Chapter 11

Tina pulled in the driveway with her hand resting comfortably on Bette’s thigh. She frowned as parking the car became a task requiring two hands and was forced to remove hers from the current resting place.

“Why the frown?” Bette asked.

“I hate not having physical contact with you,” Tina pouted. “Besides, after this morning I want you even more.”

Bette’s sexy chuckle filled the car causing Tina’s skin to form goose bumps at the familiar sound.

“I can’t get enough of that laugh,” Tina said as she leaned over and began to nuzzle into Bette’s neck.

“Oh no you don’t.”

“Babe, we’re not inside.”

“But still easily seen from the front window and I, for one, do not want to put on a show for everyone.”

“You’re old beyond your years Porter,” Tina said laughing. “Let’s go inside and see what the hell the Three Stooges have been up to all afternoon.”

“Let’s hope you don’t have any other gay cousins,” Bette said smiling.

Tina frowned in her direction and shook her head to indicate that the direction the conversation was going was one she didn’t wish to pursue.

“Thank God Alice didn’t want to compare notes on the Kennard women,” Bette said laughing as Tina threw a receipt in Bette’s direction.

“You better stop littering,” Bette said seriously. “Did that have your credit card number on it?”

“Nope,” Tina answered smiling. “It had yours.”

Bette looked at her in shock and then began to chase the small wadded up piece of paper around the driveway. Once she caught it, she smoothed it out and looked at the word ‘cash’ imprinted on the receipt.

“You are in so much trouble,” Bette warned as she shoved the paper into her pocket and began to quickly make her way up the driveway to punish Tina.

“It was so worth it,” Tina laughed. “Watching you run around after the receipt was priceless.”

Tina grabbed a package from the backseat and began to make her way up the sidewalk to the front door with Bette close behind.

“I hope Mom and Dad will like this album. How lucky were we that they could engrave it on short notice?”

“Well, I’m sure they’ll like all their gifts. They’ll be given with love so they’re bound to cherish each one of them.”

Bette smiled knowing the surprise she had in store for the Kennard family was one they wouldn’t forget in the near future. She put her hand on the small of Tina’s back to usher her onto the front porch, holding an empty lemonade cup in her other hand, and smiled as her eyes drifted over Tina’s body. She watched as Tina walked in front of her with an exaggerated sway of her hips. The way Tina’s clothes fit her body perfectly, coupled with the memory of earlier activities, began to play with Bette’s resolve.

Tina approached the door and smiled as the knob clicked and she was able to enter the house without the effort of digging for her keys. She heard the classical music faintly playing, the faint scent of flowers greeted them at the door, which prompted Tina to put the packages down near her feet and allow the scene before her to be the center of her attention.

“Oh my God,” Tina whispered causing Shane, Dana, and Alice to stop what they were doing and look up to the entrance into the house. “This is…”

Tina’s voice trailed off as words escaped her due to the sheer transformation of her parents’ house. It truly became something out of a fairytale and Tina knew her mother would be touched once she got home to witness the makeover herself.

“Amazing,” Bette finished Tina’s sentence as she smiled at their friends pleased with their dedication to making the event an unforgettable one. “This is better then the picture.”

“Are you sure because we’ve worked really hard to match it, but had to take some creative liberties,” Alice informed them. “The flowers that were ordered didn’t match the picture and we had the tables all moved under the tent instead of splitting people between the house and the tent.”

Alice poured a handful of milk chocolate morsels in her hand smiling at Bette. She then shoved them into her mouth and took a sip of champagne out of a glass that was perched on the mantle.

“Are you eating chocolate chips out of the bag?” Bette asked confused by Alice’s actions.

“Yes and I’m not sharing.”

“Where did you get them?”

“Hunting chocolate are you Porter?” Alice teased. “You know what they say about women and chocolate don’t you?”

“I’m sure you’ll enlighten me.”

“It’s a substitute for sex,” Alice laughed dangling the bag in front of Bette’s eyes.

“I hear that about ice too,” Dana added cause Bette to look at her panicked. “If you chew ice it’s because you’re sexually frustrated.”

“Wherever do you come up with these things?” Bette asked attempting to hide the blush that covered her cheeks.

“Seriously,” Alice began laughing again. “I stole them from the caterer. Well, I didn’t actually steal them as much as I put them on the tab so I could eat the bag without guilt.”

“Why would you be eating an entire bag of chocolate chips anyway?”

