Tina: “Bette this is silly. You are tossing and turning over here on the sofa and the bed is big enough for the two of us. We can both sleep there and I trust you implicitly because you stopped things earlier when things got out of hand.”

Bette: (sitting up as she reached out to take Tina’s hand) “Are you sure?”

Tina: (smiling) “Yes, I’m positive.”

Bette stood up and let Tina lead her over to the bed. She crawled across the bed and got under the covers and waited, as Tina crawled in bed beside her. Tina reached up and once again turned out the light. They both lay there in the darkness wanting to at least touch each other but both afraid to make a move.

Tina: (working up her nerve and took a deep breath, turns to Bette) “Would it be okayif we just held each otheras we fall asleep?”

Bette: (smiling into the darkness and reaching to pull Tina into her arms) “It would be very okay.”

Tina turned so that she was laying comfortably in Bette’s arms while Bette lay there gently stroking her hand up and down Tina’s arm until she heard Tina’s breathing change indicating that she had fallen asleep. Bette softly kissed Tina’s forehead and said, “Goodnight, baby” before she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

During the night, both Bette and Tina changed positions in their sleep but never seemed to get too far away from each other. Tina was the first one to wake up. She found herself lying with her left leg draped over Bette and her left hand resting on Bette’s chest. Her first instinct was to pull away but instead she lay quietly watching the woman that had turned her life upside down.

Tina took in every detail of Bette’s beautiful face. She fought the urge to run her fingers down the side of Bette’s face, to feel the softness that she knew she would find there. Tina began to wonder, ‘What would it be like to wake up and find this beautiful woman in bed with me everyday?’ While the thought of that took her breath away, it also terrified her.

Tina gingerly moved her hand and leg, so as to not wake Bette up. Then she moved very slowly over to the side of the bed and she managed to get out of bed, without waking up Bette. She needed some air to try and clear her mind. Tina also had to deal with the thought that she was actually considering the possibility of her and Bette being together everyday.

When Bette woke up, she found the bed empty. She softly called Tina’s name out but got no answer. Bette climbed out of bed and went in search for her. She found Tina sitting out on the balcony, soaking up the morning sun.

Bette: (walking up towards Tina) “Good morning, baby.”

Tina: (looking up at Bette as she approached her) “Good morning.”

Bette: (trying to stifle her yawn) “I didn’t expect you to be up already. It is still early.”

Tina: “I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep.”

Bette: “Is everything okay?”

Tina: (hesitating before answering) “yeah.”

Bette: (picking up on Tina’s hesitation, she knelt down beside her and took her hand in hers) “Tina, that wasn’t very convincing. Please tell me if everything isn’t okay? Did I do something that upset you?”

Tina: (looking into Bette’s face, she couldn’t help but smile at Bette’s concern) “You didn’t do anything except be sweet and wonderful to me. I just found myself laying there watching you sleep this morning and wonderingwhat it would be like to find myself waking up with you on a regular basis. And while the thought of it took my breath away, it also terrified me.”

Bette: (smiling upon hearing Tina’s first words and then the smile quickly dissipated with her last) “Tina, why does it terrify you?”

Tina: (turning so that she was facing Bette) “Bette, we lead such different lives andwhat if I give my heart to you and I don’t fit in to your lifestyle?”

Bette: (smiling in relief and reaching up and caressing Tina’s cheek) “Tina, I can understand why you would be scared because this is a brand new experience for youbut I think given time, you will come to understand that at the end of the day it isn’t about life styles. It is about the possibility of being with the one person that you feel completes your life. Baby, there is something special between us and I feel it every time we are together and I know you feel it too or we wouldn’t be having this conversation. We need time to be together and if you are willing, I want you to meet my friends and see the lifestyle I lead before you make a decision about whether you can or can’t fit in to my lifestyle. I personally have no doubts that you will fit right in.”

Tina: (smiling at Bette) “Are you sure of yourself or what, Porter?”

Bette: “No, I just think that we were meant to be together.”

Tina: (staring intently into Bette’s eyes) “Are you always the eternal optimist?”

Bette: “No, but being around you does something to me. You make me want to be a better person and want something I didn’t even know I wanted.”

Tina: “What’s that?”

Bette: (smiling) “I think I will keep that little tidbit to myself for the time being but when and if the time is rightI promise to share it with you.”

Tina: (smiling and teasing) “Are you trying to be mysterious?”

Bette: (changing the subject) “Not at all. Now Miss Kennard, what do you say we get dressed, have some breakfast and then we will head back to L.A.?”

Tina: “Okay. Bette?”

Bette: “Yes, baby?”

Tina: “Thank you for being patient with me.”

