Tina accepted the cup Bette offered, thanked her and motioned for a kiss. After giving Tina a quick kiss on the tip of her nose, Bette mouthed, “one second.”  Tina smiled and asked, Who?   Alice, Bette answered.  Tina arched her eyebrows in a question as she sipped the cappuccino.  She licked her lips, Mmmm…. delicious, baby.  Thanks.

“The hell it wasn’t Porter,” Alice shot back quickly in jest.   “Oooopppss … I meant Porter-Kennard.”

Bette laughed lightly.  “Still can’t get used to it, huh?”

Alice laughed also, “Honestly, sometimes I can’t believe you and someone finally got together for real, Bette, that’s all.   And that she got her hooks into you nice and deep, too.  Bone-deep.  You bit hard on that bait and she reeled you right in, wrapped you ‘round her little finger.  Then married you.  You, the unattainable Bette Porter.  Unbelievable.  Remember when I wrote that article about all the most eligible and unattainable bachelors and bachelorettes in WeHo?  There’s a reason people like you were in that list, you know.  Most everyone in that list is still there.  Hmm… maybe I should write an update to it…”

“Maybe not, Alice,” Bette answered quickly, then curved her lips into a small smile, as she gave Tina a fond look.  She added, “You’re lucky you’re not on speaker right now Alice.”

 “Oh, really? Why?  Haven’t told your pretty wife about the string of broken hearts and the notches on your bedpost you carved during your time here in LA?” she asked, needling Bette.

Before Bette could respond, Alice exclaimed, “Oh! We’re here! Sorry about that.”  She seemed to be talking to the cab driver now.

“Okay, I’ll buzz you in,” Bette answered resignedly, shaking her head, as she walked to their bathroom to use the control panel built next to their nearly wall-to-wall mirror to release the electronic door lock and unlock the dedicated elevator that would take Alice directly to their duplex. 

After a quick exchange with Alice she hung up, and then quickly washed her hands, muttering under her breath about Alice’ propensity to tease her about her past.  She was applying lotion on her hands as she walked back to their bed, after quickly unhooking Tina’s robe from one of the studs on the wall, to sit next to Tina again.