“That’s easy,” Alice leaned in to whisper into Bette’s ear. “It’s less dangerous then sleeping with a Kennard.”

Bette smiled and playfully nudged Alice away from her.

“Seriously Bette,” Alice added. “I mean, Earth shattering doesn’t even describe it. I think I found my new religion with as many times as I called out for God.”

“I don’t want to hear this.”

“The church of Kennard if you catch my drift.”

“Unfortunately,” Bette interrupted Alice quickly. “I think we all catch your drift.”

“You’re one lucky woman Porter,” Alice said as she drank the remaining champagne and finished eating the last bit of chocolate from the bag.

“And you are just Dopey,” Bette countered.

“Oh my favorite dwarf,” Alice said excited. “I think he’s cute.”

“Are we seriously going there?” Shane asked shaking her head.

“What? Do you think it makes me bisexual again because I find Dopey attractive?”

“You can’t be serious?”

“I not only can be serious, I am serious,” Alice confirmed with a smile.

“You change your sexuality like other people change socks,” Dana said in disgust.

“What concerns me more is that you actually are referring to Dopey as a person and find him cute,” Bette said watching as Tina blocked out the entire conversation and allowed herself time to explore the transformation of her parents’ house.

“I’m sure Dopey is of consenting age,” Alice defended herself with a smile.

“He’s a little guy with extraordinarily long lashes and no body hair,” Shane debated. “That does not spell consenting age to me.”

“This is where I officially check out of this conversation,” Bette muttered as she looked around the corner watching an oblivious Tina.

Tina walked through the kitchen taking in the hurried activities occurring there. The catering company was busy finalizing the hors d’oeuvres and in the corner of the kitchen, next to the picture of Bette and Tina, stood a beautiful cake. A chef was mixing icing nearby to begin decorating the exact replica of the Kennard’s wedding cake from 30 years ago.

“Do you think people would find Grumpy sexy?” Alice’s voice faintly drifted into Tina’s consciousness. “The whole ‘challenge’ to break his ‘tude and get him to smile thing?”

Tina, once again, blocked out the voices around her and concentrated only on her physical surroundings. She stared out at the view of the backyard from the kitchen and blinked back tears of joy. The backyard had been taken over by a pearl white, enclosed tent. The outside of the tent had decorations on it in an effort to present a picture of elegance. A trellis covered the pathway leading into the tent with flowers expertly intertwined in it. It created a pleasant journey from the house to where the majority of the party would be held.

Tina walked slowly out the sliding door, down the pathway, and to the entrance of the tent. The flaps of the tent were tied back offering a wide entrance for people to come and go as they pleased with minimal traffic. There were 10 tables scattered among the tent with a portable bar stationed in the corner. Each table had a centerpiece containing the same flowers that were part of Donna Kennard’s bouquet in her wedding day. Lining the sides of the tent were pictures of Tina’s mother and father, blown up for visibility, from their wedding day.

The few tables up front were decorated with a “reserved” sign, saved for members of the immediate family and their guests. Tina counted the seats at the table and silently did the math with a puzzled look on her face.

“Something wrong Tina?” Jackie asked startling Tina.

“I didn’t know anyone else was in here.”

“I just got here. Amazing isn’t it?”

“Breath taking,” Tina agreed. “Who else is sitting at the family tables?”

“Oh,” Jackie chuckled. “Mom wanted your friends to feel welcomed so she put them there as well.”

“Oh dear God,” Tina said rolling her eyes.

“She’s making an effort.”

“She always did support us didn’t she?”

“Even when we were making mistakes,” Jackie said sadly. “Not that I think you are.”

“You haven’t said much about what you think of my life since I got here.”

“She loves you,” Jackie simply said.

“I love her more.”

“I know,” Jackie smiled and hugged her sister. “It’s nice to see you happy.”

“I thought you’d have an issue with it.”

“I did,” Jackie admitted. “But Bette came here and you can’t help but to like her.”

“You like her in her jeans,” Tina teased.

“Not as much as James!” Jackie defended herself. “Are you going to make a toast tonight?”

“Me?”

“You’re the oldest child.”

“James is the boy,” Tina smiled smugly.

“I think it would mean a lot to Mom and Dad if you did it.”

“I don’t have anything prepared,” Tina whined. “I just wanted to enjoy myself tonight and not worry about anything.”

“Then do it before dinner and get it over with.”

Bette, Alice, Shane, and Dana made their way down to the tent while Alice and Dana still debated the Seven Dwarfs and which one would be the sexiest.