Bette: (smiling as she got up and held out her hand to Tina, she couldn’t resist teasing Tina) “I promised I would be. Now let’s get dressed and out of this hotel room before I decide that I need to drag you off and throw you down on the bed and have my way with you.”

Tina: (looking up into Bette’s face and seeing that she was teasing she laughed) “I’m not worried. You just don’t know it but while you were sleepingI took advantage of you.”

Bette: (surprised at Tina’s teasing words but playing along) “You did?”

Tina: (laughing) “Yes, I did. When I woke up this morning, I was practically lying on top of you andwell, my hand found a resting place on your chest and you never even knew it.”

Bette: (letting out a little whistle before she laughed) “Damn and I missed it because I was sleeping! Well if you want to do it again, I will crawl back in bed and pretend I am sleeping.”

Tina was getting ready to reply to Bette’s comment, when her stomach growled really loud and Bette heard it.

Bette: (laughing) “Well, I guess you stomach spoke for you. I better feed you some breakfast. Why don’t you get dressed in here and I will take the bathroom or vice versa? When one of us is finished, the other can knock on the bathroom door to know it is a naked free zone.”

Tina: (laughing at Bette and going up to gently kiss her on the lips) “You are something else, Miss Porter.”

After breakfast, Bette and Tina headed out and soon were in the middle of traffic on the coastal highway. Even the crazy California traffic couldn’t wipe that botox smile off of Bette Porter’s face. She was steering with one hand and holding unto to Tina’s with her other. Bette had an incredible time with Tina.

Last night, she had one of the most peaceful sleeps she had ever had. To wake up in the morning and know that Tina was still there with her had Bette asking herself, ‘Does life get any better than this?’

Tina: (noticing the incredibly goofy expression on Bette) “What’s that grin for?”

Bette: (leaning over and giving Tina a quick kiss on the lips) “This grin would be referred to as a ‘botox smile’ and I have it because of you.”

Tina: (laughing and squeezing Bette’s hand) “Okaybut” (teasing) “Do we need to seek medical assistance? Is that a permanent condition, Botox Bette?”

Bette: (laughing) “Well that depends on you, babybecause if you’re with me, chances are I’ll have this botox smile.”

Tina: (laughing and mirroring Bette’s smile) “Well, I’ve got it toowhat a pair we make”

Bette: (looking warmly at Tina and bringing her hand to her mouth to kiss it) “Yes, baby, what a pair we make.”

Tina: (blushing) “Soit’s nice to see you in a such a good mood, Sunshine Bette.”

Bette: (laughing) “Sunshine, huh? This is quite funnyI’m not really the happy in the morning type”

Tina: (teasing) “Oh but Betteyou are my sunshine!”

Bette: “Well Ms. Kennardnothing is going to ruin the forecast of today’s sunshine for you”

[Bette’s cell phone tucked in Bette’s purse begins to ring]

Bette: “Do you think you could get that, T?”

Tina: (loving Bette calling her ‘Baby’ and ‘T’) “Sure” (answering the phone) “Hello?”

Caller: “Jesus! I almost filed a Missing Persons report with the LAPD! Where the ***** have you been?”

Tina: (glancing nervously at Bette) “UhI’m sorry I am”

Caller: “In deep ***** and should be sorry! You still owe me some beans!”

Bette: (looking puzzled) “T, who is it?”

Tina: (handing phone to Bette) “It’s uh” (Tina has a confused expression, holding phone to Bette) “someone looking forbeans?”

Bette: (releasing her hold on Tina’s hand to grasp the phone, sighing) “Hello, Al.”

Alice: “Bette? Whom the ***** was I just talking to?”

Bette: (smiling at Tina) “The person you spoke to? Yeah, that would be someone in need of therapy judging by the fearful look on her face. I see you are charming, as always.”

Alice: “Hey, I am charmingso much so, I once charmed your pants off, Porter!”

Bette: (rolling her eyes) “I just had breakfastdon’t make me ill in my precious car, Al.”

Alice: (huffing) “Yeah, whatever. Well, despite your horrendous sweet-talking this morningthe girls and I miss you. We just wanted to get togetherI mean, if you care to grace us with your presence, oh royal Princess Porter.”

Bette: (laughing) “I’d like that”

Alice: “So, we’ll meet up tonight?”

Bette: (teasing) “Oh.actually, I meant referring to me as Princess Porter.”

Alice: (yelling) “Smart *****!”

Bette: “That would be a Yale grad gifted ***** of royalty, Al.”

Alice: “Argh! You’re impossible! I’ll call you later to set up plans.”

Bette: “Okaytalk to you later.” (turning to Tina once she pushed the button to hang up the phone) “So baby, how would you feel about meeting my friends tonight?”