ONE AND ONLY

CHAPTER 66

Tina looked at the clock beside her again – 00:16. Well that was a first – the first time they had been together at this time of the night and the first time they had lain together in bed just holding one another and listening to the radio and kissing. It was so nice and it felt right. She looked at Bette who was lying with her head on Tina’s shoulder and she was just softly stroking Tina’s breast every few minutes.
“What are you thinking ?” Tina asked.
“Me ? I am thinking as little as possible”
“You must be thinking something “
“I am thinking how much I love this and how I want to do it again – real soon”
“We can do this again tomorrow”
“Yeah but when after that ? “
“Depends on circumstances- my parents were talking about taking a holiday and they are thinking about leaving me at home – that would be brilliant “
“Do you still go away with them ?”
“Half and half – if they are going somewhere I fancy I tag along or if I don’t fancy it or I am doing something else I would just come and stay with dad”
“Is he cool about us staying here when they are here ?”
“I think so  – he is really cool. It would be different if I had a boyfriend “
“Why ?”
“Because I think his idea of a nightmare would be his daughter getting pregnant. He’s got a brother and his son became a father at 16  – that was about 8 years ago but I know that it freaked him out that I might get pregnant. I was hardly likely to because I was only 9 at the time but he has been really firm about talking to me about respect and not sleeping with a boy just because it seemed cool or it was because I was being pressurised”
“Am I pressurising you ?” Bette asked looking at Tina and smiling
“No – it does make a difference though to my dad and probably to my moms as well “
“As I imagine has been said in the past – heaven help the poor boy who showed up at your apartment and had to run the gauntlet of your mothers and then your dad and Pete – no fucking chance “
Tina laughed and kissed Bette
“You have taken a lot and really just soaked it up – thanks – I know my parents can be really too much “
“They have been fine  – its so obvious that they all love you – you have so much love in your life”
“And now I have you “
“And now you have me and I won’t go away until you tell me again and again and again”
Tina moved so she could rest her hand on Bette’s face
“I don’t want you to go away. I love you and I really think that the two of us have something special between us”
“It is – I know we don’t have anything to compare it to but – I really think that its really special”
Bette kissed Tina again and yawned. Tina smiled
“You are not used to being awake this late are you ?”
Bette shook her head “No I am not – you are used to watching movies and eating popcorn “
“I am – but I could get used to this instead – I really want to see if its possible for our parents to let us have a holiday together “
“A holiday with you would be great  – how about a cabin somewhere – we could see if Shane and Carmen would want to tag along “
“I was more thinking that I wanted a holiday with you and no one else “
Bette smiled “ It would be nice either way “
“It means a lot to me just to be alone with you”
Bette shifted her position a little bit “I think its awesome that you have four parents but its also a double edged sword – you have a lot of pressure”
Tina shrugged “It just is what it is “
“But you must feel a lot of pressure – all four of the significant adults in your life are high power lawyers – none of them are exactly shy and retiring. That puts a lot of pressure on you to be strong. You have to be strong and sure of yourself or they will let you know “
“Lucky for me they have all managed to pull themselves back from me following them into Law. I remember going with Kate to see Emma one day and it was the same day as a new sign was being put up at the firm. I will take you to her office one day  – remind me. Anyway – this sign-writer is standing there writing “ Kennard, Truman and Black on the huge glass doors that lead into the main floor of the firm. And he’s doing the black paint on Kennard and I am standing watching him. Emma comes out and says to me “ that is me and one day that will be you – one day this will be your firm Tina”
“Ouch – no pressure then “
“No – personal tutors when I was 6 because I sucked at math “
“Yeah – that sounds like the sort of thing I would expect your folks to do. Why didn’t they do the same when you were doing badly at the other school ?”
“Emma placed too much faith in the power and value of paying for an elite education. it’s the same with all the stuff about me going to an Ivy League University “
“You don’t want to ?” Bette asked in surprise
“I don’t know. I want to go somewhere where I will fit in and be happy. I don’t want to waste three years at a specific college just because its what my mother expects of me”
“Its hard for you – and I think your little rebellious phase is the least they should have expected. “
“Dad has expected me to bring home some dope smoking bad lad for a long time”
“I must be such a disappointment “ Bette said dryly
“Not to me – to me you are just the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you – thank you for loving me “
“Thank you for taking a chance on me – I know everyone was telling you what a crazy person I was “
“I think the best lesson that I have been taught by all four of them is making your own conclusions about a person. I made my own mind up about you and my conclusion was that you were a really wonderful person and smouldering hot”
Bette yawned and sat up and looked at the beside table
“Is there nothing to eat ?”
“You cannot be hungry ?”
Bette turned and looked at Tina and raised an eyebrow “Why not ?”
“Because we have had sandwiches and potato crisps and cookies “
“Yeah – still think I could eat something else “
“Like what ?”
“I don’t know – what about you ?”
Tina laughed and  flopped onto her back and looked up at Bette. This was a new view of Bette – sitting up in bed and naked, her long dark brown hair was loose and she looked so much older than 17.
“You know what Pete said about you the other day “
Bette looked down at her
“What ?”