“Will you please stop it?” Bette asked as she spun around to face Alice.

“What is the debate about?” Tina asked confused.

“Well it started with my sexual attraction to Dopey, but we’ve moved beyond that to the sexuality of the Dwarfs in total and who would be the hottest one.”

Tina just closed her eyes and shook her head in disbelief.

“This looks amazing Tina,” Bette said as she spun around slowly to take in the ambiance that the setting provided.

“Almost too amazing,” Tina muttered as the others scattered to look around.

“What’s wrong?” Bette asked seeing a look of distress cross Tina’s face.

“I have to make a speech.”

“And you run an entire department at a movie studio, you can do it.”

“This has turned into a major event,” Tina said slightly concerned.

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Well first I have nothing prepared for the toast,” Tina began. “Secondly, our present was geared toward a small and intimate gathering. Not this 100 person gala Bette.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that Babe,” Bette said in an effort to reassure Tina. “They’ll love every gift they get.”

“Jackie said I should give the toast because I’m the oldest,” Tina continued. “I really think we should all do it when we present them with their presents.”

“Oh I like that idea,” Jackie agreed quickly.

“What did you get them?” Bette asked.

“A weekend at a Bed and Breakfast in Vermont.”

“And James?”

“The cost of getting them there,” Tina said sadly.

“Honey,” Bette said holding Tina close. “Leave everything up to me ok?”

“You have an idea?”

“Well the gift should be something personal to them, that reflects them as a couple,” Bette began. “The toast should be the same.”

“So you do the talking on the toast,” Tina followed Bette’s logic. “We can make another gift up and just send it here like it was planned all along.”

“Not really what I was getting at.”

“But effective nonetheless,” Tina said smiling. “I need to go get ready.”

Bette and Tina walked hand and hand over to the bar area where the rest of the group congregated discussing the events of the night.

“I’ll be a loser going up there to give my toast alone,” James complained.

“Borrow someone as a stand in,” Alice suggested. “Nobody would know the difference.”

“Where am I going to find someone to do that?”

“I’ll do it for you,” Alice offered. “I can bring myself to play your straight girlfriend for the evening.”

“Um Al,” Shane said smiling at her friend. “That would be a great idea except you slept with his cousin.”

“You what?”

“Don’t ask James,” Alice waived his question off with her hand in the air. “Who else will he get? You can’t do it, you scream dyke.”

“I can do it,” Dana offered shyly.

“You?”

“You can do worse then a professional tennis player James!”

“It’s not that,” James said smiling. “Would you really do it for me?”

“Eh,” Dana shrugged. “I’ve pretended to be straight for years with my flaming doubles partner Harrison. This is nothing.”

James grabbed Dana in a bear hug and picked her up off the ground, twirling her around in circles before placing her back on her feet. The group began to journey toward the house to dress for the special occasion occurring in less then an hour.

“We need a back story,” James began as he chased after Dana walking out the tent. “Where we met, how lucky you feel to be with me, how…”

Dana just ran ahead and into the house to change in one of the bedrooms that James didn’t have access to. The group, one by one, followed changing into their dress clothes and applying the finishing touches to each of them to their unique look.

“I don’t know what I got myself into,” Dana muttered to Shane exasperated at the amount of hounding James had done since she agreed to pose as his date.

“You’re doing a good thing.”

“Just tell him to lay off a bit,” Tina said aware of her brother’s antics.

“I don’t want to hurt his feelings.”

“What about feelings?” Bette asked as she stepped out of the bedroom to where the group gathered. She was fastening her earring and once that was done, she stopped walking toward them and allowed her eyes to travel the length of Tina’s body.

“What?” Tina asked in a fog allowing her eyes to travel the body of her lover.

“Oh you two are pathetic,” Alice said looking between the two of them and laughing. “Get a room.”

“Been there,” Bette said smiling.

“Done that,” Tina concluded also with a smile.

“You look amazing T.”

“Not as beautiful as you,” Tina said walking forward to close the distance between them. “You always seem to take my breath away.”

Neither Tina nor Bette seemed to be aware of the others in the room that had stopped what they were doing and watched the interaction between the two lovers. Bette smiled as she approached Tina and lightly brushed her lips against Tina’s. Tina tilted her head trying to deepen the kiss, but Bette pulled back and looked deep into Tina’s eyes.

“I love the way you wear little black dresses,” Bette said. “They don’t seem so plain on you.”

“Believe me, it’s nothing compared to you in that red dress.”

