Window of Opportunity

Chapter 55

Bette

Tina and I didn’t talk much about the Julie situation. I believe her point in seducing me in my office was to have a very distinct memory in place if Julie tried anything else. I didn’t need those memories to keep me faithful to Tina, as I would not jeopardize our relationship again by being with someone else. That didn’t stop me from hoping in the future the ability to keep renewing those memories we shared that afternoon in my office but perhaps at times when there was not such the chance of being caught.  

The morning of our flight, we had made arrangements to meet at The Planet. Amy who wasn’t going drove Shane, Tina, Angie and I. When we got there, Kit, Alice and James were already there. Shane and Amy were saying their goodbyes away from the rest of us since Amy didn’t even have time to join us for breakfast. Shane was whipped. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind although Shane still had not made any declarative statements about her feelings. It was obvious in the ways she was changing by becoming a person who did not need the nightly club scene or different woman hanging onto her. Shane had spent a lot of time with Tina and me at the house watching movies or hanging out by the pool so that she didn’t tempt herself with things she knew that she shouldn’t do. It was nice for us because she always was willing to babysit and we were able to go to dinner, movies or just take drives to talk.  Amy was still not letting her guard down too much. They were getting to know one another and Shane was learning about herself and how to be happy without the need for a daily bed companion. Watching them say goodbye, it was evident in Shane’s eyes that she was falling in love. I only hoped that Amy would find the faith to give her a chance.

Alice was acting like the activities director when in fact, she knew little about the activities. Tina had made all the arrangements and pretty much had told everyone what time to show up. The tickets were something that both of us cashed in our frequent flier miles to purchase. We didn’t want our families support to cost them money unnecessarily. Tina’s parents had made arrangements for lodging at the local hotel since their house would not really be comfortable to accommodate all of us long term. Her dad had frightened me initially when he suggested tents…my love and support of Tina only went so far and it surely didn’t entail my sleeping in a tent. His sense of humor was not something I was used to at that point and was not something I would learn to love if he had me willing to abandon Tina but abandon her was a real thought in my mind when tents were suggested. Tina, Angie and I were staying at their house and I wasn’t as nervous as I had thought I would be staying at the house as her partner. I knew they accepted me in Tina’s life and that they liked me but as my in laws, that still put a little concern in my mind. We had made arrangements to stay at the hotel for a night during our stay too so we would have some privacy and the ability to be intimate without the knowledge that her parents were right down the hall. Angie would be staying at the house with them and when they found that out, I don’t think they were too concerned where we stayed. They loved the thought of Angie being with them and being able to spend some quality time with her. It was apparent with no doubts in my mind that they loved that little girl completely and would go to the ends of the earth to spend time with her and love her.