“Um, there’s a Bonate store on my right. “

Bette could see the store, further down the street. Bette was on the correct side. Her heart leapt. “T, do something for me. Roll down the window of your cab and stick your head out.”

“What?”

“Just do it. Stick your head out.” Bette stepped off the sidewalk and looked up and down the street and saw Tina’s blonde head peeking out one window tentatively. Bette hung up the phone and ran as well as her heels could carry her down the street alongside the deadlocked cars, trying not to breathe in too much exhaust. When she got close to Tina’s cab she called out her name. She could see Tina’s face light up. Her head retreated into the window as Bette came closer and the door opened up. Bette jumped into the backseat of the cab and slammed the door shut.

“Hi,” she said with a wide smile.

“Why didn’t you tell me what you were up to?” Tina asked, laughing.

“Now where would the surprise be in that?”

“You’re crazy. How did you even get here?”

“Jonah’s driver took me part of the way and I walked the rest.”

“You didn’t have to go through all that, babe. I would have gotten there eventually.”

“I just didn’t want to ring in the New Year without you. Come on, let’s pay up and get out of here.”

“Where will we go?”

“Just trust me.” They paid the driver and tipped him well and got out of the cab that had barely crept along a foot in the traffic.

Bette led Tina by the hand back up the street and when they were at the corner, they crossed and made their way to the rendezvous point where Bette had told the driver to wait for them. Along the way Tina peppered Bette with questions about where they were going and little kisses of thanks for coming to Tina’s rescue.

The car was there as expected and they piled into the backseat. It was a relatively uneventful drive back to their home, with a few minutes left until the New Year. Heather was happy to be relieved of her babysitting duties and pocketed the holiday bonus Bette slipped her as she ushered her out of the door. Meanwhile, Tina had located a bottle of champagne and a couple of flutes. They laughingly struggled to pop the bottle open and poured just enough out to toast with.

Bette turned on the television, where the countdown was going.

“7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…”

“Happy New Year,” Tina and Bette said to each other in unison. They kissed right as the crowd noise exploded on TV.

“Here’s to another year,” Bette said, raising her flute and touching it against Tina’s.

“Another year together,” Tina added.

“Always.”

Bette forgot the champagne and the toast and kissed her love for the second time in 2012.

THE END