“Right, I was uhh– gonna tell you that umm, I” Tina was still eyeing Bette as she spoke towards Alice, “I don’t need a ride home because Dr. Porter is going to the film festival with me.”

Alice knew she was lying, she’d already had plans to go with Tina to the Italian restaurant they liked after her appointment, but now she really wanted to spend the evening with her wife enjoying this small victory. Alice nodded her head and told Tina that she’d call her later and check up on her. As she was getting up Alice gave Bette the side stare of suspicion that switched back and forth between Bette and Tina, but what could she do? Tina was a grown woman free to hang out with whomever she wanted. She ended up leaving the Doctor alone once again with her patient.

Tina sat back and smiled as she looked at Bette who hadn’t taken her head out of her chart since Alice had closed the door behind her. Surely she could feel Tina’s eyes on her and it felt strange jeopardizing her reputation just for a patient’s comfort, this was not something she’d done before. Tina’s judgmental throat clearing brought Bette’s attention up on her smiling hazel eyes.

“What movie did I promise we’d see?”

“The same ones at the festival.” Bette gave a smart-aleck remark to go along with a smirk. The soft smiles were interrupted by Bette’s grumbling stomach. To this she dropped her head and laughed at  herself.

“Seems like we’re skipping the movie and hitting dinner straight ahead.” Tina said rising and grabbing her coat. “I’ll be in the waiting room, Dr. Porter.”

……………………………….

 “I gotta thank you again for coming to my rescue Dr. Por– uhh, Bette.” Tina smiled catching herself again as she placed her credit card in the bill holder and sliding it to the side before she sat back letting the meal take its now stronger effect on her. Lately food has made her sleepy, whereas she use to be able to eat a meal and go about her day.

“Well I must thank you for introducing me to this place, the food is…” she stopped trying to find the right word for it. “Not quite what I expected.” She smilingly continued.  When Bette had first received her food she’d eyeballed her plate skeptically and began to question what thought had possessed her to let Tina pick where they would eat. She rarely if ever strayed from her usual lists of foods. Surely by the looks of the place they would never have anything she’d even consider putting into her body. But with a little persuasion and a small bite taken onto her fork she’d been won over. Before she could recognize what’d happened, her entire plate was gone.