The following week, Tina arranged for 3 personal days off, so she could fly to San Francisco and visit her parents.
It was Wednesday morning and Tina was flying out at 8 am. Bette had stayed at Tinas the night before so she could take her to LAX airport.

Tina was planning on returning Friday night, but it was the most time Bette and Tina wouldve spent away from each other since their relationship started.

Bette wanted to make sure Tina felt all her love before she left, so they spent most of the night and the early hours of the morning making love, committing each other to memory, to get them through the next two days anyway. Bette knew this was going to be hard on Tina and she wanted Tina to know that it was all worth itthat they were worth it.

Tina was nervous all week about the ensuing trip. It was 5.30 am and Tina was already wide-awake, without the help of the alarm. Her mind was hoping for the best but bracing for the worst. She slipped out of bed, managing not to wake Bette up.

She let the hot stream of water in the shower soothe her tense body, but nothing she did could soothe her mind. She finished her shower and tip toed into the bedroom dressing in a pair of blue fitted jeans and a classic white t-shirt.
She walked over to the bed and gently kissed Bette on the lips.

Tina: Babe, time to get up, we got to go to the airport.

Bette: (opening her eyes, smiling) Mmmm.Good Morning baby.Give me 5 minutes and Ill be ready.

Bette got out of bed and dressed in her black fitted pants and white shirt, she had worn the previous night. She went into the bathroom, freshened up, brushed her teeth, combed her hair into a loose ponytail and was ready.

Bette grabbed the keys and Tinas suitcase. Ok, lets go baby.

They arrived at the airport a short time later and Tina checked in. She was getting tenser and tenser by the minute. Bette could see Tina was on edge and tried to calm Tinas nerves, tried to soothe her over stimulated mind. Tina was at the point where she just wanted to get there and get it over and done with.

Bette: Itll all be over soon baby, and Ill be right here waiting, when you get back, no matter what, Ok tee? Never forget that!

Tina: Thank you babe, that means a lot to me. hugging Bette tightly.

A few minutes later Tinas flight was called.

Tina gave Bette another long, tight hug and a tender kiss on the lips. Babe, Ill call you when I arrive, I love you and Im going to miss you.

Bette: I love you too Tee, dont forget, right here when you get back.

Tina gave Bette one last quick kiss, Bye Bette Ill talk to you soon.

Bette: Bye Tee, Im missing you already.

Tina boarded the plane and was on her way.



She arrived in San Francisco about an hour later. She arranged to stay at the Crowne Plaza hotel only 2 miles from San Francisco International airport, it was only for two nights and she didnt want to stay with her parents.

She checked into the hotel, and took the lift up to her room.

Tina got to her room a few minutes later and grabbed the phone dialing Bettes cell.

RING, RING, RING.

Bette was just walking from her car into the gallery.

Bette: Hello, this is Bette Porter.

Tina: Hi babe, just rang to tell you I got in Ok, and that I love you.

Bette: (smiling into the phone)OhI love you too baby.

Tina: You at work yet babe?

Bette: Yeah just arrived, thought Id catch up on everything while youre away. Changing the tone of her voice, seductively whispering into the phone, because I plan to have you all to myself when you get back!

Tina: (grinning) Sounds like heaven babe, Cant wait. Ill call you later, after the dreaded meeting. Im going to try and get a couple of hours sleep first.

Bette: Ok baby, remember, whatever happens with your parents, that I love you Tee, bye.

Tina: I love you too babe, bye.

Tina basically collapsed on the bed and within minutes she was sound asleep. All the worrying and stress over the last week mustve really taken its toll.

Tina woke up and checked her travel alarm clock. It was 5 pm. That cant be right. Did I sleep that long? Tina thought to herself. She checked her watch and it was in fact 5pm.

Tina didnt plan on sleeping that long, she was expected at her parents at 6pm for dinner. She jumped off the bed and had a quick shower, got changed into a pair of black fitted pants and a baby blue open neck shirt. She called down stairs for a cab and headed out the door.

Tina arrived a short time later, just after 6pm, at her parents house in North Beach. They had a place overlooking the bay.

Tinas dad, Stephen Kennard was a retired police sergeant and her mum, Nancy Kennard was a homemaker. Tina loved her parents very much but she knew they had the old-fashioned ideals and thats what was making her nervous. Tina was an only child and her whole life she did every thing she could to make her parents proud of her.

Tina stood on the porch and knocked. Stephen and Nancy both opened the door, extending their arms to immediately embrace Tina in a warm hug.

Tina: Hi, mum, dad, how are things? embracing her mum and dad back giving them a kiss on the cheek.

Nancy: Hello, sweetheart, dad and I are the same as always. How are you? We dont get to see enough of our daughter anymore.

Nancy: Come on in, dinners ready. Its really great to see you, sweetheart. Well catch up over dinner.

Stephen and Nancy were elated to see their daughter. She hadnt visited since last Christmas and that was nearly 6 months ago.

Tina went inside and sat down at the dinner table with her dad, while her mum served up the dinner. Her palms were all sweaty already, from the anticipation of the discussion she knew was coming.
Conversation over dinner was light. Tina bought her mum and dad up to date on her work, nothing to heavy. Tina told her dad how she had been promoted to Chief, since she last spoke to him. Stephen was beaming with pride.

Nancy was looking at her daughter making idle conversation and noticed she had a certain glow about her. The glow you have when you are happily in love. She remembered that glow from when she had it, all them years ago when she first met Stephen.

