Bette stood and watched her walk away. “Bye T, have a good day.”

“You too Babe, see you later.”

On her drive to the gallery, Bette decided to stop and order flowers for Tina, just to let her know how she felt. She walked into a florist shop located near the gallery, and as she browsed the aisles looking for just the right flower. She smelled the unmistakable fragrance before she saw them. When she turned to the next aisle she knew she had found what she was looking for. They were perfect.

Quickly, she placed her order and composed a note to Tina, then made her way to the gallery, certain that Tina would appreciate the selection.

Later that afternoon, Tina had returned to her office after a meeting to find a huge bouquet of White Lily’s sitting on her desk. She quickly walked to her desk, where as expected she found a note attached to the flowers…..addressed simply to “T”.

She sat down, opened the note and read the words that Bette had written earlier that morning……

T,

I sometime wonder what higher power it was that brought you into my life. I feel so very lucky to be able to share my life with you, as you have brought so much joy and happiness to an otherwise empty and hollow existence.

This morning, while I watched you sleep, I tried to find the words to describe you, and your beauty. You have a quiet way about you, appearing to be soft and gentle, but in an oh so very subtle way. There was only one word that came to mind…..”elegance”.

As you may or may not already know, the White Lily represents the characteristics of elegance and sophistication. It is unassuming in its appearance, but hearty in its soul, and beauty, just as you appear to me.

I love you with all of my heart, and feel so blessed to have such elegance and grace in my life.

Love always,
B.

Tina placed the note on her desk and smiled at the thoughtfulness of Bette’s words. She shook her head in disbelief that this incredible woman could continue to surprise her almost daily with her romantic gestures. Sure, flowers could be generic, anyone could send flowers, but very few people could relay a message of what they were truly feeling simply by the selection of the flowers they chose to send…..with Bette Porter, there was never anything “generic” about sending flowers.

It wasn’t that there had never been a “grand gesture” from Bette. This was Bette Porter after all. The one who would do anything just to make someone she cared about happy.

There was the night of their one year anniversary. They had officially been together for 12 months, and Bette had wanted to surprise Tina with a night she would never forget. So, in true Bette Porter style, she made reservations for dinner at Tina’s favorite restaurant, but she booked the whole restaurant so they would have it all to themselves. Then she hired a limousine to drive them, and booked a suite at the Beverly Hills Wilshire Hotel for the night. Tina, being the more practical of the two said it was over the top, and that it must have cost a small fortune to do all of it. Bette insisted that Tina was worth it, and that it was necessary because she wanted Tina all to herself as they celebrated what to Bette, had been the most amazing year of her life. In the end, Tina had thoroughly enjoyed the evening, but made Bette promise to not go so “over-board” again. Reluctantly, Bette had agreed. That was when she had started selecting her gifts to Tina a little more carefully. She chose more based on sentiment, rather than grandeur. 

Present Day, Bette’s office at CU…….…..

Today, the simple gift had been the lavender tulips.  Simply stating the "love at first sight" message that Bette had wanted to remind Tina of. 

As Bette sat in her chair leaning back with her eyes still closed, she was lost in her thoughts as she continued to remember that day she sent the white lily’s. It seemed a lifetime ago, when suddenly, she was startled by a knock at her door………