She held their baby girl close and took in her smell and it brought tears once again to her eyes with the preciousness of her existence in her life. She felt so blessed in this moment with all the goodness she had and for making the right decision in being present for the birth. It could have all been so different had she stayed, who she had been, instead of realizing who she was wasn’t, and who she was meant to be. She so appreciated, in this moment, the hard work she had accomplished with Sonia.

She didn’t see or hear Tina come out of the bathroom, with her head filled with so many thoughts and the face of her precious newborn, and certainly didn’t see her walk up to her. She only knew that she was there as her wife’s arms surrounded her and pulled her into her closer. They stood there enjoying this precious moment together with their daughter. “I love you, Tina Kennard-Porter! Look what you created for us!!”

“We created her with our love… And, I love you, Bette Kennard-Porter! We finally have our family… the one we’ve always dreamt of together. I know in my heart that we’ll work hard together to make this work and be so successful this time; I know it in my bones.

I’m so sorry that I created this mess between us that it made you go so far away from me. I regret that you didn’t get to be there for her development and hope that you can find a way to forgive me…”

“I have already, Sweetheart, I had to for my own sanity and healing… Plain and simple, we both messed up, so now its time to move forward together. I have missed you so much. Oh, my God, your absence from my life left me with such a huge hole in my heart; I was so miserable for so long. It was only Ozzie’s presence that saved me, as I had to think of someone else and not me…

I love you and in this moment… I also believe that we’ll be more successful this time because we have experienced what we have; no more taking life for granted,” Bette commented. They turned and faced each other and tenderly kissed and then went back over to the bed for Tina to lie down and rest once again. Bette sat closely next to her while Tina held the baby. They just gazed at her and enjoyed the moment.