“Thanks” I look at him, already knowing what he’s going to ask.

           “Did you adopt her?”

           “No, I gave birth to her” he seems disappointed. He must be thinking I’m with someone… ‘Wait! I am’

           “So um…” he puts the frame down, “What’s your husband do?”

           “He’s a power forward for the L.A Clippers” I smile smugly. He didn’t get I’m teasing him. He looks reassigned. I let out a small laugh, without taking my eyes off him “I’m sorry I’m just kidding” and then I add, “I don’t have a husband” I lean back in the chair and stare at him.

He smiles broadly. I can see he’s happy I’m with no one. The fact is… I am and her name is Bette. I seemed to forget this huge particular. Our meeting is over by now, so he excuses himself, telling me he’s surely going to call me soon. Even though the blatant flirting, I’m now feeling an enormous amount of guilt and… emptiness. I really enjoyed it. I liked the fact that I was the boss for once. Am I really giving my beautiful seven years of love away for this? He’s almost out of the office, when I speak aloud “A woman!”

“What?” he turns around.

“I’m with a woman. My daughter’s other parent is a woman”

He looks stunned now; it’s somewhat funny, “Oh, I could never imagine that”

I smile and finally realize that what I really needed was to admit to myself that I’m with her. Yes, I’m with her and I’m going to make it right. I came back home because I love her and I want to put an end to the vicious circle. We’re going to make it work, together. “Yeah, her name is Bette Porter. We’ve been together for over seven years”, I explain. Actually, I’m saying this to myself. I’m with Bette Porter for Christ’s sake. I can’t give her up for some senseless and worthless attraction to a man. She’s the only one I need and want. I just needed to admit it to myself.

           “Oh” he whispers.

           “Yeah, so um… I think it’s better if you call me to talk exclusively about work” I smile.

           “Of course, got it” and he rushed out the office.

           I lean back in my chair and sigh a content sigh. I smile and this time it reaches my eyes. Yes, I’m with Bette. I won’t avoid her anymore. We need to talk about these issues and put them aside once for all. I think I just needed a push in the right direction, and I’m happy I found it before I could do something I might regret. I needed some self-esteem. I needed some more confidence. Finally, I feel confident enough to say that I’m going to do my best to try to forgive her. I grab the phone and I quickly dialed home. My home. Our home.

           “Hello?” her voice sounds so small. ‘Oh baby’

           “Babe!” I utter. That word. I haven’t been using that word in a while and it feels so right. She may have thought the same thing because she sounds kind of taken aback, “Tina?”

I chuckle, “Of course it’s me. I better be the only one to call you that”

           “Uh, no, of course, it’s just… I” she takes a deep breath; she sounds nervous. “It’s been a while you know”

           “I know” I whisper.

           “I’m sorry, I know you were in a meeting, I mean…” she stammers. ‘Fuck’ Poor baby, I lashed out yesterday, because she called me while I was in a meeting. I can imagine how she’s feeling right now. “I just miss you”, she says with a small voice, my heart melts. She’s so fragile right now. I’m going to take care of her, just as she did with me. That’s how relationships work. There’s no competition. Just love and understanding. There’s no possession. No trying to demonstrate who’s stronger than who. Just unconditional will to share thyself.  No matter how weak you may look.

           “I miss you too. I mean, we still have lots of things to talk about, but the sure thing is that we’re going to make it right”

           “We’re good then?” she asks. I can feel the smile in her voice.

           “Baby,” I sigh in contentment in the anticipation of what I’m going to say next, “We’re perfect!”