(Stroking her hand gently over the still finely toned stomach of Mrs Porter had the old mocha beauty comforted and almost purring with delight as she took in these quiet moments after the passionate storm. The blonde hair cushioned Mrs Porter’s chin as she rested it gently and patted and caressed the hazel eyed beauty’s back, with its soft skin and repeated movements that accompanied the shallow breathing.)

TINA- “We’re pretty brazen in our old age ain’t we?”

BETTE- “This shouldn’t still be a surprise. It’s not like we were inactive until now and suddenly started having great sex in our twilight years out of no where. And again…for the record…that’s not what I meant earlier.”

TINA- “Bette, that’s not what I meant either…I mean we have guests.”

BETTE- “Oh…right. I’ll go and make sure they haven’t pillaged the place.” (Tina chuckles.) “T?”

TINA- “Mmmm.”

BETTE- “You ok? We ok?” (Tina quickly raises her head, which had been resting on the no man’s land between Bette’s nape and voluptuous lower chest. She looks at her, while supporting herself on her left arm. She purses her lips and her eyebrows come together. Their eyes dart, searching one another. Tina jostles a bit. Suddenly, Bette reacts to an unseen touch…she gasps and closes her eyes for a brief moment as she feels her skin guide a brief little explosive burst from her nether regions to her chest and right down to her toes.) “I…ohhh…hmmmm…ahhh…” (Bette turns her head sideways and then back and upwards as she deals with the impending developments, and she quietly relaxes herself as they conclude. (Ok, so this narration ain’t quite happening in real time. Ahem…) She looks, ever so gently and in capitulated form, to Tina.)

TINA- “To answer your question…not sure yet. We’ll see.” (Bette smiles and Tina reciprocates.) “You wait here. I’ll go check.” (Tina gets up slowly and gets dressed as Bette has no interest in anything but watching her. Tina walks to the door and opens it, slowly making her way back into the real world beyond the B&T haven. She stands for a moment and looks around…she can’t hear a thing…no talking, no laughing, no nothing…Tina steps back into the bedroom.) “Where’d they go?”

BETTE- “What do you mean?”

TINA- “The lights outside are out and I don’t hear a thing.”

BETTE- “Well Tina you’re not going to see much from there. They’re probably in the kitchen or hanging out near the pool.”

TINA- “Bette, there’s not a sound…nothing.”

BETTE- (She gets up and gets dressed and as she approaches they both head out. They look around as they venture into the rest of the house and walk into the living where they finally find a living breathing soul…nodding off.) “Shane?”

SHANE- “Mmm? Huh? Oh…hey Bette. Tina.”

TINA- “Are you alone?”

SHANE- “Yeah. Everyone was gathered around Helena and Gerri and a whole discussion got going and then Peggy decided she’d take everyone out for drinks. I decided to stay back and catch up with them if you guys decided to go afterwards. But to be honest, I’m too tired. Getting old I guess.” (Bette sits on one side of her and Tina on the other. Bette and Tina look at her curiously.)

BETTE- (Smiling…) “Excuse me? You’re too tired to go out drinking on a Friday night?”

TINA- “Yoda…what’s happened to you?”

SHANE- “Older and wiser I guess…” (They start chuckling.)

BETTE- “I didn’t realize we were gone for so long.”

SHANE- “Lost track of time eh Bette?” (Shane smiles mischievously and Bette blushes holding her forehead.)

TINA- “How terrible…I can’t believe we abandoned everyone…did they say anything Shane?”

SHANE- “No no, don’t worry. They were pretty caught up with Peggy sharing her wisdom with the young students. I have to say she had some pretty interesting things to share. Wild old woman that Peggy.”

BETTE- “She could teach you a few things huh Shane?”

SHANE- “Now let’s not go THAT far!” (They all laugh. Shane puts her arms around each of the two women.) “So, ladies…share the love with old Yoda…”

BETTE- “Shane…you’re too old to go out drinking but you want a three-some?”

