Bette spent the night waking up on and off. She finally gave up trying to sleep at all. She spent her whole day alternating at being worried about Tina and being angry at Tina for leaving the way she did and more importantly not calling her.

Tina was woken up by the sound of someones car honking. She was a little disoriented at first, but then she remembered where she was and what had happened last night. She started the car and headed for a gas station to find a restroom and something to eat and drink. She hadnt eaten last night and she knew she needed something on her stomach before she got back on the road. She quickly ate and headed for the freeway. She decides that she needs to go somewhere peaceful to think things through and make some decisions about her life. She heads towards the ocean. She finds an area where there are some cliffs that overlook the water so she finds a place to park and gets out and finds a place to sit. She closes her eyes and listens to the ocean. She wills the sound to calm her down and give her strength to figure out what she needs to do. She just cant get the picture of Bette with Candace out of her mind and tears start to fall and then she begins to sob. She was so upset that she hadnt even noticed that there was a man sitting on the cliffs not too far away from her. The man approached her upon hearing her sobs.

Unknown man: Excuse me maam. Are you alright?

Tina (startled upon hearing his voice): Oh. I didnt know any one was here.

Unknown man: Im sorry I didnt mean to startle you. I couldnt help but hear you crying. Are you alright?

Tina (controlling her crying): Yes. No. I dont know.

Unknown man: Its hard sometimes isnt it? I mean to know whether we are alright or not.

Tina (surprised by the mans words): Yeah it is.

Unknown man: I guess I should introduce myself. I dont want you to think Im some kind of lunatic or something. (He holds out his hand as if to shake her hand) Im Steve Lawdeson.

Tina (shakes his hand): Tina Kennard.

Steve: Glad to meet you Ms. Kennard.

Tina (unsure what to make of this guy): Call me Tina.

Steve: So Tina you want to talk about why you were crying?

Tina (not wanting to open up with a complete stranger): I dont even know who you are.

Steve: Thats true but sometimes it helps. Believe me I know.

Tina (skeptical): How would you know?

Steve (his voice tinged with sadness): A year ago I lost my wife to cancer. I was so devastated. I was grieving for her but I couldnt talk about my grief with her family or mine. They loved her so much and I felt as if I had to be strong for them. One day I just couldnt deal with it and I found myself sitting on a park bench talking with an older woman I had never met before. It was as if the dam had broken and I let my self grieve openly for her. I think in a way my life restarted that day. It hasnt been easy but I am taking it a day at a time.

Tina (feeling his pain): I am so sorry for your loss.

Steve: Thank you. So you want to talk about it?

Tina (hesitates): I wouldnt even know where to start?

Steve: Anywhere you want.

Tina: I dont know about this. It is just so personal.

Steve: What have you got to lose? You will never see me again after today. Dont you think it will help to get if off your chest?

Tina: A little over seven years ago I met and fell in love with a beautiful woman named Bette. (She looked over at Steve to see if he was shocked but he was just intently listening to her) I had never been with a woman before so it opened up a whole new world for me. It was hard at first telling my family and friends, but I knew from almost the moment I saw her that she was going to be the love of my life. We had been in a committed monogamous relationship until about 2 months ago when I found out that she was cheating on me. I left her when I found out. I wouldnt even talk to her for weeks. I was miserable because of the pain she had caused but mostly I was miserable without her. She had asked me to go to therapy with her to see if we could work out our problems. We went to therapy together and a little over a month ago I moved back home. Bette had been working very hard to try and regain my trust and she was so considerate of my feelings. Things were really going well for us until last night.

Steve: What happened last night?

Tina (tears start to roll down her face): I found her with the same woman that she cheated on me with before. Bette told me she would never do that to me again. I just dont understand how she could say she loves me and be with her again.

Steve: That must be tough to find the person you love in bed with someone else.

Tina: I didnt find them in bed together. Bette was supposed to be meeting her sister at a club. Bette had asked me to come with them but I had an appointment for work that I had to attend. My client showed up early and we finished our work so I thought I would surprise her by showing up there. I was the one that got the surprise. I walk in the door and see her standing there talking to the woman she cheated on me with. I just stood there watching them. When the other woman reached out and touched Bette I just turned and walked out. I couldnt watch them touching each other again. I went home and threw some things in a suitcase and left. I got through it once but I told her if she ever cheated on me again I would walk away and never look back.

Steve: Tina I wont pretend to be an expert on love or relationships and I dont mean to sound insensitive or anything but do you think that maybe you might have misjudged what you saw?

Tina: I dont think so. (Running the image in her head) They were there together talking and Candace reached out to touch Bettes handOh my God. Candace touched Bette and I turned and walked out so I dont know what Bette did. I just freaked out and left. The first time I saw them together it was Bette reaching out to touch Candaces hand. (Talking more to her self than Steve) Could I be wrong? But what if I was right? How do I deal with that?

Steve: I cant answer those questions. But I think that you owe it to yourself and to Bette to talk about what happened. Take it from someone who has no chance of ever being with the love of their life again that love like that doesnt come along very often and you have to give it every chance of surviving.

Tina (touched by Steves words): I cant imagine the pain you have endured.

Steve: At times it has been unbearable but life goes on.

Tina: Maybe someday you will meet a woman and fall in love again.

Steve: I just dont think that is in the cards for me. I have been married twice and really only in love once. I married when I was very young and thought I was in love. But I wasnt in love with her and she wasnt in love with me. We divorced after about 6 months because we knew it was a mistake. I went on with my life and wasnt looking for a relationship but somehow I wound up madly in love with a woman I met on the subway. We had 8 great years together and no one will ever take her place. My only regret is that we never had a child together. We had talked about kids but we kept saying we wanted to be a little better off financially. I found the love of my life and lost her and I dont expect to find another.

