”I would be hard pressed to turn down Bette Porter and I’ve been married to that hunka hunka burnin’ love since I was 21,” Alice replied. ”I’m straight, not blind.”

”Do you think your parents will be okay with it?” Tina asked.

”You don’t have to keep them informed of every date,” Alice sighed. ”Only if something seems serious. Relationshippy. And really, what’s the likelihood of that with LA’s most eligible lesbian? Bette Porter is a great person to get back in the game with.”

”Thanks for the talk, Al” Tina said. ”It makes me feel a lot better about…getting out there.”

”You’re like a sister to me Tina,” Alice said. ”My real sister is gone, but I want the one that’s left to be as happy as she can be.”

____________________________________________________________________________

”Anything new Tina?”

This question from Tina’s legal secretary, before any other greeting; before any comment on the day ahead.

”Not really. Anything new with you?”

”You had some flowers delivered,” she replied. ”They’re in your office.”

Tina managed to offer a quizzical look – implying she didn’t know who they were from.

She entered her office, closed the door and reached for the card attached to the most elaborate arrangement she’d ever seen.

Tina opened the card and read the sentiment.

‘I hope there’s only one person who could be sending you flowers.‘

Tina smiled at the fact that, indeed, only one person could be responsible for the gesture.

”You are the very picture of discreet,” Tina said once she heard Bette’s voice after being vetted by her secretary. ”Not even an initial on the card? You’re good.”

”And you knew exactly who they were from,” Bette replied. ”Good news for me.”

”They’re beautiful,” Tina commented. ”I’m getting an idea of how your reputation came to be.”

”What reputation is that?”

”Your charm makes you impossible to resist,” Tina said. ”Then you quickly get bored and move on, leaving more than a few bitter women in your wake.”

”I’m never anything but honest.”

”How many women have you sent flowers to this month?”

”I’ve been on a few casual dates,” Bette said. ”But you’re the only one I’ve arranged a second date with…in a very long time.”

”I certainly don’t have any expectations of exclusivity,” Tina said.

”Neither do I.”

”We’re getting ahead of ourselves,” Tina said. ”There is nothing going on between us.”

”Yet.”

”You are confident, I’ll give you that,” Tina said.

”Guilty, counsellor,” Bette replied.

”It lends to the appeal,” Tina countered.

”Do they teach you to be that quick on your feet at Oxford?” Bette asked.

”You’d better be quick on your feet the day you arrive,” Tina replied.

”Have you heard of my weakness for clever women?”

”I’ve only ever heard of every woman’s weakness for you,” Tina said.

”And you want just a taste…”

”The confidence does border on arrogant.”

”You wouldn’t be as intrigued if I didn’t have the reputation I have,” Bette suggested. ”You can frame it however you’d like…confidence or arrogance – I’m comfortable either way.”

”I was calling for a reason,” Tina said. ”And that is to thank you for the flowers.”

”I wanted to brighten your day,” Bette replied. ”I saw the arrangement and thought of you.”

”It was very thoughtful.”

”You shouldn’t believe everything you hear,” Bette replied. ”There’s a difference between reputation and reality.”

”The reality has been a pleasant surprise,” Tina said.

Their conversation continued, and they ended up altering their Saturday plans as a result. Tina would arrive at Bette’s an hour early and they’d share a drink before leaving to make their 7:30 reservation.

Some quiet time seemed like a good idea considering how much they always seemed to have to say to each other. And how little time they’d had to say it.

(tbc)