TINA- “Ewwwhhhh…”

SHANE- “Three-some????!!! No…nooooooo…I mean…gawd….” (She shakes her head…) “Now why is everything I say construed as having a sexual context? I just don’t understand…”

BETTE- “Ok ok…relax…”

SHANE – “I just mean share the good times…is everything ok now? Are you two back on a copasetic plane? Share some good news with me…news of the old B&T love on its road again…”

BETTE- “Actually, I don’t know yet, Kennard here has to evaluate the state of affairs. She has to think on it. But I’d say I stand in pretty good stead so far.”

TINA- “Oh shut up Porter.”

BETTE- “Hey, I’m just calling it as I see it.” (To Shane…) “My mastery of the bedroom arts is apparently not enough to seal the deal…but…we’ll see.”

SHANE- “As I recall, that was never quite enough to…I mean…well…it’s getting late…”

BETTE- “HEY!”

TINA- “Ahem…”

SHANE- “Oh you know what I mean! Besides, it’s not like even I…Yoda…could solve my relationship issues with my special ‘skills’…remember?”

TINA- (To Bette…) “That’s true…”

BETTE- (To Tina…) “Yeah…guess so…”

SHANE- “Uh huh…thanks…anyway…I guess we’re all in agreement.” (Tina ruffles Shane’s hair on the top of her head.) “You know you’re messing up my style.”

BETTE- “Easy there Yoda, nobody’s here to see it.” (She renders a quick kiss to the side of Shane’s head.)

SHANE- (Her eyes open wide…) “Why Mother Porter, what’s gotten into you?”

BETTE- “Must be the after glow…”

SHANE- (Making a face…) “Ewhh…You’re getting all affected and mushy on me Bette…I’m starting to get worried.”

TINA- “So where did they all go? Peggy’s place?”

SHANE- “Not sure actually. Angelica and Steven wanted to head off to the Bookapoo, but Peggy insisted they go with her.”

TINA- “Angie and Steve?”

BETTE- “What do you mean? They were ‘together’?”

SHANE- “Yeah, they were hanging out together quite a bit. I told you Bette, they really took a liking to one another.”

TINA- (To Bette…) “Is he dependable?”

BETTE- “I don’t know him that well but he seems all right.”

TINA- “Seems?”

BETTE- “Well I don’t know; he hasn’t been working for me all that long. Maybe I should have a talk with him…or her…not sure what she’s up to.”

SHANE- “She’s young and having fun with people her own age…what’s the problem?”

BETTE- “Well, she’s moving pretty quickly after that other guy…”

TINA- “Bette, take it easy…we talked about this before…give her some space.”

BETTE- “Space? You’re the one asking if he’s dependable.”

TINA- “I just want to make sure.”

SHANE- “Hey hey hey hey…Mammas…let’s have a reality check here…Angie isn’t 14. She’s a young woman and she’s as sensible as I’ve ever seen anyone at her age. She’s bright and extremely responsible. She lives on her own out east at school and has a good head on her shoulders. Take it easy, she’s not cloistered for crying out loud. And what’s with you Tina, I thought you were more reasonable on this…”

TINA- “I…well I don’t know…I want to make sure this guy isn’t like the other one.”

SHANE- “You sound like Mamma B here.”

BETTE- “Hey…I just want to make sure…oh nevermind.”

SHANE- “Uh huh. Ladies ladies…you gotta lighten up on the leash. The poor kid is needing some freedom.”

TINA- “What are you talking about? She’s very free. She goes away to school, she does her own thing…”

SHANE- “Not on this issue. Oh and what a coincidence she went to Yale…Professor Porter…”

BETTE- “She wanted that. She pushed me for my support on that over Standford so Tina would be ok with it.”

TINA- “What?”

BETTE- “Oh come on, you knew I was on her side on that decision.”

TINA- “I guess, but now that you put it THAT way…but I don’t understand you…you pushed for her to go to Yale and you’ve been on her case about moving away all this time.”