Tina: How do I thank you for listening to me and making me see that I need to go home and talk to Bette?

Steve: Hey remember I was in your shoes once and a stranger helped me so I am just passing it down the line. Now dont you think you better head out of here and find your way home?

Tina (got up and hugged Steve): Thank you. I hope that you find some peace. Bye.

Tina walked to her car in a daze. She knew she had to get home and talk to Bette. If she had misjudged the situation and left for nothing Bette was going to be hurt and angry with her. How could she explain to Bette why shed left? She decided that she would just have to wait and see what happens. She drove home as fast as the speed limits would allow. It took her over three hours before she pulled up in the driveway. She sat in her car working up the courage to walk in the house and talk to Bette. She didnt know if she was prepared to hear what Bette had to say either way it went. She got out of her car and was getting ready to open the front door when Bette pulled the door open and pulled her into her arms. Tina knew in that instant that she had misjudged the situation with Bette and Candace and she was going to have to find some way to explain it to Bette.

Bette: God T. Where did you go? Why did you leave and why the ***** didnt you call me instead of Alice? I have been so worried about you.

Tina didnt answer Bette. Her response was to pull Bette closer to her and to start crying.

Bette: Baby will you please talk to me. You are scaring me.

Tina (still crying): If I tell you why I left I am afraid that you might walk out that door and give up on us.

Bette (she is scared but reassuring Tina): There is only one thing that you could say that would make me walk out that door and that is that you dont love me anymore.

Tina: I love you Bette. I love you so much that sometimes it overwhelms me.

Bette (breathed in a soft sigh of relief): I love you too baby. Will you please tell me what happened?

Tina: Last night I was supposed to meet with my client at 7:00 p.m. but he called and asked if he could meet with me an hour earlier. Everything went great and we actually wrapped things up rather quickly and he was gone by a little after 6:30 p.m. I decided that I wanted to surprise you by showing up at the club. I got there a little after 7:00 p.m. and(Bette interrupts her)

Bette (realizing what Tina saw): you saw me with Candace. Tina you have to believe that nothing was going on with her.

Tina stops Bette from saying anything further by softly kissing her. Bette was shocked to say the least.

Tina: I know that now. When I walked in to that club and saw you with Candace I froze. I just stood there watching you and when Candace reached out and touched your hand I just turned and walked out of there. I freaked out. It was as if I was reliving the night of the Provocations opening. I came to the house and I knew I had to leave. I couldnt stay here. I had to get away from LA and you. I got in my car and just drove. I didnt know where I was going only that it was away from you. I drove for two hours before I stopped to fill up the car and I called Alice. I couldnt call you because of what I saw. I spent the night in my car at a rest stop.

Bette (sad and hurt): After all the work we have put into our relationship you still believed that I would cheat on you. So if you believed that why did you come back?

Tina: I made a friend this morning that helped me see that I might have jumped to a wrong conclusion about what I saw last night. He made me see that I had to come home and talk to you about it. I knew I was wrong the minute I walked in the door and you pulled me into your arms. Can you forgive me for doubting you?

Bette: I have to admit that I am truly hurt that you doubted me. As far as forgiveness, how can I not forgive you when you are here trying everyday to forgive me for being with Candace in the first place? I believe in our love and no matter how long it takes I am going to convince you that I only want to be with you.

Bette pulled Tina into her arms and just held her there for a few minutes and neither one of them said anything. Finally Bette pulled away from Tina.

Bette: I want to tell you what happened with Candace last night. I want no doubts between us.

Tina: I dont need to hear what happened. If we are going to be together I have to start completely trusting in you and your love for me again.

Bette: Do you really mean that?

Tina: Yes I do. It is strange, but in a way I am glad that things happened the way they did. Dealing with this has forced me into facing my demons and made me realize that I have to trust in us again.

Bette gently took Tinas face in her hands and softly kissed her lips.

Bette: Tina?

Tina: What baby?

Bette (sternly): Dont you ever go off and leave me like that again. You could have gotten into an accident or gotten hurt.

Tina: I was fine but I promise I wont do it again.

Bette: So you want to tell me about this new male friend you made this morning? I owe him a thank you for sending you home to me.

Tina: Baby I do want to tell you all about him but do you think that it could wait until the morning? Im tired and I really just want to take a shower and crawl in to bed with you if that is okay.

Bette: Sure baby that is fine. Come on lets get you in to a hot shower and get you ready for bed.

Tina went in and took a long shower. She got out and dried off and reached out for her pajamas but opted to not put them on. When she walked into the bedroom Bette was already in bed waiting for her.

Bette (noting Tinas lack of clothes): Baby I thought you were tired.

Tina (leaning in to kiss Bette): Not too tired to make love. I just want to spend the night in the arms of the woman I love.

They shared soft touches, soft kisses and when their passion ignited and they climaxed together they told each other they loved each other over and over again. Afterwards Bette pulled Tina into her arms and held her close.

Tina: Bette?

Bette (yawning): What Baby?

Tina: Would it be alright with you if we didnt wait another two months to decide about a recommitment ceremony?

Bette: You know I was ready to decide a month ago.

Tina: I wasnt sure I wanted one but Ive changed my mind. I want to celebrate our love and our recommitment to each other

Bette: Any time or any place you just tell me what you want.

They both fell asleep happier than they had been in a long time. They both knew in their hearts that they were each others soul mates and they are where they belong