“So really, for that reason alone, I’m really glad that I was around when you seemed to need help. Since this whole thing started with you, T, and I’m glad to have found you again.” Bette’s throat was lumpy now, not out of pain or anger in remembering how it ended with Jodie, but out of happiness, in finding Tina again.

Tina’s eyes were welling up in tears, also.  This was a perfect start to what Tina hoped would be a deep and abiding friendship.  She felt a connection with Bette that she had never felt with anyone else before. Something beyond the intense, unexplained physical attraction between them. Perhaps something that could help Tina overcome her fears of forging a deep emotional bond with someone else. It was the type of relationship Tina realized that she had never experienced with anyone else ever, not even her mother or siblings.

And she was pleased with the affectionate nickname Bette had just given her, the sound of it rolling off easily from her tongue.

They were so comfortable with each other, lounging in the sofa, that the thought of leaving Bette’s side to return to her own place depressed Tina.

After a few minutes, Tina asked, hesitatingly, ”Listen, Bette, I hope you don’t mind that I hang out with you for just a bit more today ….”

”T, please. C’mon, after everything we’ve just shared?   Pfffffft… stay as long as you’d like. Mi casa su casa, as they say. Or home is where the heart is. Or —-” 

They collapsed into laughter at Bette’s awkward attempt to call up all the various well-worn phrases that people said when trying to say the same thing.  Tina began to tickle Bette’s side, taking advantage of her position, with Bette facing forward, unable to bend her elbows to tickle her in return.

“Oh, so you’re a ticklish one, huh?”  Tina exclaimed. Bette was laughing soo hard, she barely eeked out,  “Not fair… Not fair! I can’t reach you from here!”

Pretty soon, Bette could barely breathe any longer and rolled onto the floor.  Between gulps of air, she finally sat back on her heels, and looked at Tina, who was still wearing a triumphant grin.

Bette smiled back, and then asked “I have an idea… If you’re up to it, would you like to join us for ”family night” later?”