BETTE- “I ‘pushed’ her to go to Yale because I saw that it was what she wanted and it was in her best interest…doesn’t mean I had to like it.”

SHANE- “Guess it’s a good thing she didn’t listen to her Earth Mother or she would’ve gone to Europe.”

BETTE- “What?!”

TINA- “Europe?”

SHANE- “You knew she pondered the Ivy Leagues in England for a while.”

BETTE- “Yeah, but I didn’t know Alice so was so gun ho for it.”

SHANE- “I don’t know about ‘gun ho’, but she was ready to support any decision Angie was going to make as long as it didn’t conflict with what Alice saw as her best interest.”

BETTE- “Oh and was Alice going to decide that all on her own?????”

TINA- “Bette…”

SHANE- “No, actually Alice and I talked and so did Kit. Alice disagreed with me on what I thought was a good idea for Angie.”

BETTE- “And what was that?”

SHANE- “I thought she should travel for a year.”

BETTE- (A bit sarcastic…) “Best interests huh?”

TINA- “Actually, that’s an option many young people take and it works out well…a lot of the time I guess.”

SHANE- “Yeah Bette…best interests…Angie’s…ok?”

BETTE- “All right…fine. I suppose I’m just…”

SHANE- “Anal?”

BETTE- “NO…just overprotective and caught up with things. You’re right. And she’s lucky to have you and Al and Kit in her life. I think it’s actually touching that you all play such a huge role in her life and that she consults you like she does. We all know that you guys were a big part of her life from day one.”

SHANE- “And we all know who the biggest part of her life is…she worships you both…and Mamma B, you know full well she didn’t fall too far from the tree even though your genes didn’t have anything to do with it.”

TINA- “Ain’t that the truth…headstrong young woman I tell you.”

BETTE- “Hey!”

TINA- “Principled…I meant principled…”

BETTE- (Smiling…) “Riiiight…”

SHANE- “Obnoxious young daughter of yours…ain’t that what you called her Mamma B?”

BETTE- “I’m not obnoxious…”

TINA- “Well my daughter certainly isn’t…”

BETTE- “No, she’s all Kennard with that certain self-righteous thing she does when she argues with me…”

TINA- “Uhhhhh…excuse me?”

SHANE- “Here we go…LADIES! Easy!”

TINA- (Smirking…and then patting Shane on the head…) “You two want some tea?” (Bette and Shane acknowledge positively.) “All right then, I will make tea. You two can sit here and debate my beautiful and principled daughter.” (Bette grasps Tina’s hand from across Shane’s lap and kisses it. Tina smiles and pulls away to get up.) “You see Shane…” (She winks at Shane.)

SHANE- (To Bette…) “She’s got you whipped that hazel eyed beauty of yours.” (Bette shrugs in agreement.)

(The three gather at the kitchen table and chat about their recent experiences, the evening, and all the little things. Shane bids them a good night and heads off to her place. After cleaning up, Bette heads to the bedroom and realizes Tina is in the washroom so she raises her voice.)

BETTE- “So where do you think Angelica is? It’s getting kinda late.” (Bette changes into her pajamas and gets into Bette. She assumes Tina didn’t hear her. A little while later, as Bette reads from a file, Tina saunters into the bedroom and gets into bed…Bette was distracted by her reading. Tina is on her side, under the sheets and stares at Bette. Bette finally looks over.) “Hey.”

TINA- “Hey. What are you reading?”

BETTE- “Just stuff for Monday.”

TINA- “It’s Friday night.”

BETTE- “I know. I felt a burst of energy, so I was looking through some exhibit info for the next project. Interesting stuff.” (Bette looks up…) “Damn…I hope this thing with Gerri resolves itself because I’m really relying on her and Steve to get this thing done. She was so excited about it too, I hope I didn’t end up ruining it for her.”

TINA- “How would you do that?”

BETTE- “Well, with being the centre of her universe and all…” (She chuckles and looks at Tina.)

TINA- “Bette…it’s not funny, the poor girl is gaga over you and getting her heart put through the ringer.”

