“This is the only place I feel safe, in your arms. I feel like with you there aren’t any lies.”After having said that Tina felt her heart sore and feel like it was going to burst if she didn’t finish saying what was surging through her body.


“I…”


“I love you Tina.” Having said that Tina was lost in a state of shock and completely thrown by the affection Bette was giving her without hesitation.


“I love you too.”


“I know you probably don’t need to hear something like that but I …”


“No please Bette, … what you just said is exactly what I needed to hear right now. I think…no, I know it’s you that’s kept me grounded through this entire situation.” Tina said as she dived deep into Bette’s ocean like eyes.


“Well it’s been my pleasure to keep you sane in this our, chaotic world.” Bette said while exposing her famous Porter smile at Tina.


“I think that going to my house would be the wrong move right now so let me call Carmen. Ok baby hold on a second.”Bette said as she walked to the back of the car to call Carmen.


While Bette was on the phone Tina’s thoughts wouldn’t rest. “God did I just hit my mother?, Bette probably thinks I’m crazy., Is this really happening to me? Jesus Christ what the ***** am I doin’?, Is Bette going to…”


“Ready baby?” Bette voice pierced through her mind as she was completely taken by thought.


“Yeah.” They drove for a long period of time just holding onto each others hand and giving each other short but love filled gazes. Every now and again when Tina would look inconsolable, Bette would gently kiss her hand letting her know she there with her without fear. They pulled up to Carmen’s house and Carmen was already there waiting for them out front. She had left the office as soon as Bette did.


“Well now, this is Tina, please let me hug the only woman to ever make my little cousin absolutely speechless. Please come on in.” she said ushering them inside.


Tina excused herself to go to the bathroom, while Carmen and Bette took the time to evaluate what should happen next.


“I like her cuz I see you like em’ thick? Nice choice ”


“Well you know I gotta have somethin’ to hold onto. she’s built like a southern girl ” Bette said while the thought of Tina’s body flashed in her mind as voice displayed even more her of her southern drawl.



“But seriously Cuz, we need a place to stay for a little while.”


In the bathroom Tina was collecting herself trying to avoid an emotional breakdown in this complete stranger’s bathroom. She told herself to “just breathe.” She inhaled and exhaled a lot while avoiding the mirror in fear of seeing something that might breakdown her mental clarity she clinging onto.


“Girl, you ain’t even gotta ask. You know if I lived in a cardboard tent you’d be more than welcomed.”Carmen said standing and giving Bette one of her patented reassuring hugs. Just then Tina came out of the bathroom to see Carmen giving Bette a hug of support that only a family member can give.



“Tina sweetie, please come and sit down, I want you to meet Carmen. This is the one girl I can tell all my secrets to. She should’ve been my sister really. And Carmen this is my California beauty that I found this summer. The one woman who can make forget what I’m about to say as its coming out of mouth.” Bette was trying humor as way of softening the blow that was inevitably heading for Tina.



Tina just smiled and began turning a bright red at the idea of Bette calling her California beauty. “So how in the ***** did y’all meet? Bette told me that she met some hottie from California but she didn’t get into all the details of when, who, and where, ya know? So start from the beginning and don’t leave nothing out.”



Tina began telling Carmen about the first time she saw Bette cutting David’s grass, and the first time she took her Gloria’s river, and the first picnic Bette took her on in her backyard along the river, granted she left out all the real details but in between those breaks she and Bette just blushed and looked at each other. Bette went into the kitchen and began cooking to relax her mind, it kept her busy on the task at hand instead of worrying about the future.



As soon as Tina got to her picnic Carmen had to stop and ask her “Wait a minute. Bette took you to Gloria’s river in the backyard? Damn, this must be love, because she doesn’t let nobody go there with her, barely even me. Oh my god, my little cousin is in love.” Carmen said while gazing deep into Tina’s eyes seeing the truth as Bette saw it. She (Tina) really was a beautiful person and Bette was truly happy for the first time in a long time. It was then that Carmen had decided that Bette and Tina should stay with her a little while, while they figure out what was to come for the two of them.


“Food’s ready, you guys.”


“Come on lets go see what the chef has prepared.” Tina said grabbing Carmen and heading into the kitchen.


“Now you see, that’s the part of you staying here, I don’t have to cook. This one (pointing to Bette) is a born chef. Later on I’ll show you some pictures of Bette in the kitchen with spaghetti all in her hair, it’s cute as *****.”


“I’ll bet.” Tina said while giving Bette a look of empathy/ love, while Bette stood blushing in the corner of the kitchen. They all ate lunch and began telling childhood stories of embarrassment and torment.


While Carmen refused Tina’s help to clear the table she told her go into the living room and try to cheer Bette up she looked a little sad at lunch. In the living room Tina found Bette sitting on the couch completely lost in thought. Not wanting to seem selfish and think about herself, Bette broke her concentration to ask Tina if she was alright.


Tina knew that Bette was worried about her but Tina wanted to make sure Bette was alright for once, instead of herself.



“Baby, you don’t have to worry about me so much. I won’t break down if your not alright, I promise. Come here,” Tina stretched out her arms to hold Bette. Bette did as she was instructed and she turned around to lay the back of her head on Tina’s *****, while stoked her head in comfort, “I want to take care of you sometimes.”



Carmen walked in and saw that Bette was lost in the rapture of Tina’s undeniable love for her. She just went to her office to start some work leaving the young lovers to enjoy each others company.


With her eyes still closed Bette asked “But baby, are you alright I know today your world kinda crumbled. I just want to make sure your alright, and I want you to know I’m here with you through everything, I’m not going anywhere.”


“Are you talking bout cancelling your trip to Cuba?”


“Maybe, I don’t want to leave you…”


“No, Bette I can’t… I won’t let you do that. Melito needs you more than I do, trust me the more he knows you’re there the better. And I’ll be fine trust me. I’ve got Melvin, Carmen, and maybe even Charles to take care of me.” Tina said her father’s name with a little reserve, to her he was always Daddy. Bette just continued to lay back and enjoy the attention Tina was giving her.


“And besides you’re only going to gone for two weeks. I know it seems like a lot but Melito will remember forever, trust me.”



“Yeah, ok you’re right. It’s just going to be really hard down there all stressed out knowing that I’m going to be missing moments like this.”


“Just think about how much better it’s going to be when you get back.”


“Oh my God, I love you.” Bette said laughingly.


“I love you too.”Tina said while she bent down to kiss Bette so softly.



TBC……………………………………………………………………