“Hey Sweetie-Pie,” Tina chuckled, turning from the stove after she’d pulled out the vegetarian lasagna. “What’s wrong? What’s with the face?”

As Bette’s wife walked over and embraced her in a loving hug, it all felt a little better. The difficult meeting, the two disruptive students during class started to fade away, but the late night encounter was still squirming through her mind. “Nothing … nothing, just … a rough day.” She wrapped both arms around Tina, and breathed in the smell of home. Everything was just as it should be, and she felt free in the company of the woman she’d loved for eight years. “I love you so much, T.”

“I bet a nice big plate of veggie lasagna will cheer that frown right up,” Tina teased, tapping her finger to her wife’s lips just to hear the pleasant laugh she so enjoyed. “Come on and sit down so I can serve you just like a king.”

Bette watched her wife walk back into the kitchen, and couldn’t help but feel her love grow even stronger in that moment. Tina was perfect.

“You mean queen,” she corrected to herself, joining Tina in the kitchen to eat and talk about things unrelated to work. It was a habit they’d picked up early on in their relationship, because Bette always needed a break in between work and discussing it.

In fact, it wasn’t until they were ready for bed that the strange young woman’s visit began to show in Bette’s expression. It was obvious that something was troubling her, and Tina could see it just as easily as she could read the book in her hands. With a smile, she set her book down and re-directed her attention to her tired wife.

“Baby, what’s wrong? – And I can tell it’s something, so don’t give me that,” she smiled patiently, pulling back the large comforter to invite Bette a little closer. “Talk to me. I wanna know.”

For a moment, Bette thought of denying her feeling again, but then she realized that wasn’t fair to Tina. Her wife wanted information about her worries, and Bette knew it wasn’t fair to withhold. Especially not when it was something so silly, she told herself.

“It’s … it’s nothing. Really.” Bette chuckled dismissively, knowing Tina would ask for further detail. “It’s stupid.” But she climbed into bed and moaned lightly as Tina held her from behind. It was so relaxing that all she wanted was to drift off, but she stayed present for Tina. She knew there would be questions ahead.

Tina repositioned herself, and let her eyes graze the particular angle of her wife’s face. “Hunny, you know that your concerns aren’t stupid to me. I wanna know why you’ve been off tonight.”

“It was just some meeting, and it’s fine.”

“With who?”

“Tina.”

“What? I’m just asking.”

“No, it was with a student named Tina. Or … I don’t know what she is. Not one of my students, anyway.”

Suddenly, Tina was interested. “A meeting with someone you’ve never met or heard from before?”

Bette sighed, focusing on her hand, where she smiled at the symbolism lent to her by her wedding ring. “Yeah … it was some girl who was telling me how much she admired me, etcetera … but … I can’t explain it. It wasn’t like other compliments … I don’t know.”

“Well, if it gave you a strange feeling, then you’re probably right,” Tina smiled, gently kissing Bette’s ear and admiring her beautiful wife as he drew back. “Your gut is never wrong. I think you should be careful around … Tina. That’s a strange coincidence, too.”

“Strange,” Bette repeated, relaxing into Tina’s arms as her eyes fell heavier. Her body was at ease after she’d changed out of her work clothes, and her mind was at ease with the comfort and familiarity of Tina. She would sleep well, she knew.

“Hunny, you just promise to tell me if she’s bothering you again, okay?” Tina said with concern, guiding some of Bette’s hair behind her ear with a brush of her finger. She kissed her ear again when Bette nodded and her muscles gave in to her exhaustion. “I’m right here,” Tina whispered, snuggling in closer to Bette. “Right behind you.”