Bette smiled and took Tina’s hand, leaning in close and kissing her neck once, before urging Tina to walk to the tent, which was now lit by small white lights that one would typically find on a Christmas tree.

They walked hand in hand down the pathway smiling at those that stopped to greet Tina. Once they approached the tent, the soft music from the band could finally be heard. Tina smiled as her mother and father mingled with the crowd of people that were invited to share in their special night.

The band stopped playing and the Kennard children, along with their significant others, were asked to approach the stage to present their parents with touching words and gifts of celebration for the milestone event.

“Ladies and gentleman,” the lead singer addressed the crowd. “I’d like you to please take your seats for a few words from the Kennard children before we get dinner underway. I think the first up is the eldest Kennard, which is Tina.”

The crowd cheered as Tina shyly took the microphone and squinted as the spotlight shone down on her making it difficult to see.

“Good evening everyone,” Tina began in a shaky voice. “This is an incredible night for all of us and I’d like to first thank my parents for what is bound to be an amazing night in celebration.”

Jackie nudged Bette to join Tina on the stage and offer words of encouragement to their parents. Bette walked up on stage slowly, signaling Alice and Shane to meet her on the side closest to Tina with her surprise. Bette’s thoughts were quickly pulled back as Tina began to wrap her toast up and present her parents with their sterling silver wedding album to hold the photos that would be taken tonight by their professional photographer.

“I’d like to also introduce my partner Bette Porter who wishes to say a few words to mark this occasion,” Tina handed the microphone to Bette and waited for her to begin.

“Good evening,” Bette began easily feeling comfortable in the crowd. “I’ve had the distinct pleasure of spending the last few days with an amazing group of people that clearly have been influenced greatly by the two people that we’re here to celebrate tonight. When Tina told me that we were attending her parents’ anniversary party, I did some research on my own to determine the important events in history that occurred on the same day as your wedding. I was shocked to find that nothing in history stood out, but now I completely understand why. To me, that signals that the most important event in history on this day 30 years ago, was the joining of these two amazing people.”

The crowd cheered and Tina stepped back allowing Bette more of the spotlight. She stood next to Jackie and chuckled at how easily Bette handled the large crowd, drawing them in to the point where they were hanging on her every word.

“Tina and I have one additional present to give to you both,” Bette addressed Jonathon and Donna Kennard directly. “It wasn’t something that we had planned and in fact, Tina isn’t aware of this present that I’m about to unveil for you.”

Tina looked puzzled and grabbed onto her sister’s arm for support.

“It seems so fitting that I give this to you due to our conversation the night that I arrived. Donna, you asked me if I liked the new pieces of art that you had purchased before Tina and I had arrived. I pointed out a few things about each piece, but at the end of that discussion I emphasized that art is all about personalizing the space in which it’s hung.”

Tina looked over and Shane and Alice dragging a large wrapped rectangle onto the stage near Bette and suddenly felt anxious about Bette’s ongoing speech.

“A few months ago I commissioned an artist friend of mine to create a piece of art for Tina for her Christmas present. That artist is one of the up and coming ones of this decade and her name is Lisa Euscavage.”

“Oh hell no,” Tina said with a thick Southern accent.

“What?” Jackie leaned in whispering in the same tone that Tina used.

“Lisa Euscavage is Bette’s favorite artist. We have this huge portrait that she did hanging in our living room that often puzzles people. It’s of this woman in a shell bikini on the beach.”

“You don’t like it?”

“It frightens the hell out of me,” Tina admitted feeling slightly nauseous. “It isn’t art that Mom and Dad would like, trust me.”

Tina’s grip on Jackie’s arm became uncomfortably tight.

“Some months back I was searching for a photo of my own and came across one that just touched me dearly,” Bette continued. “I must have studied it for a half hour before I made the decision that the small photograph needed to be preserved in something bigger to exemplify the love that each of us dreams of. It’s with great pleasure that I give you this portrait for your space to display a personal side of you for all to enjoy.”

Bette ripped off the plain brown paper to reveal a replica painting of a photograph of Jonathon and Donna Kennard on the day of their wedding. The love that was showing in the simple 3 x 5 photo was clearly captured by Bette’s artist friend on a much larger scale.

Donna got up first, her mouth agape as well as tears in her eyes, and approached the stage. She was speechless as she allowed her hand to cover her open mouth and she felt Jonathon’s hand on her shoulder behind her.

“This is….” Donna stammered as Bette bent down to be eye level with her as she stood at the foot of the stage on the dance floor.

