After a few seconds, I finally decided to say how I felt: ”I’m your family, you know?”

Bette didn’t seem to expect this revelation from me. She swallowed quickly and nodded ,” I know”

I smiled a little ”I love you”

”I love you” I saw a hint of tears in Bette’s eyes, but she tried to control herself in front of me.

”Come here,” I reached out to Bette and hugged her the way I’d hugged her a hundred times before. She rested her chin on my shoulder and snuggled up to me. I felt her inhale the scent of my hair. It was a little longer than a friendly hug, and I started to pull away, but I felt Bette not letting go.

”Please don’t go. Please”. It gave me the creeps. I didn’t expect Bette to show such a pleasant weakness. We stood like this for about 3 minutes, but it felt like we were standing forever. Everything seemed to disappear when my ex-wife was so close. We patted each other on the back, feeling so good right now. Bette smelled so good, and she was so soft and warm. I loved hugging her when we were together. For us, this was a special form of expression of feelings. It was always very intimate and just for the two of us.

”I miss you, T” I got goosebumps again from her voice. It was quiet and slightly higher than usual. I haven’t heard this address for more than a year, Because It was such a native address for us.

”I miss you so much. I think about you so often”

I didn’t say anything, still hugging Bette and not understanding what was happening or where it was leading, but my body seemed to understand.