Chapter 17


Tina checked her watch again exasperated with Bette’s stalling techniques. She had called Shane to tell her they’d meet them at The Planet over a half hour ago, and yet Bette remained busy cleaning up the house to avoid talking to Angelica.

“I know what you’re doing,” Tina said exasperated.

“I hope so. I’m cleaning, and might I add in front of you, so it isn’t much of a secret.”

“Do you think Angie cares what the house looks like?”

“I do,” Bette said flashing a smile in Tina’s direction. “I don’t want to be distracted talking to her and I will be if this place isn’t picked up.”

“You’re stalling,” Tina said in an effort to have Bette recognize her own diversion tactics.

“I know,” she said sadly in return. Bette slumped down on the couch as Tina stood before her.

“Why?”

Bette scoffed, she hated when Tina asked questions with obvious answers.

“She’ll still love us even if she’s angry with us for a period of time.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because she’s our daughter, and we can only hope that we’ve raised her with tolerance for differing opinions.”

Bette laughed at Tina’s remark.

“What?”

“Because we’re so tolerant of them?”

“I am,” Tina said as she reached down and played with the curls in Bette’s hair. “It’s time to go get her, she’s waiting for us at The Planet.”

Bette looked questioningly at Tina due to the inflection of her voice.

“Why do you sound so sad about going to The Planet?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Tina mumbled as she turned away to make her way to the front door.

“Oh no you don’t,” Bette said as she grabbed her arm. “You need to honest with me Tina or this won’t work.”

“This won’t work,” Tina said sadly.

“What won’t?”

“Keeping us a secret. First, I’m sure everyone there will know that you and Kristen broke up.”

“It just happened,” Bette sounded amazed that Tina would think the news would spread that fast through the West Hollywood community.

“And you’re Bette Porter.”

“That doesn’t mean that it will have spread,” Bette said smiling lovingly at Tina. “I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, least of all our daughter. There’s always so much pressure on us to be the token lesbian couple and I’d like to enjoy this peacefulness with you longer if I can. If that makes me selfish then so be it.”

Bette got up and went in search of her keys while Tina slipped her arms into her blazer that had been set down near the door the night before. She stopped and looked in the mirror, her reflection showing a much happier pair of eyes.

“What are you looking at?” Bette said as she entered the room with her keys in hand.

“Who would have thought that I’d be back together with you when I walked in here last night?”

Bette wrapped her arms around Tina’s waist as she balanced her chin on Tina’s shoulder, watching their reflection in the mirror before them. She gently brushed her lips on Tina’s neck, causing Tina to smile and hold onto her arms tighter. Their bodies, gently swaying back and forth, were melded perfectly together.

“I really don’t like the idea of keeping this a secret for long.”

“I know,” Bette said as she nipped at Tina’s neck, causing a rush of arousal through Tina’s body.

Bette quickly broke the embrace before it progressed to an area that she wouldn’t be able to turn back. They were late picking up their daughter and she knew that the conversation couldn’t be postponed any longer.

“That’s not fair,” Tina said in protest.

“Weren’t you the one that was just nagging me that we were late?”

“Yes that’d be me, but that was before your lips were on my body.”

Tina tried to hold Bette in place and snuggle back into her, but Bette had already stepped out of her reach and headed for the door.

“Let’s get this over with.”

“You’re not going to the guillotine Bette,” Tina said laughing.

“Then why does it feel that way?” Bette asked as she walked ahead of Tina down her porch steps.

Tina whispered, “I’m tellin’ ya Porter, if one person even thinks something sexual about you we’re going to have issues.”

Bette turned around and smiled at Tina.

“What did you say?”

“I said that this secret shit sucks,” Tina muttered. “I want nothing more then to be able to hold your hand and kiss you in front of everyone.”

“All in due time Tina,” Bette said as she sat down in the driver’s seat and started the car.

“Let’s see if we can’t speed that up a bit,” Tina said quietly as she smiled at Bette.





Shane ordered another double shot for herself and a Coke for Angelica. Kit made sure that there were plenty of bagels and fruit to feed everyone breakfast that missed it due to Shane’s French toast mishap. She could barely contain her laughter when her niece described Shane’s cooking attempt.

“Which one of them is coming to get me?” Angelica asked Shane.

“They both were headed this way so I think they’ll decide what you’re doing today when they get here.”

“Well where are they already?” Angelica asked looking around to see if there were any signs of her mothers.

“They’re on gay time,” Alice said.

“What the hell is gay time?” Shane asked.

“You know, plus or minus an hour either way.”

“That’s ridiculous Alice.”

“Is it Dana? Name me a gay person that’s on time for anything.”

