Bette looked at Tina as she moved a little bit of
ice cream from one side of the bowl to the other. Not really enjoying it just
needing to look at something other than Bette at the moment. Bette moved a
strand of hair from Tina’s face and cast a soft stroke down her cheek, “I don’t
want to worry you.”

“You don’t worry me, I put myself in this position.”
Tina sadly spoke bringing a small spoonful up to Bette’s lips. “And to be
totally honest, it’s not just these thoughts that have me in knots lately.”

“What else is there?” Bette said taking another
spoonful from Tina’s spoon.

Tina sighed, she needed to ask now and get it over
with. Whether or not Bette felt like she was being forced was not the issue,
the point was that Trish had made a point in including Bette into these
festivities and she couldn’t bring herself to disappoint her by saying that she
didn’t want Bette to come. “You know that I’m going back home in a few months?”

“Trish’s birthday right?”

“Yea, she hasn’t seen Angie in a while and I know
they’re really looking forward to the time with her.” Tina finally looked up to
Bette and posed her question. “What do you think about coming with us?”

Bette was visually taken aback she’d never imagined
going to Montana with Tina and Angie. Bette opened her mouth to speak and still
had nothing to say yet. Tina was amused watching as Bette was clearly going
through a mental battle with herself. Tina laughed a little and held Bette’s
wrist and began to explain why she’d asked her to come.

“Ok before you say yes or no, let me tell you the
entire situation, please.”

“Please do.”

“You know that I told them about you.” Bette nodded
her head. She remembered vividly the way Tina came home so excited about the
way she felt so liberated. Which lead to several nights of uninhibited passion
and several bruises she had to hide; that thought alone made her smile widen.
Which caused to Tina to smile wide knowing where Bette’s mind had gone, “Trish
wants to meet you. They’ve extended the invitation to include you for the week.”

“If I say no?”

Tina smiled, “Honestly?”

“Always.” Bette nudged Tina.

“Then it would not surprise me if she showed up
here, in L.A. she hates this city but she is very adamant about seeing you
again, under these circumstances.” Tina answered watching the changes in Bette’s
face as she spoke. It was true, Trish was a very strong willed woman who very
rarely heard the word ‘no’ directed towards her. “But please don’t take that as
pressure to say yes.”

“It seems like it is.”

“I know it seems like you’re getting painted into a
corner but I’ve told them so much about you, and so has Alice. Of course if you
say no, that’s your decision and they’ll have to respect it, but if you say yes…”
Tina spoke and left the statement open for Bette to digest and adjust to the idea
of it all.

“So what you’re saying is whether it’s here or in
Montana I’m going to have to meet them?” Tina nodded her head and looked harder
at Bette as she stared out and up to the ceiling.

“Can I think about it?” she finally asked.

“Of course, I don’t want you to feel pressured.”
Tina said placing the bowl onto the coffee table before leaning into Bette’s
space. She kissed her while she stood up, Bette felt relieved.

“I’m going to bed.” Tina said as she crossed over
Bette’s legs to head to the bedroom. “Don’t stay up too late.” She knew Bette
was going to be a while, she still had work to do and no doubt a lot of
thinking to do about what awaited her in Montana.

TBC…………………………………