Confections Candy was in its second year of business, Bette was starting off in the black this year. It was hard to believe that ten years ago to the day, she had arrived in this country from Greece to go to college, majoring in business at UCLA.

Melvin Porter was a great, famous Jazz musician, that’s how he met Bette’s mother, Rachel. They met while he was on tour. From that marriage, she had three kids Bette, Kit and Melvin Jr. Bette’s parents moved to California so all of the Porter children could get a better education and to be successful. The bar was set very high for all of the children. Kit took after Melvin, she went in to music. Melvin Jr., the oldest, was a fireman.

Bette dated in college both men and women, men mainly to appease her parents. They weren’t happy with her attraction to women. That’s putting it mildly.

Her parents found out that she liked women back when she was in high school; she had fallen in love with her best friend. When she was a junior in college, she met and fell deeply in love Jodie; she was an up and coming artist. Over spring break that year, she brought her home to meet her parents. Jodie was well aware how Bette’s parents might react to her being with their daughter. Both the girls were quite surprise that dinner went well. No blood was shed and they didn’t throw Bette out of the house. After Bette took Jodie home, her parents called her into their study. 

Melvin spoke first. “Elizabeth, your mother and I don’t approve of you dating women.  You should be past this by now. I was hoping you were going to bring home a young man.”

 "Daddy this is not something I will get past. I love women and when I stand before god on my day of judgment I will say “I am your creation, and I am proud" Bette replied.

 Bette wasn’t surprised by what they had to say, it was the look of disappointment in their eyes that hurt the most.  From that day forth, Bette went into hyper drive with her studies and sports. She wasn’t going to let her being gay define her in her parent’s eyes. At thirty, Bette made her dreams become a reality by using her money she had saved up, savings bonds from her nana, and getting a loan.

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Tina loved North Carolina; it was where she grew up and became a woman. The big moments of her life happened here, meeting and falling in love with Tim, their first date, the wedding, their first home; it was a one family brick home with three bedrooms. They were so happy; Tina was living out her dream after the birth of Lila. She had everything: a family, great marriage, a beautiful house. But that all changed, when a drunk driver hit them and stole everything.  Tina was in a coma for two months when she woke up her family was gone, buried. She couldn’t even take out the rage she had on the driver since he had died at the scene. The house had finally sold; it was time for a change. She was making the biggest one of her life moving to New York, but she needed to say goodbye to the two people who meant everything to her.

It was ironic that the sun was out on one of the saddest days of her life.  She placed a daisy on Lila’s head stone. That was one of Lila’s favorite flowers. 

 "Baby girl, I miss you so much, your daddy too, but I know he is watching out for you.” Tina said to the headstones.

 “Tim, you’re the love of my life. I miss you every day but I have to leave here."

 Tina was crying as she stood up taking one last look as she left her family. Tina’s mother’s, Michelle, heart broke as she watched Tina walk to the car. She had been through so much over the last six month with the coma, recovery, the loss of her entire family, not getting to say goodbye to them, waking up with them gone. It really did a number on Tina; she didn’t talk for two months. Michelle prayed that this move to New York would help Tina heal as much as a person can from something like this.