Rule number four: No post sex cuddling or any cuddling for that matter.

Rule number five: All tender exchanges that may result in a yearning, of the emotional kind, are prohibited.

1:03pm

Eleven minutes later Porter belly said hi to Miss belly button. Bette and Tina made love and broke rule five again and a few others by looking into each other’s eyes and saying some really tender things. Afterwards they held each other and as a result broke rule number four, again.

They remained like that for some time. Holding each other, exchanging leisurely kisses and just enjoying each other’s company.

Bette was the one to finally break the silence. “You said you’d sleep a little longer then leave this morning what happened?”

“I got a call from dad reminding me to call mum for mother’s day” Bette had to laugh at that. She liked Tina’s father and wished at times that her own father was as warm and caring. She was envious but glad that Tina got to be part of such a loving and connected unit.

“..” Tina cleared her throat before continuing “I was actually on my way to see you when you walked in. How was your morning? Why did you come back?”

Bette knew what Tina was really asking. She hesitated to answer though. While she no longer crumbled at the thought of her mother, she didn’t enjoy feeling exposed and vulnerable and talking about her mother still made her feel that and so much more.

“I understand..”

But this was Tina. She understood. Bette could tell her anything. Even with their rules in place they’ve shared so much.

“I was an hour into my work when I looked at the calendar and realised what day it was. She always hated that I worked weekends” She felt Tina’s gentle encouraging kiss on her shoulder and was deeply grateful for the comfort her touch offered. “I felt guilty for almost forgetting what day it was. I went by the cemetery and dropped off some flowers.” She closed her eyes and tried to hold off the pain and anger she felt. Navigating through the pain was difficult but she knew she’d eventually get there. It was the anger she wasn’t sure she’d ever get past. She spent so much of her adult life pulling away from the people she loved and it took losing her mother to make her realise that she was living a superficial existence. “I’d give anything for one last hug” she said wistfully.

They settled into a comfortable silence and Bette appreciated that Tina didn’t push her to say more. She simply listened and waited the same way she did when Bette had first told her about losing her mother.

“Thank you for breaking rule number eight for me”

Tina kissed behind her ear and drew a deep breath. When she spoke it was to whisper something that put all of their previous tender exchanges to shame.

2:39pm

After working through rule number nine again, Tina broke their sixteenth rule by asking Bette to join her and her family for mother’s day dinner.