‘Where you been?’ she asked Bette. Bette gave her a look half smug, half innocent. ‘Good for you, man.’

‘Not yet,’ said Bette, sipping her non-alcoholic wine. ‘But we might skip the after-party.’

They didn’t, though. They couldn’t. The entire Amistad family needed those few hours to just breathe, to exhale from the tension of the past few weeks as one. And they deserved it. The launch was a triumph. Speeches were made, and Bette’s was full of admiration for Karolina. Tina applauded it wholeheartedly, making sure to look at the chef while she did so. And when the revellers began to drift away, she quietly took Bette’s hand and led her upstairs . . .

‘I think I’m done,’ Bette panted as Tina moved up to lie between her legs.

‘Lightweight.’

‘Guilty as charged.’

They kissed, soft, deep, slow, steps in a dance they began thirty years ago. The music never stopped.

‘Come here.’ Bette held Tina’s face gently in front of her. ‘Let me look at you.’

‘With your good eye?’

Tina squinted comically. Bette laughed, tidying her wife’s hair, caressing her smooth skin.

‘I can see you just fine,’ she said, her voice warm and low. Tina’s laughter subsided, feeling the intensity of how Bette looked at her. ‘You’re so lovely. My God, you’re lovely . . .’

‘Bette . . .’

‘My heart!’ Bette’s eyes sparkled with joy. ‘Sometimes I can’t bear it, how lucky I am.’

‘I know,’ said Tina, snuggling into Bette’s arms. ‘Me, too.’

They stayed that way for a long moment, Tina listening to Bette’s heartbeat, Bette breathing-in the scent of Tina’s damp hair. Then Bette’s tummy rumbled. Loud.

‘Oh, wow.’ 

‘Sorry about that.’

‘Actually, I’m starving too.’

‘Okay, I’ll get us something.’

‘Uh uh, no, I’ll get it.’ Tina moved to get off the bed. ‘Don’t want you gettin’ eyes for your zapper.’

Bette laughed, linking her arms behind her head as she watched Tina grab her robe and cinch it tight. 

‘Bring coffee?’ she asked.

‘Of course,’ said Tina.

Outside on the landing, the first thing Tina noticed was how quiet it was. Almost nine a.m. and there was no one in the great room of House 2. She padded downstairs in her bare feet and looked out towards the courtyard. That was deserted, too.