina was sitting there on the other side of the plane just a few rows back from her. Tina however just happened to see Bette when she bent down to pick up the magazine and her breath caught in her throat and she smiled. Her first thought was to get up and go to Bette, but she really didnt want their reunion to take place in the middle of the aisle of the plane but on the other hand she didnt want Bette to suffer any more because of her foolish decision to stay at her moms. She sat there trying to figure out what she could do and she came up with a plan. She dug in her purse and found something to write on and a pen and she wrote out a note on part of the paper and folded it and pressed the call button for the stewardess. When the stewardess came to ask what she needed, Tina quietly explained the situation to her and asked if she would mind helping her out with her plan. The stewardess smiled and said that she would help her. Tina handed her the note and asked her to deliver it to Bette.

Excuse me the stewardess said to Bette. I was asked to give this to you.

Are you sure it was supposed to be given to me? Bette asked.

Yes Maam the stewardess replied.

Bette shrugged her shoulders and opened the note and read it. It simply said I think you are really beautiful and it was signed a secret admirer.

Bette called the stewardess over and asked her if she could point out who had sent her the note. The stewardess said that note was just passed to her so she didn’t know where it came from. Bette started to look around the plane as best she could without getting up out of her seat because she didnt want to be obvious about looking around for who had sent the note. Tina had watched the scene unfold and when she saw Bette start to look around she leaned over as if to get something out of her bag. She peeked around the seat in front of her to make sure the coast was clear before she sat back up. She wrote two more notes, marked them #1 and #2. When the stewardess came back around she handed them to her and told her to give her note #1 and then wait 15 minutes before giving her note #2 two. Tina watched once again as the stewardess walked up to Bette and handed her note #1 and as soon as she saw her hand her the note she got up and walked back to the bathroom at the back of the plane making sure she had her back to where Bette was sitting.

Bette once again took the note from the stewardess and opened it and read it. I think you have a really ***** smile and if I am lucky maybe you will agree to possibly go out on a date with me and from there the sky is the limit and it was once again signed your secret admirer. Bette really didnt know what to make of the notes and could not imagine who could be sending her the notes. She had just about made up her mind to get up and walk down the aisle of the plane to see if she could figure out whom it might be when the stewardess handed her another note. Once again she opened the note and started to read. I was wondering if you could help me. I seem to have lost my earring and my heart. I was wondering if you had seen either one and if so could you bring them to me. I will be waiting in the bathroom in the back of the plane just in case you have them. Bettes eyes filled with tears as she read that note and she whispered Tina. She unfastened her seatbelt and got up and walked as calmly as she could towards the back of the plane to the bathroom. She had just gotten there when the door opened and Tina reached out and pulled her in to the tight quarters with her and wrapped her arms around her and kissed her with all of the love she was feeling in that moment. The kiss wasnt about passion but about the true love that they felt for one another and they both had tears running down their face by the time the kiss ended.

Tina Bette said I cant believe you are here.

I am baby Tina said. Im going home with you, if you still want me

God yes, I still want you Bette reached out with her left hand and pulled Tinas face towards hers and kissed her passionately to let her know just how much she still wanted her.

I love you Tina said as she broke off the kiss.

I love you so much Bette said as she gently kissed Tina again. I thought I had lost you forever.

Im so sorry Tina said. I realized, after a little talk from my mother, that I was letting my fear and my pride stand in the way of us being together.

Remind me to send Julie a big bouquet of flowers when we get home Bette said smiling. I still cant believe you are here and in my arms.

Bette started to lean her head in to kiss Tina again when they heard a knock on the door. Excuse me but we really need to have the restroom cleared the voice said. Bette and Tina looked at each other and quietly laughed. Bette gave Tina a quick kiss and opened the door to see the stewardess that had delivered the notes to her standing there fighting a smile. I think you two should take your seats she said as she walked back down the aisle. Bette and Tina walked back towards their seats holding hands and when they got to Tinas seat she didnt want to go back to her own. She wanted to be with Tina so she asked the gentlemen that had the seat next to Tinas, if he would mind swapping his seat for her seat up in first class. He looked at her and wondered who in their right mind would swap a first class seat for a coach seat. He then noticed that they were holding hands and standing close to one another and thought Some of the things people do for love. He got up and moved to Bettes seat in first class and Bette and Tina sat down together.

It must be love Tina said kidding Bette. I am honored that you gave up your first class seat to sit with me.

Dont you know that I would do just about anything for you Bette said softly as she reached up and gently touched her face and then leaned over and whispered in her ear. I love you and I cant wait until we get off of this plane so I can kiss you the way I want to.

So whats stopping you Porter? Tina asked coyly.

Dont tempt me Tina Bette said softly. I dont think you want an audience because I am going to make up for some lost time.

Tina smiled and reached down and took Bettes hand in hers and said. I cant wait until we get home.

“Who said anything about waiting until we get home” Bette said softly as she smiled at Tina.

TBC