“I am!”

“Well, we’re not sure whether you’ve earned your stripes for our team or not.”

“Ah, and why is this?” Dana questioned. “If you’ll recall I’ve never dated lesbian identified men before.”

“That was years ago! Are we going to continue to rehash that?”

“Always, until you admit how wrong it was.”

“I was bisexual!”

“Guys,” Shane broke in looking at them with a stern look. “Not in front of Angie ok?”

Alicia, one of Shane’s previous conquests, approached the table with a smile on her face.

“Hey Shane.”

Shane looked up and smiled. Alicia was a nice woman, Shane had wanted to continue a friendship with her beyond their one night spent together and actually had put forth an effort to make that happen.

“Hey Alicia!”

“So is it true?”

“Is what true?” Shane asked.

“That Bette’s back on the market?”

The mention of her mother’s name got Angelica’s attention quickly, along with Alice and Dana’s.

“I wouldn’t know, I haven’t talked to her,” Shane opted for a simple answer.

“If she is, I’ve got a friend that’s interested and I’d love to pass on her number.”

Shane just stared at Alicia, trying hard to ignore the pairs of eyes that were all now focused on her.

“I’ll be sure to tell her,” Shane agreed.

“Call me,” Alicia said as she walked away from the table leaving Shane there to field questions.

Shane began to sip her coffee without making eye contact with anyone at the table.

“You’ve got to do better then that,” Alice said as she waited for an answer to Alicia’s question.

“What?”

“Ignoring us, you have to do a better job at it if you want it to work. I think we’re all interested in the answer to Alicia’s question.”

“Not now Alice,” Shane said in a slightly angered voice.

“Why? Is it because I’m here?” Angelica said as she tried to force her smile off her face. “Is it true that Mama B isn’t with Kristen anymore Aunt Shane?”

“I think you should ask your mother.”

“Well here’s your chance Angelica because both your moms are walking in,” Dana said to the table.




Bette surveyed the crowd at The Planet while they walked through the front door.

“I can’t do this,” Bette said as she turned to face Tina.

“Do what? Talk to your daughter?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“March Porter,” Tina pointed in the direction of the table. “Just remember she loves you.”

Bette turned back around and worked her way through the maze of people to the table in the corner where their family sat.

“Good morning,” she said as she bent down to kiss her daughter.

“Hi Mama B.”

“Hey Honey,” Tina greeted her with a warm kiss and took a seat next to Bette.

“Good morning sleepy heads,” Alice said as she looked between the two women.

“Good morning Alice,” Tina said ignoring her gaze and focusing on the menu in front of her.

“How was the crisis?”

“It’s over,” Tina said simply.

“Great show last night Bette,” Shane broke into the conversation knowing that Alice was beginning to fish.

“Can ya get a read on them?” Alice said quietly in Dana’s direction.

“What?”

“God look who I’m reduced to asking,” Alice whispered again while she rolled her eyes. “Are you picking up signs?”

“That’s Shane’s job.”

“I know, but she’s on the other side of the table.”

“I’m not participating Alice,” Dana said emphatically.

“What’s that Al?” Bette asked straining to hear the conversation on the other side of the table above the noise of the crowd.

“Nothing,” Alice said innocently.

“Sorry, I thought I heard you say something.”

“I did, to Dana, but it’s fine,” Alice stammered.

“Shane,” Bette turned to face her friend. “Thank you so much for watching Angie. Tina told me she dropped her off when something came up and I appreciate it.”

“Anytime,” Shane took another sip of her double shot avoiding all eye contact with anyone.

Tina looked around The Planet at the crowds of people enjoying their food, company, and atmosphere. She smiled remembering the first time she had walked into the quaint café accompanied by Bette. People were staring at them, whispering in wonder about the woman that held Bette Porter’s hand. This time, nobody whispered about her, they were mainly focusing on Bette as she had feared.

Tina felt her insecurities begin to rise relative to their inability to be open with their newly defined relationship. In an effort to calm her inner voices, Tina laid her hand on Bette’s thigh and began to rub it nervously.

Bette’s voice caught in her throat as she was taken back by Tina’s gesture. She knew nobody could see her hand under the table, yet the potential of them being caught seemed to make the innocent gesture a more erotic one.

“Sorry,” Bette said coughing. “Anyway, we’ve got a few more nights of the show and then it travels to The Whitney.”

“Impressive,” Alice said still trying to read their signs. “Being on par with The Whitney is not an easy task Bette.”