“So special to us,” Jonathon smiled at Bette and grabbed Bette’s hand holding it in his while they talked.

Tina allowed her tears to travel down her cheeks as she made an effort to wipe them away. They were quickly replaced with fresh ones as she moved toward Bette and her parents engaging in a private conversation being broadcast through the microphone that was still in Bette’s hand.

“I can believe you did this,” Tina said from behind Bette as she placed her hand on Bette’s back. “You always amaze me Babe.”

“It’s a thank you for welcoming me into your family,” Bette said specifically to Jonathon and Donna as she blinked back her own tears. “You’ve shown me an acceptance and love that I haven’t even gotten from my own father and words alone can’t express what that means to me.”

“We do love you because it’s obvious to us how happy you make Tina,” Donna said through her tears. “Added to that, you’re an amazing person in your own right.”

Bette placed the microphone down on the stage as Donna embraced her in a hug tighter then the one she received when she first arrived. However, this time, Bette willingly returned it with just as much love and emotion as Donna. Jonathon hugged Tina at the same time, kissing her on her forehead and smiling into her eyes. The easily switched hugging partners as the crowd cheered on.

Bette pulled back and picked the microphone back up handing it to James with Dana standing next to him.

“Shit we have to follow that?” James asked hesitant now of his gift.

“Push that I’m a professional tennis player,” Dana said nervous for their upcoming speech.

Bette and Tina carried the portrait off the stage and quickly up the path to the house for safekeeping. Tina finally got a better look at it, amazed at the thoughtful gift that Bette had planned for her Christmas present. Tina blinked back tears as she stared at the artwork and then looked up at Bette and smiled.

“I can’t believe you did this.”

“Well I had help,” Bette admitted. “That’s why the Three Stooges had to come down here. It wouldn’t have been here on time if it were shipped commercially. So, they hand carried it for me.”

“They did that for us?”

“It’s on my credit card Babe,” Bette laughed. “Don’t get too excited.”

“I never thought I could love you more, and yet at this moment my heart feels like it’s going to burst.”

“I love you too,” Bette held Tina tight in her arms.

“Not just for this amazing gift, but for everything. You came down here weeks before a show and have just been along for the ride on so many things without complaint. I couldn’t ask for more.”

“Actions speak louder then words,” Bette repeated her mantra with a smile on her face.

“Your actions certainly do,” Tina said leaning forward and capturing Bette’s lips with her own. She deepened the kiss quickly, desperate for intimate contact with Bette given the magic of the night. She ran her hands down Bette’s back as her tongue insisted on entrance into Bette’s mouth.

Their tongues dueled for control, each one desperate to provide pleasure to the other. Bette broke the kiss first, turning her head to gather a desperately needed breath and a moment to rein her desire in.

Tina turned and looked toward the back of the house when the crowd erupted in laughter and applause.

“I guess the party continued without us,” Tina chuckled as she held Bette in her arms. “Do we have to go back?”

“Yes, as much as I’d love to have some private time with you.”

They began to walk toward the tent as James and Dana still stood on the stage desperate to live up to the standard of speeches Bette had set with hers.

“I guess,” James stammered bringing a smile to his mother’s face. “What I’m tryin’ to say y’all is simply that….well…um…”

“That your parents are a perfect match for one another,” Dana broke in to attempt to save James from his own speech. “It’s like that movie ‘Lady and the Tramp’ with the dogs. Not that anyone is a tramp, that’s the name of one of the dogs.”

James nodded in agreement.

“It seems so simple to be in love when you look at those dogs,” Dana said looking out to the crowd. “Not that anyone is a dog either.”

“This is awful,” Alice whispered to Shane while struggling to contain her laughter.

“I love the scene where the dogs are eating the spaghetti noodle and they both want it so badly. They meet in the middle and someone has to compromise and give more to the other, but they both want to give the extra pasta to their partner.”

Bette and Tina walked up behind a joyous Alice and Shane.

“What is she saying?” Bette asked in disbelief.

“This is the worst speech I think I’ve ever heard,” Shane said chuckling a little louder.

“If you want to give more to your partner your love is bound to grow right?” Dana asked as James enthusiastically shook his head in agreement.

“This is your fault,” Bette said smacking Alice lightly in the back of the head.

“Me?”

“You had to obsess about the Dwarfs and now look what’s happened to her,” Bette said with a smile on her face as Dana continued to ramble about her philosophy of love.