The walk along the waterfront had been everything that Bette and Tina had hoped for. There is something about walking in the rain, with the only sound being the soft patter of rain drops on the umbrella, and the steady squish-squash of shoes on pavement, that allows for quiet conversations to flow where they might not normally have gone. When two people share an umbrella, you automatically let go of your anger, your judgments, because there is no room for them if you want to stay under the dry protection of the bumbershoot. In the rain you feel safe voicing your innermost thoughts and feelings, believing…wishing, that somehow those rain drops will wash away all the negativity, all the mistakes, and leave you clean and hopeful.

It had done just that for Bette and Tina. They had walked for hours, talking, crying, laughing, sometimes walking in silence for long periods…sharing so much, holding each other close. It was therapeutic, it was healing, it was promising. It was a wonderful reminder to both of them how much they enjoyed each others company. It was a reminder that this relationship was the one. This was the relationship that you based all your other relationships on. How you loved, how you coveted this person, your soulmate, was the driving force in how you would treat every other person you come in contact with in your life.

They arrived back at Tina’s apartment with wet feet, but neither noticed the discomfort. They had worked up an appetite walking and had decided to order in. Tina was feeling an overwhelming happiness. She felt now, like she had the night Bette came over and brought her the daisy…how she had felt when they sat in the lounge chair, watching the sunrise, feeding each other mangos. The difference was, she no longer had the burden of having to tell Bette she couldn’t be with her. She wasn’t feeling the fear of not knowing if Bette would leave her again for Candace. Now she felt…loved…plain and simple. That was the secret wasn’t it? Love, in it’s purest form, was just that…simple – uncomplicated, straightforward, effortless, uncluttered, natural – simple…love.

After enjoying the Italian dinner that had been delivered, they decided to share a hot bath. The bathtub was the best thing about Tina’s little rented apartment. It was one of those old claw-footed, deep tubs, with plenty of room for two. Tina started the water running and was lighting candles, while Bette put in their favorite soaking music, Enya, and poured them both a glass of Baileys on the rocks. It was necessary for them both to participate in the simple tasks needed to create the calming setting that they both desired.

They stood in the bathroom, facing each other…slowly, gently undressing the other, their eyes never losing contact. Tina stepped into the water first, lowering herself down a little at a time, allowing her body to get use to the temperature of the water. Once she was settled, Bette stepped in and repeated Tina’s movements. When she was all the way in, she leaned back into Tina, allowing her to reach one arm over Bette’s shoulder, holding her across her chest and stomach, while Tina’s other arm came come up around her side, under her arm. They both closed their eyes, relaxing into each others bodies, reacquainting themselves with the nakedness of the other. It had been over six months since they had felt each others wet skin against their own. Longer than that since they had both felt so loved…so safe with the other.

Neither one of them spoke. They just slowly, methodically…absorbed each other. Tina thought back to the night they had spent on the couch. The night Bette had shown her the painting of her dream. Tina had woken up at one point, and had noticed that her hand had drifted during the night and was laying over Bette’s breast. Tina remembered how she had struggled to keep her self control, when all she had wanted to do was to touch, to circle…to feel the texture of Bette’s nipple beneath her finger. She did that now. She skimmed her fingers across the swell of Bette’s breast, circling, grazing…arousing. At the same time she traced her right hand down Bette’s hip, traveling across until she reached Bette’s curly, soft hair. And as they lay tranquil in the aromatic water, Tina silently, rhythmically caressed her lover. And as her body erupted with her release, Bette’s tears started falling again. Only this time, they were tears of joy…tears of love.