“Why thank you Alice,” Bette said in a slightly huskier voice. Tina had moved her fingertips to caress the bare skin where the hole in Bette’s thigh was located. Tina made a mental note that the current pair of jeans Bette was wearing now could be considered her favorite. Bette’s skin was soft, inviting, as Tina continued to trace light patterns on it causing the skin to form goose bumps.

Bette closed her eyes and coughed, holding the mug of coffee that was just handed to her tightly. Tina looked out of the corner of her eye when Bette moved. She saw that her simple, absentminded gesture reeked havoc on Bette’s resolve.

“So what do you guys have planned today?” Alice asked.

“We thought we could just spend some time with Angie,” Tina said as she looked at Angelica. “That’s if you don’t have any homework left to do?”

“Nope,” Angelica answered. “I got it all done.”

“Wonderful,” Tina said smiling. “Maybe we can all go to Bette’s house and hang out for a bit.”

“All of us as in ‘us’?” Alice asked.

“All of us as in Bette, Angelica, and I. We just saw you the other day.”

“So we aren’t hanging out today?” Alice asked using her best ‘hurt’ voice.

“No,” Bette said before Tina could continue. “We’d actually like to talk to Angelica in private today.”

The table silenced as Bette squirmed in her seat. She was desperate to not allow her arousal for Tina to rule her thoughts and actions at the current moment. However, the further she tried to pull her leg away from Tina’s touch, the higher her fingers moved in the direction of Bette’s center.

Tina ran her fingertip, slightly harder then she had been touching Bette before, up the inner seam of Bette’s jeans stopping at the point where Bette’s leg connected into her groin area.

Bette bit her bottom lip to not cry out as her hips moved to get closer to Tina’s fingers. She was thankful that Kit had ordered tablecloths to be used during the day, it provided the right amount of privacy for Tina to continue to touch her.

Bette parted her legs further, the wetness between them growing with each stroke of Tina’s fingers upward.

“Baby Sis you ok?” Kit asked as she sat down with them at the table. “You look hot.”

“I am hot,” Bette said quietly.

“I can turn the air on if it’s too hot.”

Bette just shook her head as she held on tighter to her coffee mug.

“Is anyone else hot?” Kit asked wanting her customers to be comfortable while they ate.

“I’m not,” Alice offered and Dana agreed with her. Shane remained silent, fairly certain of her ability to read what was going on between her two friends.

“Tina are you hot?” Kit asked.

“I’m getting there,” she said with a smile.

“Maybe I should turn the air up?”

“Please,” Alice scoffed at Kit. “My nipples will cut ice if you do that.”

“Nice Al,” Dana said with a disapproving look in her face.

“What do you want to talk about?” Angelica asked as she finished her glass of Coke.

“A little bit more of what happened at school,” Tina said, her fingers not relinquishing their journey upward.

“That again?” Angelica said with dread in her voice. “I have something I want to talk about instead.”

The look of dread that crossed Bette’s face made Alice chuckle. She had seen Bette in various stressful situations, but it appeared that this one was the most trying on her.

“Mama B do you know Aunt Shane’s friend Alicia?”

“No, I don’t think I do.”

“She wants to give you her friend’s number because she said you and Kristen split up.”

“What?” Bette said surprised at the revelation her daughter just made.

“Are you?”

“Can’t we talk about this later Boo?” Bette pleaded.

“Why not now?”

“Later Angie,” Tina said in a stern voice.

Bette took a deep breath, thankful for Tina’s firmness saving her from talking about her break-up with everyone at the table.

“We’ll talk about it later Boo,” Bette added nicely to relieve some of her daughter’s angst regarding her question. “I promise.”

Bette closed her eyes as she worked to control her breathing and her body’s reaction to Tina’s fingers. Just as she got used to Tina’s touch on the upper part of her inner thigh, she moved her fingers over Bette’s center, massaging her through her jeans.

Bette jumped in shock knocking Shane’s spoon to the ground.

“Oh, I’ll get it,” Shane said forgetting about her premonition about her friends’ activities.

“No! I’ll get it!” Bette pushed her seat back and put her head below the table in search of the spoon.

Tina also put her head down under the table under the façade of looking for it.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Bette said quietly with a voice reflecting complete frustration and arousal.

“I thought you knew,” Tina said smiling as she picked her head up to be eyelevel with the rest of the table.

Bette handed Shane her spoon as she took a deep breath to steady her nerves. Bette had a hard time reconciling her mind with her physical needs. Her mind was screaming at her to stop Tina by using all means necessary, still wanting to keep their relationship a secret. Yet her body was reacting, and she was unable to control her physical needs.

Bette spread her legs wider, now allowing Tina free access to her body with the only barrier being her jeans.

