“Ok, Ill pick you at four, see you tomorrow Tee”.

Sighing, with a bittersweet feeling running through her body, Bette hanged up the cell.


Inspecting the lights at the other side of the room , trying not to listen, Lee was playing with the wrapped paper of one of her sculptures. Noticing Bette walking towards her, she turned.

“You ok?” she asked, seeing the look on Bettes face.

“Yeah, I am” Bette said, nodding.

She wasnt sure about Tinas words, her attitude, the tone she used while talking with her. She didnt sound distant, she seemed bother, mad at her which to Bette didnt make any sense. Thinking about it she hook her head.

“Yeah..am fine…so…what you think?” she asked pointing around, the empty room painted in a bright lipstick red.

Nodding, noticing the subtle try to change the topic, Lee said.

“I think you are brave…very brave”

“Me?…is you show…I just ordered the paint” Bette smiled, walking towards the wall.

“You have good eye…I think is a great choice… audacious…” Moving close to Bette, Lee added, her tone a little deeper, intimate. “… But I like audacious…is exciting…”

Noticing Lees proximity, Bette turned around to face her. For a second they looked at each other quietly, till Bette, walking away added,

“Lest check the other room”

“Ok” mumbled Lee, sighing.

Walking behind Bette, Lee noticed her beautiful arms. She was wearing his usual sleeveless white silk shirt, leaving her perfectly toned arms sensually free. Entering the next room, Bette turned the lights on, surprising Lee with it.

“Wow” Lee whispered looking around.

Smiling, Bette walked around the room, loving the light reflected on the walls.

“And I thought red was brave…” Lee whispered, caressing the wall.

“I love it…”she added turning to look at Bette.

Proudly smiling, Bette said,

“I thought we could display the nudes here”

Nodding, imagining the show, Lee sighed.

“You are a genius…is perfect…” She whispered, stopping at Bettes side.

“Thank you…am glad you like it”

Walking towards the entrance, Bette nonchalantly asked,

“So…what you think about the pictures…How is tomorrow for you?”

Turning the light off, Lee followed Bette steps, stopping at her side.

“Yes…tomorrow is perfect…when would it be?, in the afternoon?” she asked.

Turning to look at Lee, Bette said, shaking her head.

“No, I cant in the afternoon(noticing the look on Lees face)…I have an appointment(not wanting to sound unprofessional, she added), a doctors appointment…”

“Oh…you ok?” asked Lee, moving closer.

“Yeah, yeah…is Tinas appointment?…you know…you met her” she added pointing outside.

Nodding, not sure to be following what Bette was saying, Lee tried not to ask. Bette, noticing the confused look on her face, added,

“She is having our baby”

“Oh..” was all Lee was able to say, unable to hide her surprise.

“I thought you were single” she whispered.

“Im not” Bette quickly said, only to sadly add a few seconds later, “I mean..I am…is just…”

She didnt know how to explain it, what to explain. She didnt know Lee that well, didnt want to go into details with her but, on the other hand, it seemed like a good idea to talk with somebody out of their circle, somebody who could see things clearly, without attachments.

“I…” she mumbled.

Noticing the look on Bettes face, Lee sweetly said.

“Would you like to have a drink…(seeing Bette look up at her)…a coffee maybe?

Nodding, getting lost in the sweet look in Lees eyes, Bette agreed.


***

Watching Helena undressing, caressing the sheets, Tina asked,

“When were you the happiest?”

Looking up, locking her eyes with Tina, Helena rose an eyebrow.

“What kind of question is that?”

“I dont know…” said Tina, trying to smile.

Putting the tank top on, Helena sat on the bed only to move towards Tina like a panther, locking her eyes, mischievously smiling. Her hand wends its way under the covers. Feeling Helena?s hand caressing her tights, holding her breath Tina closed her eyes only to open them again a second later.

“Helena, when were you the happiest?” Tina repeated, placing her hand over the sheet, holding Helenas.

Seeing that Tina was not going to play her game, not till she gave her answer, Helena sighed, moving up to Tinas side.

“I dont know…when I met you?” she tried looking at Tina, putting a funny face.

“Am serious…” Tina said, caressing Helenas hand.

“I dont know…” she said again, thinking.

Looking at her hands, caressing them, Tina nodded.

“When my kids were born I guess…” Helena finally said looking at Tina.

Nodding, looking up at Helena, Tina smiled. There was nothing she could say, she could do that could make her feel better. She was feeling lost, tired, and cold.She wanted to cry but she didnt know why.

“Are you ok?” Helena asked, noticing the look on Tinas face. Removing a lock of hair from her face, she added, leaning forward to kiss her neck.

“Yeah…yeah..am ok..is just…I feel funny…thats all..is probably just something I ate…” Tina said, laying on the bed.

