Skylar frowned “I never knew that”

I sigh “I know I’m sorry..That was during the time I hadn’t spoke with you and when I did she had already left to go back to her apartment so I didn’t think about it”

Skylar sighs “I wish you didn’t have to leave.  I don’t know when I will see you again”

I sigh and sit down on the bed beside her

“I know.  But we will FaceTime and all because I have to see my godson” I say placing my finger under Tristan’s tiny hand which he grips

“Yeah and when Tristan is a little older we will come visit”

“I’d like that.  I will be moving to a home there in Scilla.  It’s already furnished” I say and sigh as Tristan wakes up a little fussy and I pull my finger out of his grip.

“I think he’s hungry now.  Want to try it again?”

She nods exposing her breast and placing her nipple close to Tristan’s mouth which he immediately takes and begins suckling. I just smile

“See.  He had too much gas earlier and didn’t want it”  I say and she looks at me smiling

“You will make a great Mom” she says and I sigh

“Thanks.  I do want children.  I’m not getting any younger.  I will be 30 soon.  I just hoped I would find a partner to share that with”

“I get that Tina.  But you pretty much end any positive relationship you have been in because they aren’t Bette”

I scoff “That is not true”

“Deny all you want.  You had a really good thing going with Alisha in London but you sabotaged that when she said she wanted to marry you”

“Sky we had only been dating for 6 months and she wanted to get married.  I wasn’t ready for that.  She was great but..”

“But she wasn’t Bette” Skylar interrupted and I glared at her

“Alright Skylar.  Yes..I admit it.  I am looking for my  Bette Porter since I will never have the real one”

“She’s divorced right?” Skylar says and I glare at her again

“Why does that matter?”

Skylar sighs “She’s single now Tina”

“She just ended her marriage Skylar..And besides she only sees me as a friend and to be honest I’m ok with that”

“So you don’t want to be with her?”

I sigh “I do…More than anything… But again she only sees me as a friend.  Besides I will be in Italy and she will be in Pittsburgh so there is no way anything would happen even if I wanted it to”

“Hey Tina. You ready to go?” I hear Bryan say entering the room and if I could I would kiss him for interrupting this conversation.  I guess it’s time for me to get to the airport now

4 months later

I’m looking out my office facing the Tyrrhenian Sea. “Its so beautiful here” I mutter to myself when I hear a rap on the door

“Getting settled in Tina?” I hear Mr Gellman say as I turn around and smile

“Yes sir. Thank you” I reply and take a thick folder from his hand he had held out for me

“No problem.  This is for the meeting with the consultant we have in a half hour”

I remember Mr. Gellman mentioned a consultant was hired to assist in the design. I wasn’t too happy about that when I heard but since I was told all final decisions would be made by me I didn’t really care anymore.

“Oh I didn’t see that on my schedule”

Mr. Gellman nods “It wasn’t.  Since I will only be here today I wanted to get the two of you together before I left”

I nod and set the folder down “Ok.  So apparently we aren’t familiar with each other then” I say glancing at the folder

“Oh we are very familiar with each other I would say” I hear a voice answer.  Fuck I know that voice.  I immediately look up and lock eyes with the woman who still takes my breath away

“Bette?”

TBC