“What is it do you want Tina? What do you truly deeply want?”

“Well I want to be happy…and being with you makes me happy, but the rational, maybe cynical, side of me knows there has to be more reason than that”

Bette flinched….”Like what?”

“Like living in the same place, I think that’s the only way to really know if we are meant to be together….I think…we are. And well I don’t know I feel stupid saying this…but should we start…you know…acting like lesbians?”

Bette laughed and saw Tina flinch this time. “That’s ridiculous, all we have to do is be ourselves not what society or gay society thinks we should be, as for living together Im game for it”

“Me too, and what about Paxton?”

“What about him”

“Is your divorce final?”

“Bette felt her stomach lurch. “We have four more months to wait, then it is official, we are practically divorced now…”

“And the details? Like financially?”

“Um, I get a little less than half and no money from the sale of the house; because I cheated…adultery was the basis for the divorce”

“Why didn’t you take care that it wasn’t that”

“He filed the papers not me, and besides that’s the truth”

“Funny truth”

“Please don’t get snarky with me T”

“Sorry”

Bette breathed deeply; it was hard not to get defensive.

“Ok…umm, what about family?”

Tina’s eyebrows went up…”They are NOT going to be happy, I think we should be on the down low for a bit”

“Not forever though, like I said it’s our lives not theirs”

“I try to respect mine”

“Hello i respect mine too that’s why i want to be honest with them”

“Ok Bette, i understand…do we have a place for ourselves?”

“What about your house? You rent the top floor, i could pay half the rent and half utilities and the such…it would help to cut you some slack”

“Seems reasonable, are you going to sell your place”

“I want to rent it out…the university is close by and a couple students can pay rent, split it”

“Bette what am i to you?”

“Baby…”

Tina folded her hands, a stern look on her face. “Im serious Bette, and I say this with the best intentions…you were attracted to me sexually…at first right? And then after two weeks when Pax came back you went back to him but of course how could we deny each other? You guys separated…we decided to start over, to get to know each other…we seem to be getting along, i know more about you than ever..We are gonna move in together and make it work…but i want to know from you, we’re serious right? This is not just sexual attraction…but you know?”

Bette reached over and took Tina’s hand. What Tina said hurt, but it was true. They started off as wrong as could be and now wanted to start truthfully, and better. “Tina, sweetie, you mean more to me than anybody I’ve ever met. And i know that sentiment is not enough. We have the place to live together, the financial means to get by…but you’re looking for the stable kind of love too right? Where Tina it’s here (Bette took Tina’s hand and kissed it) we’ll it is here, concrete as ever…stable as can be and i make a vow to you that i will love you, cherish you, protect you, honor you, and expect the same from you. Tina…im yours”

Bette saw a tear drop down Tina’s cheek, she put her hand over Bettes’…”And I’m yours”

Bette felt a huge smile creep on her face…”wow, I think we just married or something”

TBC