“Well, you know I mentioned my sister Kit to you in my emails? She’s just bought her own coffee-shop. There‘s quite a bit to do before it opens but she‘s really excited about it. I’ll have to take you there sometime.”

“I’ll look forward to that,” Tina replied. And there was a look between the two of them, a fleeting look of sadness, grief even, on knowing that they could make plans like that but they’d never come to pass. Bette continued, “Other than that, there’s nothing much happening at my end. I just have my writing waiting for me. And you know all about that.”

Ah, yes. Bette’s writing. The very thing that had brought them together. Tina smiled at the mention. “Are you doing a story at the moment?”, Tina enquired.

“Yes, I have a couple of irons in the fire, quite a way off the finished articles yet though. I have a couple of ideas for new stories too. I’ll just have to see where the storylines take me.”

Then, for the first time since they met, there was an awkward moment, neither woman knowing where to take the conversation.

Picking up her cup once more, Bette broke the silence.

“Another?”, she asked Tina, as she drained her own cup.

“Mmm, please. Especially as it’s your turn to pay.” Tina chuckled.

A couple of minutes later and Bette returned with the two fresh coffees.

“Thanks Bette.”

“My pleasure baby”.

Tina smiled again. “You know, I really liked it when you called me that in your messages. It’s cute. It’s even cuter hearing you say it.”

Bette reached over and took hold of Tina’s hand. “I liked writing it. And I like saying it even more.” It was Bette’s words that had made Tina want to get in touch with her. She felt her words, was totally bewitched by the stories that Bette had written. Now though, with Bette sitting there, the sensation of her strong hand holding hers, and the electricity that seemed to flow through Bette and into her, the feeling that Bette’s words had given her paled into insignificance. At her touch, Tina’s heart leapt.

Once Tina had contacted Bette, it hadn’t taken long for them to develop a deep relationship. They discovered so many parallels in their lives, so many coincidences, how many likes and dislikes they shared. And the intimacy that had quickly developed between the two was just so natural. Bette was first to mention how much she wanted to take things further, how she’d love to have Tina beside her in her bed. Although Tina had encouraged, and enjoyed Bette’s flirting, Tina had always reacted with shyness, sometimes not even aware of how she should be responding to Bette‘s verbal advances. Bette found it endearing, although Tina’s different relationship status to Bette’s had caused difficulties, Bette wanting more than Tina felt able to give. Tina had told Bette from the outset that she was married – happily married – but there was always something between the lines that made Bette think there was something in that marriage which wasn’t quite right. And surely the fact that Tina was there meeting with Bette was indication enough that there was something Tina needed that she just couldn’t have from her marriage? She never pressed Tina about it though. It would come out naturally enough, given time.

Bette tightened her grip on Tina’s hand momentarily before sliding it back again to take another drink. She then took in a deep breath and, trying to keep at bay the physical feelings stirring within her, resumed the easy chatting that they shared earlier…

…Two hours later, and they were still talking like they’d known each other all their lives, when suddenly Bette broke away from the topic of conversation.

“Tina?“

“Yeah?”

“I can’t drink any more coffee.”

“Me neither,” Tina smiled.

Her look turning serious now, and unable to fight her feelings any longer, Bette looked deep into Tina‘s entrancing hazel eyes.

“What?” said Tina, knowing there were words hanging on Bette’s lips.

Bette swallowed hard.

“I booked us a room.”