Chapter five

On their third day in Bangkok, Bette and Tina decided to visit the Sunday market. It was a really hot day, even when they weren’t in the sun they thought they would melt. There were thousands of little stores and the different smells overwhelmed their senses. They came past a little shop that sold puppies and bunnies.
Tina: “Look how cute they are Bette!”
Bette: “The poor things. Locked up in a cage all day in this burning heat. I’d really like to buy them all, but I don’t think I’ll be helping them that way. Who knows what kind of diseases they have. God this is so unfair. They didn’t do anything and they get punished. It’s really horrible. I think I should tell this to my friends at Greenpeace.”
Tina: “You have friends at Greenpeace?”
Bette: “Yeah, didn’t I tell you?”
Tina: “No you didn’t.”
Bette: “Well, when I finished high school, I took a year off and went on several missions with Greenpeace. It’s been a long time since I went on a mission, but I still support them financially.”
Tina: “Wow. I’m impressed. You really care about our environment, don’t you?”
Bette: “I guess so. I just want this world to be a better place so that my children and their children can enjoy it more than we can.”
Tina: “So, you want kids?”
Bette: “Sure, don’t you? I know we never discussed this, but I would really like to have kids some day.”
Tina: “Would you consider having children with me?”
Bette: “Off course with you, with whom else would I have kids? You’re my wife T, the love of my life. When we are both ready to have children, I would like to start a family with you.”
Tina: “You’re amazing Bette Porter. You know that? If there is anyone I would want to have children with, it would certainly be you.”
Tina leaned in and kissed Bette tenderly, a slow moan escaped Bette’s mouth, showing her approval. Tina pushed her tongue against Bette’s lower lip, who let her in without hesitation. Their kiss turned from tender to passionate as the two women rediscovered each other’s mouth and taste again.

They continued to walk around the Sunday market, hand in hand, till they both felt the hunger rising. They decided to go to this little restaurant they read about in their guide. They had trouble finding it, but after some help from local people, they entered the little restaurant. Although there was a beautiful garden, they dined inside because of the excruciating heat. There were beautiful pictures of some old film studio on the walls and the dining tables were also beautifully decorated with flowers. A waiter walked over to them and handed them the menus. They ordered some water, which was immediately served in little aluminium bowls.
They told the waiter what they would like to eat and started some simple conversation with each other.

After a few minutes, the conversation turned as an idea crossed Tina’s tought.
Tina: “Let’s play a little game while we wait for our meals.”
Bette: “Sure, what do you want to play?”
Tina: “What do you think of ‘truth or dare’? It’s been a long time since I played that game.”
Bette: “Me too. The last time I played it was with some friends in college.”
Tina: “I’ll start. Truth or dare baby?”
Bette: “Truth.”
Tina: “How many boy- or girlfriends have you had?”
Bette: “Four, including you. Now you, truth or dare?”
Tina: “Truth.”
Bette: “Same question as you asked.”
Tina: “Five. Truth or dare?”
Bette: “Truth.”
Tina: “What are their names and when were they with you?”
Bette: “There was Michael in high school, Roxanne when I volunteered at Greenpeace, David after college and now you. Truth or dare T?”
Tina: “Truth again.”
Bette: “Again, the same question as you asked.”
Tina: “You don’t have a lot of inspiration do you?”
Bette: “Just asking what I want to know, you just happen to ask the same questions.”
Tina: “Okay, I was with Jim when I was 14, Jessica when I was 16, Caitlin when I was 19, Alice when I was 23 and now you.”
Bette: “Is this Alice the same Alice as I know?”
Tina: “Only one question at a time! Truth or dare Porter?”
Bette: “Truth I guess.”
Tina: “Tell me more about Roxanne. How long were you with her?”
Bette: “Four years…”
Tina immediately saw in Bette’s eyes and expression that something happened between the love of her life and this Roxanne. She wanted to say something about it, but right then the waiter brought them their plates.

The rest of their dinner Bette remained quiet and when they finished their lunch, they paid the bill and headed back to the hotel. Tina was thinking of something to say to Bette to make everything better, but because of the lack of inspiration she couldn’t find anything that sounded good enough. They walked up to their hotel room and Tina decided she just had to take a risk. Ever so softly, she whispered to Bette.
Tina: “Bette, is everything okay?”
Bette turned her head towards Tina and couldn’t stop the tears from falling. Tina kissed them of Bette’s face and sat down on the bed.
Tina: “What’s wrong baby?”
Although Tina was very gentle and loving, Bette just sobbed harder. Tina pulled her in a tight embrace and softly stroke Bette’s hair, whispering caring and loving words to her.
Tina: “It’s okay Bette. I’m here. Let it all go baby. It’s alright.”
Bette lifted her head and whipped the tears away. She wanted to forget everything and walked to the bathroom without saying anything. Tina followed her and gently stroke her lover’s arm.
Bette: “T, Roxanne…she was…she…”
Tina sensed that Bette really wanted her to tell everything, but she didn’t want to push her either. She softly kissed Bette’s shoulder and looked her in the eyes.
Tina: “It’s okay baby. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. Just know that I’m here for you if you need anything or want to talk.”
Bette nodded her head and looked into Tina’s eyes, not only looking but also seeing, seeing her beautiful wife that loved her, cared for her and supported her in ways she never thought were possible.

They moved back to the bed and Bette told Tina everything she had been keeping inside of her for so long.
Bette: “Roxanne and I were together for four years. I thought I loved her and that she loved me to. But I was wrong. Sure, we had some fun together. I was new at Greenpeace and she really helped me, I thought I found someone who could really listen to me and understood me. One day, she just kissed me. I was caught by surprise but what surprised me even more was that I kissed her back. I never met someone who I thought really cared for me, people used to be my friends just because they needed something. I had a bad relationship with Michael and could really use some real friendship and companionship. I thought I found that with Roxanne. For four years, she played me and made me think she really cared about me. I don’t even know why she stayed with me for so long. I made myself believe I loved her and that all of this was normal, but I couldn’t stay with her any longer. I found out that the only thing she wanted was my and my parents’ money. She stabbed my heart. Again I was used for other people’s personal gain. To make things worse, I met David right after her. I was so lost and thought I had found myself with him. Again I was wrong and another stab in the heart. He treated me badly, he hit me sometimes and as I told you before, when I told him I would leave him and that I was a *****, he completely freaked and you know what he did. I came to LA and met you. You didn’t know anything about me and for the first time in my life I felt truly loved by someone. God I love you T. I would go through everything again if that meant I would be with you.”
Tina: “I’m so sorry you had to go through that baby. I will never hurt you like that. You know that don’t you?”
Bette: “Yes. You make me so happy Tina.”
Tina: “You make me very happy too Bette. All the others didn’t mean anything to me. It was always simple attraction. They never fulfilled me like you do. They didn’t love me and I didn’t love them. There was some kind of silent understanding between us that we could do whatever we wanted and whoever we wanted. I just became sick of playing that game. I met Alice and we became close friends. We tried being lovers for a while, but I saw us heading to that direction I came from and didn’t want to go there again. Yes, it is the same Alice as you know. We decided to stay best friends afterwards. You are the first person I have ever loved Bette and you will be the last.”

To be continued…