Chapter 11

Bette and Tina took advantage of the nice afternoon day to begin their talk with a warm breeze blowing in their face.  It could have been any time from their past together.  Lunches out on the patio had been a life staple for them.  Tina’s suggestion to keep it simple was for the most part in both ladies’ minds.  While honorable as a theme for stirring clear of major hurtles it was almost impossible to stick to once the conversation turned to other pressing matters.  They both did their best to keep it simple.

Of course, it was all too easy to stay on course when the conversation surrounded their baby.  With the big decision of who would be the parents out of the way Tina remembered back to conversations the two had shared with their prior pregnancy.  She channeled her thoughts to those conversations, easy conversations about breast feeding, what she wanted in the way of child delivery and how often she needed to pee.  Bette participated in this conversation giving similar if not the same opinions she had the first time around.  They talked of Tina’s health, her urges and how she had terrible heartburn these days. 

Tina joked about her heartburn, “You’d think it was enough to keep me from eating but oh not true.  Guess what my favorite craving is this time?”

Bette had to smile, Tina’s question brought back memories of all her late night jaunts to the 7-11 for Tina’s must have cherry slurpies.  “It wouldn’t be something fruity and cold would it?”

“Oh if only,” Tina shared, “I seem to be consumed with the need for Yoo Hoo.” Tina explains when Bette tilts her head not understanding.  “You know that bottled chocolate drink concoction that is chock full of rich, chocolaty goodness.”

“So you’re 10 again huh?” Bette counters Tina’s craziness.

“Well I don’t know about that not when my ankles are as big as tire inner tubes and the veins in my ankles seem to have heartbeats of their own.  I mean look at them Bette, can you believe they stick out so much?”

Looking down at Tina’s ankles, seeing the creamy white texture of her skin, the point where her beautiful calf tapered to the ankle brought back a flood of memories.  It’s the kind of thoughts that seemed from another lifetime.  Memories of gentle nibbles on the very spot Tina pointed out as a problem.  Trying not to be side tracked and not wanting to tread on hollow ground Bette just responds meekly, “No I don’t see anything wrong with your ankles.”