“Ok, then, tell me what you are thinking about. You look like you are a million miles away baby.” Tina played with Bette’s hands. They sat facing one another in the middle of the bed now, each with their legs crossed.

“I’m…nervous.”

“Why?”

Bette let go of Tina’s hands and reached over to the night table. She opened the drawer and took out a small blue velvet sack.

“I can’t believe that it’s been almost seven months since I came home. I thought that I would find a new beginning and I did. I wasn’t going to come you know, I was going to stay in New York because I thought I was running away from my past by coming home. It’s crazy but in a way I was running back to my past; back to you. It was the best decision I ever made and now I find myself unable to sleep when you go home. I don’t enjoy my food as much as I do when you and I cook it together. I like making you popcorn when we watch a movie and I like seeing you make breakfast wearing nothing but my old college t shirt. Tina, I don’t want to miss out on those things three or four nights a week. I want to come home to you to do all those things every day."

Bette handed her the little sack and Tina opened it to reveal a set of house keys on a Tiffany key ring.

“Those keys are for this house. I want it to be our house. I also love your apartment and if you’d rather live there than we can do that too. The point is I don’t care where I wake up as long as you’re next to me.”

“This is why you were nervous?”

“Yeah. I’m nervous you’ll say no.”

Tina fell over laughing as she held the key to her chest.

“What’s so funny?”

“What’s funny is that you’d think that I’d say no. Come here baby.” Tina kissed her as she clutched the keys in her hands.

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes, that’s a yes.”

“Your place, or mine?”

“Can I do what I want with the garden?”

“It’s yours.”

“Ok, then here but only if we split everything in half you’ve.”

“Ok, baby.” Bette kissed her forehead and then her lips. Tina leaned forward and grabbed her abdomen.

“Ugh. I have the worst cramps.”

Bette furrowed her brow and walked into the bathroom to retrieve some pills and water for Tina. She handed them to her and asked her if she needed anything else.

“Just you. Come hold me close to you.”

Bette did as she was asked, gently stroking Tina’s belly.

“Not exactly the way you wanted to celebrate out moving in together was it?” Tina bit her lip, feeling a little emotional.

Bette kissed Tina’s head. “Baby, this is exactly what I was talking about. I want it all, T. The good the bad and the ugly.”

“Well, you’re in luck I’m feeling like all three right now.”

Bette turned her body to look at her. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know. I know what you meant. You love me…even crabby and bloated.”

“That’s right baby.”

——-

Across town Jody toasted her finished product. She raised her champagne glass and smiled thinking to herself.

There it is Bette, my ode to you. Isn’t it going to be the hit of your opening night?