“Your friend is hottie and interesting. I liked her.”

            “Al, common. Don’t be so needy. Tina’s friend is straight.”

            “And engaged.” Added Tina between laughs.

            “What’s your point, Bette. Did you forget who you are stalking lately?”

            After Alice has blurted out the last comment, both Bette and Alice stopped and looked down embarrassed. It was Tina that broke the silence.

            “At least I’m not engaged neither I will be. We broke up. I liked someone else, but I’m not ready yet.” Tina then walked the small distance to Abby’s car and left, leaving two stunned friends behind her.

——————————————————————————-

            During the next week, Tina kept in touch with Bette trough e-mails. Indeed they were cordials but not intimate, much less personal and often than the e-mails she was exchanging with Alice. I hope I haven’t thrown away my happiness. Each day she was discovering the wonderful human being Bette Porter was, but she was still scared with the gender matter. I can’t play with her feelings while I try to figure my own feelings out.

            Later that day, however, she received at work an unexpected gift. It was the painting ‘Jacob and Rachel’ she had seen a picture with Bette and liked so much almost two weeks before. The card sent with the painting said

            “I can’t stop thinking about the story of Jacob and Rachel and my own story with you. I fell in love at first sight and find myself wanting to be a better person just to deserve your love. For you I would wait and work 7, 14, 21 years all the time you need. I would wait all my life if my life wasn’t too short for such big love. I love you. Bette.”

            Tina was really touched with the gift, but she knew it was an expensive painting and one of the most important pieces of the next artist to be shown at the Bette Porter’s Gallery. So she decided to call Bette.

            “Hi, Bette.”

            “Hi!”

            “Thank you for the gift but I would like to return it to you.”

            “Oh I’m sorry if I offended you.”

            “No, not at all. It’s just I know it’s a valuable painting and how this next exhibition is important to the Gallery, just the thoughtfulness of the card is a gift beyond any words. Thank you.”

            “There are things more important than the Gallery. I would like you to keep the painting. Please. If that makes you more comfortable you could borrow me the painting for the opening. But I suggest you to come together just to keep an eye on the painting.”

            “I would love to be in the opening.”

            “I would love too.”

            “Bette, can we meet some day this week?”

            “Sure. The invitation includes Alice?”

            “Nah We don’t need moral support anymore. Just the two of us as a date.”