“Boy, I never really thought of that as an issue.”

Bette smiled and took Tina’s hands. 

“T, it’s not.  We’re just setting up precautions so that there aren’t any problems in the future.”

Bette looked seriously into Tina’s eyes and spoke.

“Now, as far as you and I are concerned.  I want you to know that I was very clear with him that I wanted him to represent both our interests.   I explained to him that my primary concern was that you be protected should anything go wrong between us.  He thought we might want to sign disclosure paperwork, basically stating that we are aware of the situation and the ramifications of me being your employer.  He said he’d have both sets of papers faxed over tomorrow and that we should look them over carefully and if we want them amended in any way to call him.  He also suggested that you may want to consult your own lawyer.”

Bette looked at Tina with a sense of dread and waited for her response.

“Wow, Bette I guess I didn’t really think of all the issues surrounding this.  Do you think James will be okay with this?”

Bette continued to hold Tina’s hands in hers and spoke openly.

“Tina I really don’t think James will be any problem.  He is really like family and he adores you.  We’ll be respectful and sensitive toward him, and behave professionally.”

Bette broke the tension with a raised eye brow and a seductive smile.  “That is unless we are alone…”

The women exchanged a nervous chuckle and Bette continued. 

“Really Tina today was fine.  There wasn’t anything even remotely inappropriate.”

Tina thought for a moment and then resolutely spoke. 

“Bette, I’ll be glad to sign anything your lawyer thinks is necessary.  You really have to make sure you are protecting your livelihood.  I really appreciate that you are clearly looking after my interests as well.”

Bette pulled Tina into a tight embrace.

“Tina, thank you for being so understanding about all this.  I really don’t want you to think for a second that I don’t trust you or question your integrity in any way.”

The women buried their heads into each other’s shoulders and sighed.

Tina leaned back and gave Bette a very shy smile.

“Babe, can I ask you something?”

“Always, Baby, always…”

“Well, do you think maybe we’re moving too fast?  I’m…”  Tina looked down and took a deep breath before she continued.  “Bette, I’m just so afraid that this, you and I, is just going to, I don’t know, disappear.  It just seems like it is too good to be true.  Are people really allowed to be this happy?”

Tina finished and buried her head into Bette’s shoulder and let out a deep sigh and as she felt the security of Bette’s arms she let the tears fall from her eyes.

Bette held Tina and felt that she was quietly crying and she pulled her tightly to her.  She tried to respond to Tina but her heart was in her throat and her own tears were threatening.  She rocked Tina in her arms and thought hard about what she was going to say.

“Tina, Baby, look at me.  I know you have been through a lot of changes and I’m sure you’ll need time to sort things out…To be sure of your feeling, but Tina, I know how I feel.  I feel like every path I’ve taken, every decision I’ve ever made, everything I have ever done has led me to you.  To this…”  Bette closed her eyes to try and compose herself.  As she opened her eyes tears streamed down her cheeks.  Tina reached her hand up and gently wiped Bette’s cheeks.  Bette continued looking deeply into Tina’s eyes.  “Tina, this is not going to disappear.  I won’t let it.  Tina, it can’t disappear, T, I wouldn’t’ survive.  Tina, I love you.”

“Oh Baby…”  Tina reached up and pulled Bette as close as possible to her and tried to speak through her own tears. 

“Oh Baby, I love you too.  I promise I am never going to let you go.”

The women held each other tight as they cried in each other’s arms.