“This the best sunset that we’ve watched together thus far, T,” Bette said quietly.  Tina nodded, thinking that, although she and Bette had enjoyed many quiet moments watching the sun set in various places around the world, including from the rooftop terrace of their home in New York, Bette was right.  This one was special.

Dani had walked back towards the couple, having paused also to watch the sun set.  He was explaining that, on the other side of the main island, the resort maintained “an armada of boats to suit just about any hobby: fishing, sailing, jet-skiing, powerboating.”

Bette turned to ask Tina, seeing how the sunset had affected her, “Baby we could watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean tomorrow while out on the water, on a sailing excursion on a traditional dhoni.  We could sip champagne while doing so… and Dani could arrange for dinner to be prepared for us, right?”  She turned to Dani, who quickly nodded.

Tina was tearing up as she circled Bette’s waist with her arms.  “That would be sooo romantic, Bette,” she said quietly, locking her gaze with the brunette’s.

“Baby, can I kiss you?,” Tina whispered, overwhelmed by all that she’d seen so far, anticipating how much more lay in store for them.  She leaned forward, offering her lips up.  Bette nodded wordlessly, and bent to give her wife the kiss she’d asked for.

When she’d come to this place to heal about a year and a half ago,  she’d sometimes imagined there would come a time when she and Tina would be able to come full-circle, and journey to this place as a couple. It was just a dream she’d imagined, although she had accepted, at the same time, as she wandered around the island by herself, before Shane had arrived, and after Shane had left, that the likelihood of coming back with Tina was low.  She thought, “perhaps I’ve stayed away too long,” and even with Shane’s reassurances that Tina had not gotten involved with anyone, “she may have moved on. I’ve lost my window with her.  We’ll never make it back to a corner of heaven like this…” 

Tina pulled back from the kiss, wiping the tears that had rolled down Bette’s cheek. “You’ve been hoping for a day like this for a long time, haven’t you?,” the blonde asked tenderly.  She kissed those pillow soft lips gently, as Bette nodded, and fresh tears began to flow.