After the officer left, Tina was relieved that nothing in her apartment had been disturbed but she felt really bad that she had walked out on Bette the way she had. ‘She probably thinks you are crazy,’ she thought. She knew that she needed to apologize to Bette for walking out the way she did, so she grabbed her purse and pulled out the cell phone that was her direct line to Bette and she pushed the number for Bette’s cell phone and she waited.

Bette: (not recognizing the number on her cell she opted to answer it formally) “Bette Porter.”

Tina: “Hi.”

Bette: (recognizing Tina’s voice she softened her voice) “Hi.”

Tina: “I wanted to call and apologize about walking out on you the way I did tonight. It was an emergency and I had no choice but to leave.”

Bette: (showing concern) “I hope everything is okay.”

Tina: (smiling at hearing the concern in Bette’s voice) “It is now. The police thought my apartment had been broken in to because the alarm was going off but it was a false alarm.”

Bette: (smiling at the realization of why Tina had walked out on her the way she did) “I’m really glad everything is okay.”

Tina: (shyly) “Anyway I wanted to call and apologize and to tell you that I am sorry that wethat we didn’t get to finish our conversation.”

Bette: (smiling as her heart began to flutter) “So am I. So would you like to finish what you were about to say? I believe you had started out with I really would”

Tina: (smiling at Bette remembering her actual words and just going for it) “I really would like to have dinner with you.”

Bette: (jumping for joy inside but trying to play it cool with Tina) “When?”

Tina: (smiling and shaking her head because she can’t believe she is doing this) “Considering I have walked out on you two times. You name the time and placeI will try my best to be there.”

Bette: (trying to control the emotion in her voice) “Now. I want you to come and meet me now. Will you do that, Tina?”

Tina: (taking a deep breath as she answered) “Okay. Where would you like to meet?”

Bette: (wanting to scream yes!) “Would you mind coming to my apartment?”

Tina: (hesitant to go to Bette’s apartment) “I don’t “

Bette: (interrupting Tina) “Please say yes. I really would like for us to have a chance to get to know each other. It is quiet here and we would have no interruptions and hopefully no running away.”

Tina: (laughing at Bette’s comment) “Well I guess”

Bette: (interrupting Tina once again) “Besides, I believe you said that I got to name the time and location.”

Tina: (smiling at Bette’s persistence) “Okay I will come there. Give me the address.”

Bette: “1804 Palmer Drive, Apt 6A. Do I need to give you directions?”

Tina: “No. I think I can find it.”

Bette: “Great! So I will see you in about 30 minutes to an hour?”

Tina: “Let’s make it an hour. Oh and Bette, what can I bring as a peace offering for running out on you?”

Bette: (thinking to herself “just you”) “What did you have in mind?”

Tina: “Food, ice cream, chocolate. You name it.”

Bette: “Food would be good. I haven’t eaten dinner. Seems as if my hope for dinner plans fell through earlier in the evening.”

Tina: (laughing) “Okay food it is. What kind of food would you like?”

Bette: “It doesn’t matter to me. Get what sounds good to you.”

Tina: “I don’t even know what kind of food you like.”

Bette: “I like all kinds of food. Just get something that you like.”

Tina: “Well does anything sound good to you.”

Bette: (starts laughing in to the phone before she answers) “Honestly anything is fine.”

Tina: “What were you laughing at?”

Bette: “Us.”

Tina: “What about us?”

Bette: (laughing softly) “We sound like an old married couple that can’t decide what to have for dinner.”

Tina: (smiling) “Oh, we do don’t we?”

Bette: (smiling) “Yes we do. Just bring some food Tina. I promise anything will be fine. I will furnish the wine.”

Tina: “Okay. I will see you in about an hour with food in hand.”

Bette: “Okay, see you then.”

After they hung up the phone they each walked to their bedroom to change clothes. Tina opted for a pair of jeans and comfortable shirt, while Bette stood there for a few minutes debating on what to change in to. She finally put on a pair of khaki slacks and a pink tank top.

Bette spent the next forty minutes preparing for Tina’s arrival. She set the table for dinner and once that task was accomplished she headed in to the living room where she put one of her favorite CD’s in the stereo and pressed play. She considered lighting several candles around the room but opted to only light one that gave off a wonderful fragrance that filled the room. Now all she had to do was wait for Tina.

Tina was nervous as she approached the door to Bette’s apartment and as she reached up to knock she took a deep breath and then knocked on the door.

Bette: (opening the door, smiling and taking in the sight of Tina) “Hi Tina.”

Tina: (staring at Bette and trying to deal with what she felt at hearing Bette just say her name) “Hi.”

Bette: (opening the door wider to allow Tina to enter before softly saying) “I’m glad you came.”

Tina: (stepping inside the apartment and holding up the sack of food) “I come bearing your peace offering. I wasn’t sure what to get so I stopped by my favorite deli. Since it was late I thought I would go for something light.”

They headed in to the kitchen with Bette leading the way and soon they were seated at the table getting ready to dig in to the food that Tina had brought.

Bette: (taking a bite of the chef salad that Tina had brought) “Oh this is really good. What kind of dressing is on here?”

Tina: (looking up at Bette) “It’s their house dressing and it is almost like a raspberry vinegarette. I love it almost as much as I love their smoked chicken salad.”

Bette: (watching Tina enjoying her food) “It looks really good.”

Tina: “It is. Do you like to try new things?”

Bette: (smiling and thinking most definitely) “Yes.”

Tina: “Do you want to try a bite of it?”

Bette: (looking first at Tina’s plate and then at Tina) “Sure if it’s even better than what I am eating.”

Tina: (putting the chicken salad on a cracker and holding it out to Bette) “I think you will like it.”

Bette wondered if Tina meant for her to eat it out of her hand. She looked into Tina’s eyes trying to determine the answer and she made her decision. She had just started to lean in to take the bite when the phone rang. She hesitated for a minute, thinking about getting up and answering it, but opted to take the bite from Tina’s hand instead.