And that makes this Valentine’s Day so unbelievably precious to me. It makes me want to shout from the highest mountain, the tallest tree. To shout ‘I love Tina Kennard’ so loudly it will echo for the ages. Then I realize words are but a crude tool to express the love I have for you. So, I will show you. I will hold you, laugh with you, cry with you, support you and stand tall beside you today and all the days to come. I will be your forever food taster, and running buddy, and assistant gardener. Your dance partner and your yoga instructor and your lover. And I may not be good with words, but I do know three… I love you. And those I will say forever…
Bette

When Tina looked up from the letter, giant tears were already streaming down her face and dripping off her chin unabated.

“Jesus, Bette… Honey warn me next time… this is… this is the best letter I have ever received, and I love it… I love you…my God. This is all I have ever wanted…”

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, smiling with glistening eyes, clutching the paper to her chest, over her heart. With her free hand, she reached for Bette’s hand, squeezing it tightly.
Material things never really mattered to Tina. Anyone could buy flowers, and chocolate always came in a big red heart.

The one thing that made her heart flutter was Bette. To have Bette’s thoughts, written out for her so beautifully, where she could always pull them out when things were hard or years later when memories faded… there were no words.

Years and years later, Angie would find this letter in her mother’s things as she sorted their belongings. It was faded and worn and clearly held and read many many times, the tear stains dried and the writing blotched by their passing. And she would tuck it in her purse for safe keeping, a memento of her mothers love for each other, a love that was for the ages.

The waiter set their meals down in front of them, sea scallops for Tina and the king salmon for Bette. He couldn’t tell if the two women had been fighting or making up but they were the most beautiful couple he had ever seen and he was used to serving movie stars. He produced two long stem roses, freshly cut from the cart and placed them in a vase in the middle of the table, telling them to take the flowers with them when they left.