”Tina? Have dinner with me tomorrow night. Here at 6:30pm. Please?” Bette asked so desperately and adorably Tina felt herself losing all control of her better judgment and before she knew it she had answered:

”Ok”

Tina smiled at the memory and snapped from her thoughts when she heard Megan’s voice behind her.

”What are we having for dinner Mom?”

Tina turned around to see Megan standing behind Bette with her arms wrapped around Bette’s waist and a pang of jealousy swept through her. She glanced at Bette who was looking as uncomfortable as she felt and sighed knowing the two of them would need to talk.

”Um? I thought I would cook your favorite. Meat loaf with mash potatoes and steamed vegetables” Tina answered as she caught Bette staring at her and quickly looked at Megan

”Megan? Can you make a quick trip to the store for me and get come onions. I forgot to get some earlier”

”Sure. Let me go freshen up and Bette and I will go” Megan replied turning Bette around and giving her a quick kiss before disappearing out of the kitchen.

Tina winced quietly at the public display of affection and grabbed a cutting board from underneath the counter placing it on the counter top.

Bette sighed and walked on the other side and sat in the stool watching Tina take out potatoes to peel and cut.

”Wow. Um? I didn’t know Tina. I had no idea Megan was your daughter. I didn’t think I would ever see you again” Bette said quietly and looked to make sure Megan wasn’t close by.

Tina looked down at the counter and fought back tears as she began to peel a potato.

”How could you have known? You couldn’t have. God. You are seeing my daughter..My daughter” Tina said achingly and paused to look at Bette. ”You are even more beautiful now if it’s possible” Tina whispered and went back to peeling her potato.

Bette wanted to reach out and touch Tina but couldn’t.

”You are even more beautiful now if it’s possible” Bette said as Tina looked up at her and smiled. ”I guess that’s why I was attracted to Megan because she reminded me of you and now I know why but she’s so much more though. She’s really an incredible person just like her Mom. But she’s not you. I’ve thought about you everyday Tina”

”Bette? We can’t do this. You have made my daughter happy. I can tell. I want her happiness far more than I want mine and I know that you love her or you wouldn’t be with her so don’t break her heart. In spite of how I feel about you–I repeat–do not break my daughter’s heart” Tina warned and gave a stern look to Bette who nodded reluctantly.

”But I-” Bette began but was cut off by Tina waving her hand.

”Bette? If you feel the same way about me as I do about you then you will do what I ask. My daughter is my life and to see her happy outweighs anything I want for myself. I want her to be happy. Do you love Megan?” Tina asked knowing the answer but needing to hear Bette say it.

Bette sighed and nodded her head ”Yes I do. Very much” Bette answered honestly as Tina nodded in response.

It hurt to hear that confirmation but Tina would give her own life for her daughter’s happiness and the dream of being with the brunette sitting in front of her. She felt her heart breaking but knew she was doing the right thing. She was a mother and a mother was supposed to sacrifice for their children even if it meant giving up the person you knew in your heart you were meant to be with regardless of age differences.

”Ok. Let’s go. I’m ready” Megan announced as she bounced in the kitchen wrapping her arms around Bette’s shoulders from behind and kissing her on the cheek. Bette turned and gave Megan a kiss on the lips while she pulled her up from the stool.

”We’ll be back in a little while Mom” Megan said as she and Bette started to walk out of the kitchen holding hands and Bette looked at Tina giving her a half smile as they left.

Tina sighed and smiled at seeing Megan so happy and felt in her head that she had done the right thing—but her heart wasn’t agreeing.

tbc