Tina : Bette, will you make love to me ? Those are words I thought I would never hear again. Here we are on this secluded beach and my wife asking me to make to her. There was a time when I wouldnt have hesitated. In this spilt second I have to make a decision. I have waited so long for Tina to want me again and one of my greatest fears was that I would miss the opportunity to make love to her when she was pregnant. I mean, once she has the baby the opportunity is lost. I dont know what it was about this moment that made Tee ask me to make love to her. It hadnt occurred to me that she missed our intimacy as much as I did. Tee had caught me by surprise. I wanted her but I felt like a deer caught in headlights. I was usually the more assertive one. I mean had we even worked through what had happened when we got home after Provocations ?
Tina : Bette, whats wrong ? I thought you wanted to be with me.
I started to pull away and slowly stood up on the rug, Tina was just looking up at me. Tee, I do. I mean I do want to be with you, like that, together, intimately. Uh, you just caught me by surprise
Tina : Bette, I didnt mean to put you on the spot. I thought, I guess I thought we are moving forward, that we had come along way. Bette, I thought you wanted this too. By now Tina was standing up, her head tilted, her eyes following mine as I looked everywhere but at her.
Tina : Bette Porter, Ive never known her not to be ready for action. Tina tried to lighten the mood but she to could sense something was wrong. Bette, please answer me honestly, do you not want to be with me ?
Bette : Finally I looked at her. Tee, more than ever I want to be with you, in every sense of the word.
Tina : Bette, I have no choice but to trust you, what you say but it would help me if you could tell me whats wrong
Bette : I looked into her eyes. I so wanted this to be right, maybe I just should have done it, made love to her. Tee, last time, uh, we were, uh together. Tina just raised an eyebrow. Provocations Tee, what happened at home. I say it defeated but just saying Provocations meant no further response was needed.
Tina : Bette, baby we both did and said things that we wouldnt normally do.
Bette : you havent told me anything about Helena, I can see it so clearly in my head, her touching you
Tina : This was not the direction I had in mind for tonight. Do you really want to know about that Bette ?
Bette : You wanted to know about Candace. *****, I wanted this to be so right. Tee, we have only slept a couple of nights in the bed together.
Tina : OK, OK Bette, I can see you are not ready for this yet.
Bette : Are you upset Tee, please it is me, not you.
Tina : No baby, I am glad you could be honest with me. Maybe we better head back
Bette : Sure Tee. To be honest I felt a little dejected and I was sure Tee could not be as cool about it as she was saying. I mean your wife has an affair, you find her half way around the world and asks you to make love to her and you knock her back. It was too late, the mood was lost, Tee was folding up the rug. Ever practical as I am I decided to get the most out of the night, I mean why have to talk about it another time when she might want to, you know, when we can get it out the way tonight We walked home in silence but holding hands. I could feel the cool change in the air, I thought I could smell rain but it wasnt here yet. When we got home I made us a diet hot chocolate for fear we would fit in with the wild life, looking like whales if we kept eating how we are. I took my hot chocolate down to the beach and paddled in the water. I hoped Tee would join me. She did.
Bette : Its cooling down.
Tina : I guess you could say that. The reference was not lost on me.
Bette : Tee I want so much to make love to you but I want more for it to be right, for us both to be in the right space
Tina : OK, what do you want to know ?
Bette : Tee, please before Helena. I want to apologise for what happened after Provocations. I was so scared and desperate to hang onto to you. I knew you would leave and I couldnt blame or stop you. I cant explain how I felt, the depth of what I felt, my, our life falling apart. ***** Tee, Im sorry
Tina : paddling beside me Bette, I want to apologise too, I should not have slapped you and I too did things of which I am not proud. Im sorry too Bette. Can we put it behind us
Bette : I reached out and held her hand. I would like that Tee. But now the more touchy subject of Helena, still one from two wasnt bad and we got through the Provocations discussion without any major dramas. Maybe because we both knew what went on there just couldnt happen again. Tina, tell me about Helena.
Tina : Bette, are you sure you want to do this, I dont want this to get destructive
Bette : Please Tee
Tina : what do you want to know ?
Bette : was she good company ?
Tina : Yes
Bette : I guess she spoilt you with gifts
Tina : just nodding
Bette : was she good in bed Tee, did she satisfy you ?
Tina : Christ Bette. Sigh. Yes.
Bette : I cant stand the thought of that woman.
Tina : Bette, hey, hey, look at me. This is about us. She is gone out of my life Bette. It is you I want to be with. You were my first, she cant take that away.
For whatever reason I was lost in my thoughts about what might have happened if I had taken Tee out on the yacht tonight. How do I know when we are a full couple again, is that when we have *****, is that when Tee gives my ring back, what do I do until then ?
Bette : Its getting late, should we turn in ?
Tina : Uh huh, I think so. Bette, Provocations and Helena are over, behind us yeah ? Next time I ask you to make love to me.
Bette : Tee, you wont have to ask twice. I gave Tee a broad smile and a wink.
We decided to leave everything and tidy up in the morning. I followed Tee into the bedroom. We started to get undressed, I put on my pj bottom.
Tina : Bette, pjs. Tina shook her head to indicate I should take them off.

We climbed into bed and I lied on my back looking up at the ceiling like I did the first night we slept together here. Tee, did you want to come over here, so I can hold you ?. Without a word she moved over and put her head on my shoulder. I put my arm around her. We may not have done the wild thing but this was still good. I wont make the same mistake next time she asks, do I wait until she asks ? We fell asleep like that until about 4am when I woke up. I think the gentle raindrops on the tin roof woke me. We hadnt put the candles out, one was right next to me, well above me in its glass holder and the other by the big window, the light reflecting off the glass. I could see the drizzle ever so slightly run down the big glass windows. I said out loud I love it here. Tee was still in my arms so I didnt get up, I just looked out the window. There were a few clouds but I could see the stars still. For whatever reason, maybe because they shone, stars had come to represent hope, they had become dear companions to me when I was here alone. I looked at Tee, so precious. I ran my hand so gently over her belly and up her arm. I whispered I love you. She answered I love you to Bette. I love it here too. Tee was awake, she looked up me without moving. This time I knew the time was right. Tee, do you still want me to make love to you ?