“Well can we do a family night soon? We haven’t done one of those in a long time?” Alice asked. “If we come up with a date here I’ll run it by Helena when I call her this afternoon.”

Tina applied greater pressure to Bette’s center with her fingers. Bette’s eyes semi-rolled back into her head as she struggled for composure.

“I’d love to do a family night,” Tina said in a slighter deeper voice then usual. “Just not this weekend since we’re spending the evening alone with Angelica.”

Tina circled her finger around Bette’s center, her own arousal now growing but her need to continue to push Bette to the edge and prove her point regarding their secrecy overruled her own needs.

She smiled as her hand worked harder, rubbing on the old denim between Bette’s legs. It was already wet and she could feel the heat growing in that area.

“Are we ready to go?” Bette said almost breathless.

“Is it really that hot in here?” Kit asked with concern. “Maybe you’re coming down with something Baby Sis.”

“I doubt it,” Bette’s answer was short and to the point.

“You never know, you always burn the candle at both ends when a show’s coming up.”

“I’ll work on that,” Bette said quickly as she got up breaking contact with Tina’s fingers. She knew that if she didn’t now, she would be pushed over the edge in front of everyone and she wasn’t willing to do that being a private person. “I need to go to the restroom, excuse me.”

Bette walked away from the table leaving a smiling Tina leaning back in her seat satisfied with the response she was able to illicit to prove her point.

“So what was up with your crisis?” Alice asked out of curiosity. She assumed that she would have already heard about it from Helena if it were big enough to cause Tina to be gone most of the night.



Bette stood with her hands on the counter-top in the bathroom as she struggled to reign her physical needs in. Her breathing was slightly labored as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

When the door opened and Tina walked in, Bette shot her a frustrated look when Tina smiled at her.

“You ok?”

“You know the answer to that,” Bette said curtly.

“Is someone frustrated?” Tina asked in a baby-mocking voice causing Bette to smile.

“That wasn’t fair.”

“I was trying to relax you for our discussion,” Tina said in her most innocent sounding voice.

“My ass.”

“I like your ass,” Tina said as she stepped closer, her eyes focused on Bette’s rear end.

“Funny.”

“I wasn’t trying to be.”

“Happy with your results?”

“Extremely.”

Both women stared at one another before Tina broke the silence once more. She dragged her fingertip slowly down Bette’s arm with a seductive look on her face.

“Let’s go so we can talk to her,” Tina said in a husky voice.

She walked out of the bathroom leaving a very frustrated Bette behind to gain her composure and join her when she was able.



The short ride from The Planet to Bette’s house was mostly filled with silence. Bette was pretending to be focused on driving, Angie was playing with her hand-held Playstation, and Tina was staring out the window working on her own arousal level. When Bette pulled into her driveway, Angelica got out first relying on her memory of the walkway to get inside not taking her eyes off her game.

“It will be fine,” Tina said as she led a leery Bette inside the house. When they made their way inside the house, Angelica wasn’t in sight.

“Angie?” Tina called out. She waited for a verbal response, but instead, Angelica walked out without her handheld knowing she would be asked to put it away anyway.

“Sorry, I was putting my game away.”

Angie slumped down on the chair, dreading the conversation to begin although she had wished for this moment for so long. She recalled numerous times when her aunts would tell her that she should be careful what she wished for. That statement never rang more true to her then at this moment.

“Honey are you ok?” Tina asked first to break the silence.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Alright,” Tina said not believing her but deciding to not push her. “Mama B and I have been talking for some time now about the fact that you have a lot of questions, specifically around what’s happened between us. After a lot of debate back and forth, we’ve decided that you should be allowed to ask your questions.”

Bette tried to read her daughter’s reaction, which mirrored her own, full of dread. Bette and Tina both sat down on the couch opposite their daughter waiting for her to speak.

“You know what I want to know,” Angelica said sarcastically.

“We know generally what you want to know, but aren’t there specific questions we can answer to help you understand?”

Angelica sighed at Bette and tried to minimize her eye roll knowing it would get her into trouble.

“Why don’t I start?” Bette said cautiously. “You had a question at The Planet about Kristen and I and I think it would be a good time to talk about that.”

Tina smiled at Bette to encourage her that she was taking the right approach.

“Aunt Shane’s friend was right, Kristen and I aren’t together anymore,” Bette said with a trace of sadness in her voice.

Tina noticed it and worked to push her jealousy back down into her stomach in support of Bette’s initiative.

“Why?” Angelica asked seeing her mom’s look of sadness.

“Kristen wanted to take a job in New York, it would be good for her career. She took it and I obviously have my life here so it didn’t work out.”

“Why did she put her job before you?”

Bette hesitated in order to ensure she chose the right words.

