Not that the straight girl wasn’t interesting, or cute. But there was something about her that Alice thought seemed out of place.

But here they were, together. Dancing, together. Ordering drinks, together. Heading off for the restroom, together. (That was a long trip!)

The last time the three of them had gone out, Tina had become totally fed up with Alice’s ‘straight girl’ comments and took off. This time, Bette didn’t seem to be giving her any spare moments alone, not that Tina seemed to mind.

Tina, for her part, seemed fully attentive to Bette. And each seemed more attractive in the other’s presence.

During the entire time that she dated Bette Porter, even in their most intimate moments, Alice didn’t think she ever got anything close to the looks of adoration that Porter was sharing with Tina here, in public, at a bar.

As the evening progressed, Alice continued to watch the two of them together. She knew exactly how long the couple had been dating, and it wasn’t long. But there was a synergy, as if one automatically knew what the other needed.

Bette had this look of affection and pride for the blonde woman. Tina, on the other hand, seemed to be the support system and the ground for Bette. Alice started thinking that each had, truly, found the other half of her soul. Then she wondered if she’d just been watching too much Xena, and taking her dating cues from Gabrielle.

Alice had to admit, though, she wanted to find someone like Tina, but someone for herself. Someone to compliment her personality, an individual with whom she could be part of a whole. She’d yet to find that in anyone she’d dated, male or female. Yet here, before her, was proof that it could occur.

One blonde woman had found her way into Porter’s heart. One attractive, funny, smart, blonde woman. It was at some point during that night when it all became clear to Alice that the real joke was on her. She had a crush on Tina.

Maybe that was the reason she was always needling the other woman, always vying for her attention. Alice chastised herself at the thought. ‘There’s someone for you, you don’t have to steal from Porter.’

Noting the looks passing between Bette and Tina, Alice knew on her best day, she wouldn’t even have a shot. Both happy for her friend and dismayed by a feeling of loss, Alice took off for a cruise around the bar to look for a fresh face. If she couldn’t find Ms. Right, perhaps she’d find a Ms. Right Now.

Ms. Right didn’t seem to happen. Not that night, or many nights following; at least, not in a significant way. But now, now she had Dana. Alice smiled when she thought of the tennis pro.

And she came to understand that maybe knowing Bette and Tina, wanting what they had, had maybe hurt her relationship search over the years. After all, she wasn’t like either of them, why should she expect to find a partner that would duplicate their relationship?

Now, she had a relationship, which was new, but with someone that she loved deeply and knew well. Some elements of surprise were gone, but unexpected bits of happiness remained. Surprise and stability, all in one.

And, given her past, given all the times she had broken up and found herself back in the web of Porter-Kennard domesticity, she could understand why Bette wasn’t up for hanging around her and Dana.

But now, Bette seemed more like Bette, and less like a combination of bad booze and cigarette commercials. Tina was spending way too much time with the demon spawn for Alice’s taste, but the fact that she was talking to Bette sounded like progress.

And there was actual progress, positive moves, regarding the baby.

“I’m happy for you, Bette,” Alice repeated. And she was, really. Almost as happy as she was for herself. Perhaps somewhere in the universe, something shifted and the stars were aligning for all four of them.

Maybe the best truly was to come.

(the end)