“If you think (wiping tears away) … if you think for one minute that I didn’t come outside to be near you then you don’t know me. That’s the first place I headed. Where you are is always the first place I want to be. I stood in the doorway and watched you swim, left a towel then I got some wine. You are my peace, you are… (wiping tears). Yes, you are. And every time you turned…Baby… Goddamn…I got the best view of that sexy ass popping out of the water…the best view…better than church on Sunday”, she drawled and kissed Bette on the forehead, leaving her lips pressed to the warm skin.

Bette’s hands left Tina’s wrists and she wrapped her arms around her neck. She pulled her wife closer to her even as Tina reached for her at the same time. Her suit was still wet, but Tina didn’t care, she wrapped her arms around Bette and held her tight. They stood that way for a long time, rocking slightly. Bette buried her face in the side of Tina’s neck, her tears wet on her wife’s skin. She breathed her scent in and blew out another shaky breath.

Tina broke the embrace, leaning back to look Bette in the eyes then took her by the hand and led her to the bathroom where she started the shower. Bette’s skin was chilled from the air conditioner and Tina wanted her to get warm. When the temperature was right, she looked at Bette. “Get in and warm up, before you get sick on me again. I’ll get dinner ready. I love you Baby; I love you love you.” She kissed her then, gently. A soft kiss that traveled its way over Bette’s lips and down to her heart. She sighed into the touch.

“I love you too” she said. She could still feel Tina’s lips on her own, soft…welcoming…comforting.

Tina reached to get a big towel out from the shelf behind the door and programmed some soft classical piano music for Bette to listen to. She stood behind Bette and gently peeled off her wet swimsuit, kissing in between her shoulder blades and down her back to the curve of bottom.