Nancy was excited for her daughter. She always hoped Tina would find the kind of love her and Stephen shared. Her mothering instincts told her that Tina had some news to share, quietly she was hoping that maybe grandkids werent too far away.

When it became obviously Tina wasnt going to volunteer information about this mystery man, Nancy decided to ask her daughter about him.

Nancy: So, sweetheart, hows it going in the husband department? Are you still seeing that lovely manUmEric wasnt it? Youve got the glow. So tell us about him. You must really be in love sweetheart?

Tina knew the time had come. Here she goes. She was going to tell her parents about the love of her life.

Tina: Mum, Dad I have met the person of my dreams, and I am in love with them very much. Its not Eric though mum.

Nancy interrupted before Tina could finish. So who is he then sweetheart? When do we get to meet the man who stole our little girls heart?

Tina was now getting a little annoyed her mum wasnt letting her finish.

Tina: Mum, please, let me finish. Yes I am completely in love, but heres the thing, this person, well.(Damned it Tina just say it!!!!) this person is a woman. Mum, Dad I am completely in love with this wonderful woman, Bette, Bette Porter and Id really like for you to meet her.

Stephen and Nancys jaws just dropped. Stephen excused himself and got up; walking out into the backyard without saying a word to Tina, and Nancy bursts out crying. Tina went over to try and explain and comfort her mum.

Nancy: Dont touch me. Christina Kennard, we didnt bring you up this way. What has gotten into youI think you should leave and think about what you are doing!!!!

Tina saw she wasnt going to get anywhere, not right now anyway, so she left her parents place. She started walking down the block, calling a cab from her cell, and as soon as she got far enough away, she couldnt hold in the tears any longer. All she wanted to do was go back to the hotel and ring Bette; she needed to talk to Bette.

Tina finally got a cab and took it back to the hotel. By the time she got back there she had cried so much she didnt think she had any tears left.

She hurried up to her room and immediately called Bette.

RING, RING, RING.

Bette: Hello.

Tina: (hoarsely) Hi, babe, Im sorry to call so late *sniff, sniff *

Bette: (worried) Tee, baby whats wrong? Are you Ok? Whats happened?

Tina: *sniff * Bette it was horrible. I told my parents. Dad just walked out on me and didnt say a word and mum burst out crying. * sniff * They wont even hear me out. I want to come home. I need you Bette.

Bette: I told you Id be here, always baby It was probably a shock for them. Get a good night sleep and try again in the morning, Tee. Theyre your parents and they love you, give them time..Besides, (trying to lighten the mood) who wouldnt love you?

Tina was feeling a bit better about herself. Youre right babe, I should give it another try. Thank you.

Tina proceeded to listen to Bette tell her about her day and any other news. It was getting late and Bette didnt mean to, but she yawned into the phone. Sorry Tee, Ive been up since 6amfor some reason!!! Im a bit tired.

Tina: Ok, Ill let you go babe, I love you and I cant wait to get back and see you.

Bette: I love you too Tee. Call me anytime, ok, anytime, I mean it.

Tina: Goodnight Bette.

Bette: Goodnight Tee.

Tina didnt sleep all night. She tossed and turned, anxious to return to her parents place to try and rectify this problem.

Tina looked over at her travel alarm clock and noticed it was 8 am. It was time. Her parents would be up by now.

Tina made her way over there and knocked on the front door. There was no answer so she went around the back. Stephen was sitting on the back porch reading the newspaper. He looked up, startled, when he heard the back gate open then he saw his daughter, and immersed himself back in his paper.

Tina: Dad, please.

Stephen: No Christina, I have nothing to say to you. Neither does your mother.

Tina went inside she could feel the tears welling in her eyes, threatening to spill. She didnt want to give her parents the satisfaction of crying in front of them so she held them in. She found her mum in the kitchen making scrambled eggs for breakfast.
Nancy looked up when she saw Tina. Before Tina could say anything Nancy spoke.

Nancy: (coldly) Christina, until you realize what you are doing, you are not welcome in this house, its either this woman or your family. Think long and hard about it.

Tina: You cannot be serious mum?

Nancy gave her daughter a look, which confirmed she was in fact serious.

That was the straw that broke the camels back. Tina stormed out of there sobbing. How could her mum do that, ask her to choose between Bette and them. She was furious!!

She called the airport and changed to an earlier flight. Tina had to get out of San Francisco, away from her parents. She still couldnt believe how they reacted. It was worst than she even imagined.

Tina went back to the Crowne Plaza and grabbed all her belongings. She went down to the desk and checked out heading straight to the airport.

Once Tina arrived at the airport, she was a bit calmer. After she had checked in, she realized she had a few minutes until her flight. She called Bette at the gallery.

RING, RING, RING,

Bette: Hello, Bette Porter gallery, can I help you?

Tina: Hi Bette.

Bette: Hey Tee, is everything ok? How did it go with your mum and dad?

Tina: (still upset)Bette my parents, they were awful, horrified. I dont know if I can do this anymore

Thats all Tina could say before her cell phone dropped out.

Tina: Bette, Bette are you there?

No answer.

Tinas flight was now being called; she turned off her cell and boarded the plane. I guess Ill call Bette back when I land Tina thought.

Bette tried to ring Tina back, no answer.

Bette was thinking to herself, a little concerned, I cant do this anymore? What the ***** did that mean Tina?