She turned her head up to look at the brunette.  I’ve missed you, she said silently, with her eyes.  Bette mouthed the words, “I’ve missed you, too,” then smiled slightly.

Sarah cleared her throat, “Anyway, as I was telling Bette, there are several properties that would probably interest you.”

“By the way… are you planning to have kids?”

Bette coughed into her glass, while Tina smiled.

She answered for the two of them, “Yeah, yeah, why not?”

Tina looked up at Bette again, who was gazing at her with surprise.  They had had a passing conversation, one night when they had finally gotten together in Washington, DC, and Bette expressed that she was the type who wanted kids.  Tina had not committed to the idea, though.

Sarah continued, “Well, then I recommend we start with properties in the upper east side.  Best school district around.”

“That’s a bit far into the future don’t you think?” Bette finally spat out, still thunderstruck by Tina’s behavior and her response to Sarah’s question about kids.

“You can’t plan far enough ahead, when it comes to New York real estate, let me assure you.”

Tina cut in, “So you’re helping us find a place?”

“Yeah, Bette told me you were in the market, and since she was nice enough to rescue me from disaster…”

“Rescue you?”

“Yeah, her retrieval of the earring spared me untold harm from my mom.  It’s a family heirloom,” she and Bette were laughing slightly, as they recalled the circumstances under which they’d met.

Tina looked at Sarah quietly, as she took a sip from her wine glass.

“Well I guess I should thank you, if you can rescue us from limbo here,” Tina said, a bit caustic.

“Neither one of us has gotten around to looking for a place, so any help we can get would be great.”

“Oh, it’s my New Year’s resolution to find you one.”

Bette laughed.  Another inside joke, Tina thought.

Switching topics, Sarah said, “I understand the property will be in your name Tina.”

Tina sat up, “My name?!” she asked, turning to look at Bette.

They looked at each other for several minutes, but Sarah didn’t sense any tension there, the way she expected would happen, given Tina’s reaction.

Tina realized it was probably because of the case Bette had been involved with.  She was being cautious.  But they really needed to work out an arrangement concerning property like that, Tina thought, even if it were to be in her name.

Bette and Tina were clearly in the middle of something, Sarah saw, as the silence lengthened.  She took it as her cue to leave.

“Well, anyway, you two, Merry Christmas, and I look forward to helping you find a place in the New Year!” she said cheerily, as she stood up.

Bette and Tina stood up also, and automatically held hands.  They really are a sweet couple, Sarah thought, even if something seems to be amiss.

After Sarah left, Bette headed back to the couch where Tina elected to stay, as Bette led Sarah out.

Tina smiled, “This is really, really good wine Bette.”

“Yeah, I think that girl, or her family, is loaded, with a capital L.”

“Well, she seems to fancy you,” Tina said, a look of jealousy passing through her face.  She couldn’t help it now.

“T”

“I know, I know.  You can’t help being a flirt…”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

“I just want to know what’s going on.”

The question hung in the air between them.

Tina set her glass down, and opened her arms.

“Come here, you,” she said.

Bette set her own glass down, and settled into Tina.  She really missed this about them.

“Maybe we should see a therapist or something,” Tina said, as she stroked Bette’s hair, and started kissing it.

After a few minutes, Bette responded, “Yeah..,” her eyes shut.

She nuzzled Tina’s neck, enjoying the gentle rubbing of her arms by Tina, and the stroking of her hair.

“Maybe we should just fuck,” she said, with a smile.

“Umm… yeah,” Tina responded, returning Bette’s smile, and leaning down to give the brunette the hot, searing kiss they both had been waiting for.