“Good afternoon, Kennter Galleries.”

“Milaine? It’s Tina.”

“Tina? Oh thank God you called! I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear your voice.”

Tina was driving back from camping, and had finally been able to get a signal on her cell phone. She had been so excited to call Bette. She needed to hear her voice, but now because of Milaine’s words, she felt a surge of concern shoot through her body.

“Why…what’s the matter?”

“Oh…sorry…nothing is wrong, it’s just that MaBe has been driving me crazy these past three days. I’m telling you right now Tina, you are not allowed to be out of cell phone range for more than a couple of hours at a time, from now on! Since you have been gone, my incredibly smart, independent, and successful mother has been acting like a child that has just been told that they will be deprived of all toys, candy and TV for the rest of their lives! And I’m not kidding! I have NEVER see her like this Tina. In fact, I am going to put you on hold and get her for you right away. Please put her…and me…out of our misery!”

Tina started laughing, knowing that even though Milaine was semi joking with her, this young woman, most certainly had been at the brunt end of all of Bette’s frustration.

“Ok, but Honey, before you go…I just wanted to tell you again how wonderful it was to be able to spend time with you, and to get to know you. I know this may sound overly sappy, but I love you already, and want you to know that I can’t wait for you to come back out for another visit. And I know that Dani is excited to spend time with you, especially since you are both interested in art. I think she is really looking forward to talking about it with someone closer to her own age.” Tina smiled into the phone. “So think about my invitation for Thanksgiving, Ok?”

It was Milaine’s turn to smile. She couldn’t believe how open and sincere this woman was. After having such a rough beginning, she was so grateful to have been saved by Bette and Nica…and then to lose Nica…well, the thought of being part of Tina’s family, just melted her heart. Where were people like these three women, along with her Aunt Kit and Aunt Leslie, when she was a baby? ‘That’s ok, like MaBe says, everything happens for a reason.’

Her heart, welling up with emotion, caused her voice to choke up. “Thanks Tina…for everything. I will think about it.” Milaine took a deep breath. “Now, let me put you through to MaBe. She’ll have a cow knowing I have been standing here chatting with you, when she is back there going crazy. Hold on.”

“Thanks Milaine, and take care Honey.”



Tina was just coming into the city, driving with both hands on the wheel, her earpiece firmly in place. She was waiting for Bette to come on the line, thinking how incredibly lucky both she and her children would be to have Milaine in their lives. All of a sudden, she heard a sound…a low, sultry voice, speaking so softly that Tina unconsciously leaned forward to hear better. And what she heard made her swerve slightly in the lane, her knuckles turning white as her hands tightened around the steering wheel.

“Oh God, it’s you isn’t it? You…the one I want to be laying next to, naked…covered in your juices, staring into those beautiful brown eyes of yours. You…the one I will spend the rest of my life loving….it is you, isn’t it?”

Tina leaned back into her seat, her arms now straight, with her elbows locked into place. “Jesus Bette,” she breathed out. She squirmed in her seat, trying to control her body, thinking that there was only one person on earth who could inspire her to experience an instantaneous *****, just by the sound of her voice, and that was Bette Porter.

“Tell me…please.”

“Yes Baby, it’s me.”

Tina heard a loud sigh on the other end of the line. “Hi T…I’ve been waiting for you.”