«All right… You know where to find me if you need me», Tina replied, but she sensed Bette didn’t even heard a word she said, already lost in her childhood memories.

The next day, Tina called Mrs Stone. She was worried about the old lady. «Hi Mrs Stone ? It’s Tina Kennard, Bette’s partner», she said as soon as Mrs Stone answered the phone. She heard a chuckle. «I remember who you are young lady…», she replied.

Tina smiled. «I wanted to see how you were… Yesterday was pretty hard for you and Bette», she explained.

Mrs Stone sighed heavily. «I think it was harder for Bette, hearing about all this for the first time… How is she doing?»

«She’ll be fine, she’s a very strong woman…», Tina said.

She heard the woman laugh softly. «I don’t know her that well, but I gathered that much». Mrs Stone suddenly turned serious. «Do you think she’ll want to see me again?»

«You’ll have to give her some time, but I’ll see what I can do about it…», Tina replied.

«That’s all I ask dear… How long have you two been together?», Mrs Stone wanted to know.

«Six years… I love her so much, you know. She’s my life», Tina told her.

«You didn’t have to tell me that… Only a blind person couldn’t see the love you have for each other. I’m glad Bette has you in her life. Do you have any children?»

«No, we don’t…». Tina didn’t mention their plan to have a baby. She thought it was Bette’s place to tell her that if she wanted to. «I have to go now… Take care, Mrs Stone», Tina said.

«And you take care of Bette… I hope to hear from her soon», Mrs Stone told Tina before hanging up.

A half-hour later, Tina’s phone rang. It was Bette. «Hey baby, how are you?», Tina asked.

«I’m all right… I just talked to Kit and she’s pretty blown away by the whole thing», Bette told her.

«I can only imagine…». Tina bit her lips and then told Bette she had talked to Mrs Stone. At first, she didn’t want to tell her, but they had promised to always be truthful with one another since they had moved back together.

To Tina’s surprise, Bette took the news rather well. «It’s OK, I’m not mad… Is she all right?», Bette asked.

«She seemed so. She was worried about you and she hopes she’ll talk to you very soon. How do you feel about that?»

«I don’t know… I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said yesterday and you were right about my mother. It doesn’t matter if she wasn’t my birth mother, she’ll always be the woman I’ll look up to», Bette revealed.

Tina was so relieved to hear Bette say that. The night before, Tina had had trouble falling asleep because Bette had tossed and turned in their bed for a few hours and when she had finally dozed off, she’d had a bad dream where she woke up in tears. Tina had held her for a while until she had drifted off to a more peaceful sleep in her soothing and loving arms.

«I’m glad you’re feeling better about all this… You want to have lunch with me baby?»

Bette laughed. «That’s the nicest invitation I’ve had all morning… Where do you want to go ?»

«How about the new Chinese restaurant that just opened across from my office?», Tina suggested.

«Great, I’ll be there in an hour… I love you T», Bette whispered, sending shivers down Tina’s spine.

«I love you too babe…», Tina replied with a smile.

Bette hung up and went back to work when James suddenly stormed into her office. He was as pale as a ghost. «Bette, please, help…», was all he said in panic.