Bette couldn’t believe she had already been here in North
Carolina for 6 weeks. She was surprised at how quickly she now thought of it as
home.

The time spent with Tina and Angie was passing swiftly. Tina
had been patient in waiting for Bette to make some decisions about her life.

Like she had promised Tina had not tried to pressure Bette
in any way. However Bette knew it was time to come to a final conclusion and
put both her and Tina’s mind at ease.

She and Tina were having their first date tonight alone.
Tina’s brother Kenny and his wife Tess had agreed to keep Angie over night.

Bette had plans to take Tina to a nice dinner and share with
her some of the decisions she had made for her life.

Having already approached the university regarding a job and
the realtor she was pleased to discover that she could extend the lease on her
home or the university provided housing as part of her employee package.

Although she would have to take a pay cut the housing more
than made up for the difference between her current salary from UCLA and the
position here.

She and Tina had not discussed her adopting Angie or the use
of a local firm since right before the Kennard family cookout/movie night but
tonight Bette planned to share her thoughts with Tina on this subject too.

As she and Tina spent more time together Bette’s fears
centering on their relationship begin to ease. The closer she got to Tina the
more she reminded her of the Tina she first met in LA except she seemed to be
more comfortable with openly showing her alpha side.

Bette constantly watched Tina for inconsistencies in the
promises she had made to Bette. She listened intently for hesitancy in her
voice. She paid attention to her choice of words when she was talking. And was as
tentative when reading her body language.

Each clue that Bette had picked up on only reinforced her
level of comfort and security that she had begin to develop in her new
relationship with Tina.

Bette arrived at Tina’s door promptly at 6:00 to pick her up
for their date. Tina as usual looked gorgeous and soon they were on their way
to a successful date or at leased Bette hoped so.

As they pulled into the parking lot of the little beach side
cafe Tina looked at Bette surprised that this was where she would bring her on
their first date. In the past Bette had been about elaborately planned meals in
the fanciest of restaurants. This seemed so not like her.