“Ok” Helena said, sighing, realizing that Tina was not in the mood.

“Am going to check some papers then” She added, jumping out of the bed.

“Ok” Tina said, turning around.

“Good night” Helena said at the door.

“Good night” Tina whispered, holding the tears.

Hugging the sheets, looking at the white high ceiling, she sighed again, trying to calm her nerves. Breathing deeply, remembering the yoga classes, she felt herself relaxing. After turning the light off, she placed her hands on her belly. The baby was moving which calmed her. Closing her eyes, caressing her belly as a mantra, as a friend, she tried to remember happy times. She was feeling nervous, excited, something was bothering her and she could not put her finger on what it was. Caressing her belly she remembered, she remembered that other time. The first time Bette caressed her belly. Just thinking about that moment, that day, Tina felt her muscles relaxing, a smile growing on her face.


***

Getting into the car, Bette said.

“I guess is a bit late…I didnt realized it was so late”

“Yes…I dont think I will ever get use to this…” Lee said looking at the closed coffee place. “…In Europe there are plenty of great places to go at one am..”

“Yeah…we can go to a dinner..or…” Bette said, looking for an exit, suddenly realizing that inviting Lee to her place was the easy answer but somehow wasnt feeling in the mood to do it.

“No, no…we could go to my hotel if you want” Lee suggested, nonchalantly fastening the seat belt.

Feeling uneasy, Bette shook her head, unaware of being an open book with her actions. Noticing the look on Bettes face, Lee added, sweetly smiling.

“Or we could go for a walk…”

Nodding, Bette said,

“I know a place”

Turning the engine on, Bette nodded, getting lost in the memories.


***

Remembering the time, letting the caresses cradle her back in time, Tina smiled…It was going to be their first time at the beach. Feeling like a teenager, Tina spent a couple of hours trying different outfits in front of the mirror. It was just their third date, and she was feeling as nervous and excited as on the first one. It wasnt helping to know, to guess, what an incredible body Bette probably had. Throwing the red bikini back to the closet, Tina sighed. It was not like her to be so self conscious about her body. She was happy with it. Of course she would love to be thinner, just a little, to lose that little extra she knew, could feel she had around her waist, or maybe to be taller, but all and all she was pretty ok with her body. Never ever gave it a second thought, not when she was preparing for a date at least.

But then, she thought trying the black tiny bikini on, with guys it was always so easy. They were easy to please. It wasn?t going to be so easy to fool a woman and Bette even less. Just thinking about Bette seeing her, watching her almost in the nude, made Tina tremble.
What could she think? Would she like her?, would she like her legs?…her arms?…god I shouldnt have stopped my yoga classes she sighed, putting back her bra.
Checking herself on the mirror she sighed again. It was stupid she repeated herself. This is what it is…this is me…she will have to like it…or not. She whispered, hoping for Bette to like her as she was starting to like her…a lot.


***

“whats this?” Asked Lee looking around.

Closing the car, Bette smiled to herself.

“I used to live here. Its my dads old house. He doesnt live here anymore. Is still his, but no one uses it”

Walking towards the front door, Bette felt a strange feeling running through her body. Stopping at the door she kneeled. Moving the doormat, she pushed down the wooden floor, making it crack, only to brake it a little. Introducing her hand inside it, she closed her eyes for a few long seconds till a wide smile appeared on her face.

Go it!” she mumbled.

Standing up, she proudly showed Lee a big old key. Opening the front door, she said,

“Come on in..be careful”

Following Bettes step, Lee nodded, not sure what she was doing. Noticing how dark it was, she held her breath, extending her arms, trying to find something to hold herself. Finding Bette at the end of her arm, she grabbed her.

Feeling Lee at her back, Bette said,

“The electicity is cut….but there are candles somewhere”

Taking Lees hand, guiding her in the dark, Bette walked towards what it looked like a closet. Opening it she kneeled.

“Here it is” she said after a few quiet seconds.

“You have a match?” she asked Lee.

“Yeah… Lee chuckled, finally letting air come into her lungs “dont know why thou…I dont smoke” She said, trying to find them in her purse.

“Great” Bette mumbled, taking the matches Lee was handing her.

Lighting the candle, Bette sighed, smiling.

“Here we are” she added, rising the light to look at Lee.

“You ok” She asked, seeing the scared look on Lees face.

“Yes, yes.. “nodded Lee, not sounding very convincing.

“One more yes and I wont believe you” teased Bette, taking Lees hand.

“You will see” she added, leading Lee to the upper floor.

Opening a door, Bette said,

“You first…”

Nodding, doubting for a second, Lee did as Bette said. Walking into the room she felt her jaw touching the floor.

Unable to say anything she turned around to look at Bette.

“Incredible, eh?” Bette said widely smiling.

“Yes” Lee said, turning again, moving forward.