“Boo, Kristen and I had a wonderful relationship while it lasted. But when a once in a lifetime promotion comes along that can help you throughout your entire life a person usually takes it.”

“Takes it over love?” Angelica asked confused.

“Sometimes,” Bette said carefully.

“Didn’t she love you enough to want to stay?”

Bette’s eyes filled up with tears knowing it was hard to explain without giving Angelica the wrong idea about relationships.

“Love doesn’t always conquer all Boo.”

“But it should,” Angelica said sadly.

“Life’s not that simple.”

“Did you love her?” Angelica asked Bette candidly.

“Yes, I loved her.”

“So you’re sad?”

“Part of me is sad yes.”

“Did she leave because of me?”

“Oh God no,” Bette said quickly reaching out to hold Angelica’s hand. “Kristen loved you.”

“That makes me feel worse.”

“Why Honey?” Tina asked.

“Because all this time I’ve wanted her to leave and now that she has I can see how upset Mama B is.”

Tears fell from Angie’s eyes causing Bette’s heart to break. Her daughter was crying over her loss thinking it was her and not knowing that it was Bette’s inability to commit herself freely. She wanted to scream it loudly, yet Bette knew that telling Angelica that they were back together could potentially raise her hopes causing her more harm if they couldn’t make their third time around work.

“Honey,” Bette got on her knees to get within Angelica’s sight of vision, which was directly at the floor. Bette put her hands on Angelica’s knees and looked into her daughter’s eyes.

“You had nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with Kristen and I not working out. What happened between us was because of us, not anyone else.”

“What did happen?”

“She left me because she knew that she’d never be my first priority. She deserves to come first for someone and my first priority will always be you and your mom.”

“So it is because of us?”

“No,” Bette shook her head. “It’s because I wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s my decision Angelica and I never regret that. I’d never change that, not for anything or anyone.”

Bette wiped Angelica’s tears away from her cheeks. Tina began to feel overwhelmed by the sight before her, the two people she loved most in the world working together to understand Bette’s position. She was amazed at how well Bette was handling the conversation, and how open she was to showing her own emotions as her eyes welled up with tears.

“I did some bad things to her,” Angelica said quietly.

“If you did I am sure she understood. She loved you very much Boo, never doubt that.”

“What bad things Honey?” Tina asked trying to understand Angelica’s mindset.

“I wasn’t always nice to her and I kept trying to do things to break them up.”

Angelica cried a few more tears before Bette balanced herself on the balls of her feet in order to hold her daughter close to her. She smoothed her hair with her hand, working her way to rubbing her back to calm her down.

“Shhhh, she wasn’t mad at any of those things Angie.”

“I caused a fight between you and Mom too, about that night.”

“I know you mentioned to your mom what you saw, and I’m sorry that you had to see that. I wouldn’t want you to witness anything in my behavior that would make you uncomfortable or that was not appropriate for you to see.”

“I snuck out of my room to look for you to tell you how much I hated her.”

“We know,” Tina said as she watched Bette comfort their daughter. “We aren’t arguing about that anymore Angie.”

“But you were.”

“Yes,” Bette agreed. “But in order to move past it we’ve got to set some ground rules about things like that on both ends. It shouldn’t have happened outside of my bedroom and I’m sorry for that.”

A moment of silence fell over the family as Angelica’s breathing returned to normal. She sat back and wiped her own tears, sniffling, and then rubbing her nose in her shirt causing Tina to cringe.

“Do you have any questions regarding what you saw?” Bette asked hesitantly.

“I think I am ok for now, I know what I saw.”

“What do you think you saw?” Tina asked.

“God Mom,” Angelica made a face of disgust. “Don’t make me repeat it, I’ve been embarrassed enough over it!”

Bette turned to look at Tina to gauge her reaction as well as hide her small smile that formed at Angelica’s disgusted face.

“I’m sorry,” Tina said. “I just want to make sure you’re clear on what happened so there aren’t any misconceptions out there. I don’t want you to be afraid to come to us and ask about anything, including sex.”

“Got it,” Angelica said quickly avoiding all eye contact with her mothers. “Can I call Kristen and tell her goodbye? She left without saying goodbye.”

“Sure,” Bette said offering a smile to her daughter. “We’ll do that later.”

“OK.”

“Now that that’s out of the way, why don’t you pick a question you want the answer to and we’ll see how this goes,” Tina suggested.

“I’m not sure where to start.”

“Just pick a spot, we’ll get through as many as we can within reason.”

“I want to know why you didn’t tell me that I had a brother? Is it because you don’t love me as much as you loved him?” Angelica asked through tears.