“Pete – the other day Pete said that you will get more beautiful as you get older. He is sure you will be a stunning 48 year old”
Bette pulled a face “A stunning 48 year old ?”
“Yes ?”
“He can predict what I look like in 30 years ?”
Tina shrugged “That’s his opinion “
“Nuts “ Bette said “ Your parents can be nuts at times”
Tina smiled -since Pete had said  that about Bette she had been wondering if she would be around to see this 48 year old Bette Porter that Pete was so sure would be stunningly beautiful. Tina knew it was fanciful but it was a really nice idea to believe that the only woman she ever slept with. Chances are that that was just that – a dream but it was one that comforted her. She didn’t want to think about them going their separate ways in a little over a years time. She closed her eyes – no Tina – do not ruin the first night you spend with Bette thinking about the two of you not being together. Bette lent closer and kissed Tina on the lips
“What about a late movie ?”  Bette said
Tina shook her head “No thanks – I meant what I said – I just want to lie with you – this is lovely. If you want something else to eat just tell me and I will go and get it “
Bette thought about it for a few seconds before shaking her head and lying down and pulling Tina close
“Nah – this is good. I want to be nice and hungry for you making me breakfast in the morning “
“You really are going to hold me to that aren’t you ?”
“Yes – what do you want to do tomorrow  – we have the entire day to ourselves and we can do anything we want “
Bette sighed “I haven’t really given it a lot of thought – this was what I was looking forward to. It must be nice to have weekends together as a couple. Do you ever wonder why people have kids ? I was thinking that the other day. If I was in a loving and committed relationship with a fantastic girl  – like the girl I am with at the moment -if I was in a great relationship – I wouldn’t want to damn well share her with anyone and have our time messed up”
“You don’t want kids ?”
“You are not pregnant are you ?” Bette asked dryly
“Not unless my biology place was a mistake and it wasn’t and you were top of biology.”
“I really think I would get run out of town “
Tina laughed and gently they kissed.
“I really don’t know if I want kids – I have a lot of ambitions and kids aren’t on my list right now “
“Well they wouldn’t be  – not with you being 17 and all that. What are your ambitions ?”
“Travel – see the whole world, have a house one day that is as lovely and cool as your father’s. I want to try things – do a triathlon maybe one day – there is such much out there. Having a baby would be wrong for me because I wouldn’t be able to be the parent that a baby deserves”
“I think you would be a fantastic mother “
“I know you would be a great mom “ Bette said “But man – imagine  the fights for grandparents duties – a potential six grandparents “
Bette laughed. Tina nestled closer to Bette who stroked her hair. She was fighting sleep but it had been an amazing day and sex always made her sleepy and that had been one heck of a lot of sex. Tina had wanted this time to come so much and now it was here she didn’t want to end. She had imagined what it would be like to spend the whole night with Bette and there they were slowly falling asleep in each other’s arms – it was better than anything she could have wanted. She caught herself falling asleep just in time and jumped awake.
Bette laughed
“What ?”
“I am supposed to be the one who cannot take late nights”
“What do you mean?”
“You fell asleep “
“No – I was resting “
Bette laughed again “ Its okay – I am not going anywhere  – just close you eyes and rest. Its okay babe”
“I am okay “
“I know you are – I am just saying that I will be here at any time in the night if you wake up and I will be here in the morning when its nice and light again and we can spend a whole day together “
Tina sighed – she had wanted to spend half the night just lying talking and making out. It was barely 12:30 and she was beat down and needing a long sleep.
“I wanna just talk “
“We can – tomorrow I swear to you – just go to sleep”
“No – I want to talk “
Bette smiled in the dark and kissed Tina on the brow – she was just even more lovable and cute when she was this beat out and trying so hard to stay awake and not succeeding. Bette could picture Tina as a tot – determined to stay awake until her mom came home from work and wanting to show her some drawing or book that she was reading. Bette thought that it was ironic and sweet that only a few miles away she had been the toddler fighting to stay awake for her father. Bette was still torn out her father – she had been hoping that her mother would stick to her word and sort this old feud out. But nothing had been said and she hated lying and the more time went on the deeper the lies became. And she sucked at remembering all the things she said to her father to explain how little time she spent at the apartment and how much time she spent at Tina’s.
Bette was reaching the point when she didn’t want to lie anymore- she was going to confront her father and maybe bringing this whole thing out in the open. She didn’t want to lie about Tina – why the hell should she ? She was in love and she just wanted to be able to tell her father how she felt. Maybe he would understand – maybe he wouldn’t but regardless it had to be better than having to sneak around behind his back. She had been so lost in her thoughts that she looked down at Tina and realised that the blonde was asleep – so much for the night owl who stayed up for hours. Bette kissed Tina on the brow
“Sleep well my darling. I love you so much “ she whispered
Tina didn’t move – she just stayed still
“I don’t know what’s going to happen next year what with college but I swear I love you and I swear that if I can do the right thing for both of us I will. I know you are scared  – so am I – I cannot imagine being without you and at 17 that is probably the most scary thing in the world. But I love you and something tells me that our lives are always going to be intertwined one way or another “