”Hey.”

”Come on sleeping beauty, let’s get you to bed.”

We got to the bedroom and jumped into the shower. I was exhausted from my day of school and she was exhausted from her long day at work. I started getting my bag ready for the next day, it would be a work day for me, I didn’t have a class on Friday so I would help Dana with whatever she needed.

”So baby, are you going to tell me what’s wrong,” Tina asked as she rubbed lotion on her legs.

”Yes.”

”And…” she said when I hesitated.

”You have to promise you won’t be mad at me.”

”Bette, you’re worrying me.”

”Please,” I said kneeling on the floor in front of her.

”Look at this ring,” she said holding her left hand up, ”it’s a permanent promise, now please tell me what happened.”

”Ok,” I sighed, ”well Nadia and I were studying right. And it was late and she was going to take the bus home. So I offered her a ride. Everything was fine until we got to her place. Just as I thought she was getting out, she pulled me to her and kissed me.”

”She WHAT?!”

”Baby please, I’m sorry,” I said burying my head in her lap, ”it didn’t mean anything. She ambushed me!”

”Baby I’m gonna fucking kick her ASS!”

”Tee please, let’s forget about it. I just needed to be honest with you.”

”I know baby,” she said calming, ”but I’m still gonna rip her a new asshole when I see her.”

I spooned her as we got into bed. I felt a great weight lifted off me. I nuzzled her neck and I breathed in her scent. This is where I am meant to be. There’s no one else for me. She laughed at me and turned to face me.

”I know we’d said we’d wait, but after we’re married, can we try to have a baby?”

”Of course love, I am ready when you are.”

”Really?”

”Really really.”

”I, um, want to use an African-American donor.”

”Really,” I asked shocked, and she shook her head.

”I want our baby to reflect your heritage, I want him or her to look like both of us.”

Tears formed in my eyes. It was amazing that she’d carry our child, but it was even more amazing that she wanted to use an African-American donor. That means more to me than anything else in this world. I kissed her gently on the lips, and then I kissed her neck. She moaned, that was most definitely the moan I knew and loved. We made love that night, and both fell asleep completely happy and very satisfied.