BETTE- “I know, though I can’t believe it. She’s such a good kid. I gotta slap some sense into her.”

TINA- “Remember…no touching.” (They look at each other and smile.)

BETTE- “Why don’t you just have a talk with her…you can slap her around a bit…she’ll get the message.”

TINA- “Actually…maybe we should both talk to her at the same time.”

BETTE- “No.”

TINA- “Why not?”

BETTE- “She’s going to be upset enough that I know.”

TINA- “I think it’ll be better that way. I’m the one she confided in, remember? Besides, it’s best to have a second pair of ears and eyes in that kind of situation. An objective observer.”

BETTE- “Objective? How are YOU objective?”

TINA- “How am I NOT objective?”

BETTE- “She’s got the hots for your woman…”

TINA- “Bette! The poor thing thinks she’s ‘in love’ with you, don’t trivialize her feelings. And why are you suddenly making light of all of this?”

BETTE- “I just thought that I should take that approach. It’s better and I won’t transfer any stress to her. I want her to get the message that I understand, that it’s no big deal, and that knowing about her feelings isn’t freaking me out. If I convey that, then she won’t feel quite as bad when I essentially break her heart. Put her down easy, so to speak.”

TINA- (Patronizing just a bit…) “Oh…I see…well, Professor, you do seem to have everything figured out.”

BETTE- (Somewhat serious…) “You have to be careful about these things Tina. She’s a student and I have a duty to her, her well being, and so forth.” (Bette continues reading her papers. Tina is slowly sliding over to Bette’s right side. She puts her right arm over Bette’s lap and her head on Bette’s right shoulder. Bette tilts her head slightly onto Tina’s and then does a double take…the hazel eyed beauty is in the buff…Bette removes her bifocals and looks into Tina’s eyes. She sighs.)

TINA- “Tired after all that reading?” (Bette shakes her head and their faces come closer.) “How about I take your mind off that file and we have a relaxing Friday evening and sleep in long into Saturday morning?” (Bette nods.) “Mmmm…you’ve become very compliant in your old age Mrs Porter.” (Bette smiles. Tina grasps Bette’s lips with her own and succeeds in engaging them in a bit of an intense melee. Bette is emitting grateful sounds and sighs, while Tina encroaches on the helpless pajamas, covering what’s underneath with perspicacious fingers…strokes and tugs, pats and pinches…here and there, up and down and all over, all the while suckling the lips for all they’re worth…well, they’re priceless so no movement or measure seemed enough. The bifocals and file fall to the floor as Tina ascends the subdued and yet thoroughly emboldened form of Mrs Porter. She covers her with her own precious body, from voluminous lips to anxious and pulsating folds…(is that corny? Sounds a bit corny…but I digress…) Bette raises her body with Tina’s as the two meld and motion as one…a fluid and reciprocating wave of movements on the large bed…upwards, downwards and onwards, their dance intensifying and the sighs and moans multiplying. Tina can’t stop kissing her…kissing her all over and feeling her…with her lips, her hands, with every bit of her…so many senses and points of sensation…Tina soaks it all in, not taking an inch for granted or any spot left to chance…and Bette is feeling consumed, taken, ravished, and all she can feel and do is to give more of herself up to be devoured… liberated into ecstasy. A captive to her mate, Bette let Tina hold her arms above her as the hazel blonde centered the efforts of her passionate onslaught and Bette’s legs moved upwards and over those of her lover to grasp them and encourage them in the sheer force of passion that they supported. And as the sounds of ultimate points of happiness resounded between them, they eased into a menagerie of movements and undecipherable vocal pronouncements of glee. They lessened their pace, and breathed deeply in gratified sighs…the touches relaxing, the sensations comforting, and the heartbeats releasing and assuring in their regularized and almost synchronized beats. The captive now permitted freer movements, Bette’s arms fall gently over the blonde beauty. Stroking the vanquisher, caressing her wondrous form. If this was like the first time, thought Bette, let it all begin again…and again, and again.