“Baby Girl!!”

“Kit!!” The two women ran into each other’s arms, as if it had been years since they’d seen each other…not just the two weeks that Bette had actually been gone.

“God, it is so good to see you! I’m so glad you’re back. Now…tell me, how’s my girl, Miss Tina?”

Bette laughed with Kit, immediately getting caught up in her sister’s excitement. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, following it up with a huge grin. “She’s incredible. She’s everything she was 15 years ago, only so much more. She’s even more beautiful now…you should have seen her with Milaine…of course we all knew she would be a wonderful mother, and she is.” Bette stopped to take another breath. “God Kit…” She couldn’t contain her happiness…”I don’t know what to say…except, that I am going to do everything in my power to spend the rest of my life with her.”

“Oh Honey…I’m so happy for you…and I can tell by the look on your face that Tina feels the same way.”

Bette thought she would explode from happiness, because of the response she was able to give that statement. “Yes…she does.”

As the two women stood holding each other, Kit whispered in her sister’s ear…”I always said you two were born to be together.”

Bette looked down into her sister’s eyes. “You know, you’re right. We were born to be together. This trip really solidified that for me, but it also helped me to understand that I was also born to be with Nica, and that everything happens for a reason. I was meant to meet and love Nica, just as much as I was Tina. And with Tina and Leslie’s help, I was able to finally acknowledge out loud, just how much I really loved Nica.”

Kit looked at Bette, confused. “What do you mean? Of course you loved Nica.”

Bette let go of Kit arms, but continued to hold onto her hands. “I know that I loved Nica. But, I think…hmmm…I’m not sure how to explain this…I think I always felt that I was holding back some part of me, because of my love for Tina. That because Nica wasn’t quote, the love of my life, that she was getting the short end of the stick, so to speak. But, what I finally came to realize on this trip, was that the love I felt for Nica, was so much more than I ever gave myself credit for. That she did have my heart…and I had hers.” Bette stopped for a moment, her eyes cast downwards. “I know that on some level, I tried to make up for what I thought was a lack on my part, to be able to give all of myself to her. I did that by taking extra care, paying extra attention, always being present, making sure Nica experienced all she could. But what I didn’t realize until this week, is that even though I thought I was doing those things because of a sense of guilt, in reality I was doing those things because I wanted to…because…now here’s the wild part…because, I really was in love with our girl, Miss Veronica Thompson.”

Kit just stood there, shaking her head from side to side, her eyes filled with tears. “Oh Bette…I know you were in love with Nica. I knew that years ago.” She smiled, her memories of Nica brightening her heart. “And, let me tell you, that girl of yours knew it too. She knew that even though the love you two shared, was a different love than what you shared with Tina, but she knew that it was pure, and that it was strong.” Kit squeezed Bette’s hands. “And let me tell you something…when you are loved by Bette Porter, there is no such thing as getting the short end of the stick.”

Bette stood looking into her sister’s eyes, her own eyes brimming with tears, her love for her sibling shining through the wall to wall smile on her face. “Thank you Kit.”

“Your welcome.” Kit reached up and gave Bette a quick peck on the cheek. “Now, if I know my baby sister, which I do, you’ve already decided on a plan. So, what’s it going to be?”

For a moment, Bette’s face fell, her smile disappearing, and giving Kit a look of resignation, she sighed. “Well, it looks like the plan is for me to move to Seattle.”

“Whoa!” Kit was caught off guard, not only by the news of Bette moving, but by Bette’s reaction to sharing the news with her. “You’re leaving New York? But Baby, you love it here.”

Bette’s eyes filled with tears. “I know…I don’t want to move to Seattle, but there is no other option. Both Tina and I agree that we do not want to have a long distance relationship, and Tina can’t leave Seattle. It wouldn’t be fair to her children, or to their father.” Bette shrugged her shoulders, trying to convince both Kit and herself that this really was the only option available to them, if they wanted to be together. And, as far as Bette was concerned, now that they had found each other again, living her life without Tina was not an option for her…period. “Milaine is graduating from university this year, and will be in Italy next year. Tina will still have children at home for another ten years, minimum.”

“But, what about your gallery? I know how much it means to you…what will you do with it?”

Bette didn’t hesitate. “Keep it, of course. I can’t imagine ever selling our gallery. I know…technically it’s my gallery, but we all know that Nica had just as much to do with it’s success as I did. And, Milaine has said that she wants to take over someday. Soooo, I guess in the mean time, I need to find someone who will manage it for me.”

Kit couldn’t help but chuckle at that statement. “Right, find someone to manage this gallery, your pride and joy…and maintain the Porter standards? I can’t wait to meet that person.”

Bette smiled at her sister. “I’m not that bad, Kit. Look at the wonderful job that Theresa does for me in Chicago. If I could find someone like her, I would feel much more comfortable. But, listen…it’s not like I am leaving tomorrow. Tina and I haven’t even discussed timelines yet. It will take months for me to get everything ready for a move across country, so I have time to find the perfect person. Someone who will hold dear, what was a dream come true for Nica and I.” Bette nodded her head to emphasize her point. “Plenty of time.” She slipped her arm through Kit’s. “Now come on, let’s go eat!”