Bette’s relief was unmistakable when she answered, “Yeah, the pasta was a hit with our angel.  That’s great.  Yes…good idea.  I guess Logan found out I was away?” 

“Yes.  So he took it upon himself to check in on us yesterday, and then told me he was bringing dinner tonight, “Tina explained.  The mysterious boxes were a curiosity, though, so she asked, “What are you planning to cook with this stuff anyway?” 

“Beef, for dinner tomorrow,” Bette answered, excitedly. 

“Beef?,” Tina repeated, a little incredulous. 

“Yup.  And I also plan to mix you a gin and tonic unlike any you’ve ever had, before we have dinner.” 

“Baby, you know I’d support anything you get in your head to do, but….” Tina started to say.  Bette teased her, “Don’t worry honey, I also ordered extra fire retardants and special gloves and everything.” 

“So long as you don’t burn the house down, I guess,” Tina answered, smiling inwardly.  Then an idea came to her, “Why don’t we invite Lara and Dana to join us?” Dana was in town for a tennis exhibition.  And she wanted Lara around to …um… help Bette with this experiment.  Extra fire retardants?  Special gloves? 

“That’s a great idea!  I was thinking of calling Lara anyway, but inviting Dana over would be great, too.  Maybe get her to stay over with us?  Gives us more time to catch up with her…” 

Tina nodded her head, relieved Bette was on board, “Yeah, I’ll call Dana then, and see if she can stay over, instead of staying in her hotel…” 

“And I’ll call Lara,” Bette completed her thought.  “Maybe I can ask her advice on where to get the best cut of the beef I want to prepare.” 

xxxxxxxxxxxxx 

Tina returned to her chair, to resume eating her breakfast, glad that Bette had taken to heart the sentiments of the note she’d written to her.  She knew the brunette kept all the notes Tina had written to her.  In a way, the notes had catalogued the evolution of their relationship, at times apologetic, if the blonde had done something to upset Bette, at times loving, if Bette had done something in particular for Tina, and at times, just a stream-of-consciousness expression of what Tina was thinking at the moment she’d sat down to write the note.  Often, these were the ones that came out the best.  And quite frequently, they were about love.