“Bette …Beeeetttteee?  Are you listening to me?”  Bette snapped out of her daydream, more like a nightmare.

“I’m sorry T; you were saying …”

“Babe I was asking …Bette Porter, will you marry me?”

“Wha … Tina, did you just …,” stammered Bette.  Tina looked deeply into Bette’s dark orbs, smiled and shook her head yes.  Tears quickly welled up in Bette’s eyes and then started to flow freely as she sat there smiling with her mouth agape.

“Well, will you marry me,” asked Tina a second time.  Bette briefly closed her eyes, lowered her head, shook it from side to side, raised her head, grabbed Tina behind the neck, pulled her closer and crushed her lips with her own. 

Between kisses Bette answered, “Yes …yes…yes…I love you…yes.”

Both women were now crying and smiling and kissing each other as the waiter returned with their drink orders.  As he apologized for the interruption, Tina gazed into Bette’s eyes and ordered a bottle of the best champagne the restaurant had to offer.  The waiter excused himself and returned with the owner of the establishment.

“Ms. Porter, is everything OK,” asked Francesco Fiore.

“Francesco, everything is absolutely perfect, thank you,” answered Bette as she se still stared into Tina’s eyes.

“Ms. Porter, Mario has told me your beautiful lady ordered a bottle of our best champagne.  He assumed you were celebrating something special and, I apologize, but I had to come and bring it to you myself,” Francesco offered.

“Mario was correct Francesco, Dr. Kennard has just asked me to marry her and I accepted.”

“Magnifico,” shouted Francesco s he clapped his hands together.  “Mario, get Mama.  Tell her it is important,” directed Francesco.

Mario left their side and returned with Francesco’s wife on his arm.  Francesco put his arm around his bride of fifty years, Angelica, and proudly announced, “Mama, our Bette is going to marry this beautiful vision before her.’”  He grabbed both Bette and Tina’s hands, kissed them both and joined them together. 

“Tonight, everything for these lovely ladies is on the house. Bona Sera.”

“Bette, please introduce us to your intended,” said Angelica.

“Francesco, Angelica, Mario, this is Dr. Christina Kennard, the love of my life. Tina, please say hello to the Fiore’s.”

As Tina was about to extend her hand to her three new friends, Mama Fiore grabbed her in a bear hug and kissed her on both cheeks, Francesco and Mario followed suit and did the same.  Tina was stunned at the warm reception from the business owners. Bette stood up and hugged all three.  All were laughing and smiling when Bette leaned forward and said to Tina, “I guess I forgot to tell you I worked for them when I was in high school and going through college.  They’re like family to me.”

“Well that bit of information puts this into better perspective,” said Tina as she also stood and joined in the hug-fest.

“So Doctor Tina, did you go to medical school with our Bette,” asked Mama Fiore.

“Umm, No,” answered Tina as she looked at Bette inquisitively.  “I met her at Community Medical Center.”

“This is just wonderful.  Bette, we will leave you two alone for now.  Stop in the kitchen before you leave though, OK,” asked Mama Fiore.

“I will Mama,” answered Bette.  The Fiore’s left the happy couple to their meal.  Bette held Tina’s chair again as she sat back down then she took her own seat.

Bette proceeded to eat her dinner as Tina sat there with her hands folded on the table watching her.  Bette looked up from her plate and asked, “T, why aren’t you eating?”

“Bette, isn’t there something you forgot to tell me?”

“I love you?”  Bette looked like a child with her hand caught in the cookie jar.

“BETTE!”

“OK T, I went to medical school,” said Bette.  Tina continued to stare at Bette, waiting for the full story.  Bette went back to eating her dinner.

“Bette Porter, elaborate or you’ll get no dessert tonight.”

TBC…