“Hmmmmm, isn’t that Alice’s favorite practical joke?” Helena’s arm was around Bette’s waist. The other woman looked slowly down at her, remembering the events of the early morning, and worrying about their ramifications.

“Yeah. Remind me to never let Alice run free in my home again.”

Helena sat up to look Bette in the eyes. She cupped Bette’s face with her hand and kissed her on the lips. “Hello, by the way.”

“Hello.” Came the quiet reply.

“Are you all right?” Helena’s nose nuzzled Bette underneath her ear, and both women fell back to the bed. They looked at one another for a long moment, before Bette cleared her throat and attempted to untangle herself and rise.

“I’m fine. Umm, Helena, I have to get to work. You should stay as long as you like, wait around for Peggy to arrive I guess?”

Helena’s eyes were hurt, but she understood that this situation was delicate. She needed to just relax about the whole thing.

“Yes, of course. What time do you suppose you’ll be done with work? Would you prefer that my mother and I not be here when you return?”

Bette was sitting up now, her back to Helena. She turned back to her and honestly assessed the situation. What did her instincts tell her?

“Actually, yes, I mean, no. I mean that would be lovely if you were here when I was finished work. I mean, it would be lovely if you were here…Would you like to have dinner here then? I could pick something up?”

“No, let me cook for you and for my mother. I’ll have dinner ready for 6pm? Is that right?”

Bette’s face had such a goofy grin on it that Helena laughed at her, running her thumb over Bette’s mouth.

“Yeah! I mean 6pm, that’s right. I’ll be back for that time. And you’ll be here. Ok, that’s good.” Bette stammered, nervous and excited at the same time.

As she stood under the shower, with Helena dozing in the bedroom still, Bette wondered what the hell this was all about. Why was she behaving like a lovesick, nervous teenager? What had happened to all of her control, to her ability to maintain a certain distance from her lovers?

This was going to be a long and strange day.

tbc