At seven pm on the dot the next evening Bette pulled up outside Alice’s house and went to the door. As Tina opened it Bette’s heart fluttered. Tina’s beauty never failed to have an effect on her. She pulled herself together and handed Tina the single red rose that she was carrying.

“Thank you” Tina said softly “I’ll just go and put it in water”

Bette waited just inside the front door as Tina added the rose to the vase of flowers from the day before.

“Shall we go?” Bette asked.

“Yeah” Tina smiled as Bette led the way to the car.

When they reached the car, Bette opened the passenger door for Tina. Tina smiled at her and got in. As they drove to the restaurant it was apparent that both of them were nervous about the occasion.

“So, you’ve started being on time” Tina struck up conversation.

“I’m trying to change T, really I am”

“I appreciate it” Tina patted Bette’s arm reassuringly, and then quickly withdrew her hand.

“I’m not giving up. Everything about me, about us, that was wrong, I’m gonna do my best to change it all”

“It’s not gonna be easy”

“You’re worth it” Bette said simply.

“So where are you taking me?” Tina changed the subject.

“Wait and see”

They pulled up in the car park and Tina got out. It was the Italian restaurant where they’d gone on their first ever date. A tear formed in Tina’s eye, and she blinked it back.

“Is this okay?” Bette asked.

“It’s perfect”

“Shall we?” Bette held out her arm to Tina.

Tina linked her arm through Bette’s and they walked in through the front door of the restaurant. They didn’t seperate until they were shown to their table. Bette ordered a bottle of their favourite red wine, and they browsed the menu. It wasn’t long before they were ready to order.

“I’ll have the house penne” Bette ordered.

“And the gnocchi for me please” added Tina.

The waiter nodded and walked away.

“So, no spaghetti this time?” Bette asked with a grin.

They both laughed as they recalled their first date. Tina had ordered spaghetti and made a complete mess despite her best efforts to eat it tidily.

“I guess I know why they say never order spaghetti on a date”

“You already knew, you were just too stubborn and insisted on having it anyway” Bette pointed out.

Tina laughed and conceded defeat.

“And remember how we embarrassed that waitress?” Tina asked.

“What by holding hands the whole time so she couldn’t put the food down?”

“She was too scared to ask us to move!” Tina laughed.

“It was a good night though, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, it was”

They both sat there in silence, reminiscing. Their thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the food. While eating they talked about simple things, such as Bette’s work, the latest movies and how good the food was. Soon the plates were cleared and they looked at each other. Bette reached her hand out and lay it palm up on the table.

“Bette, I…” Tina lifted her eyes to meet Bette’s.

Bette didn’t speak, she just stared at Tina. Her eyes reflected the love and need she felt, and Tina was won over. Slowly she moved her hand towards Bette’s. Their fingertips brushed against each other.

“Thank you” Bette whispered.

“For what?”

“Still believing”

Tina ran her fingertip down Bette’s middle finger. She traced a circle on her palm with the lightest of touches. Then she lay her hand down on Bette’s and they both sighed at the firm contact of skin. They both curled their fingers together and just looked into each others eyes.

“Do you remember?” Bette asked softly.

“Every moment” Tina whispered.

A tear ran down Tina’s cheek and she lowered her head. Bette thought she was going to let go, but instead Tina gripped her hand more firmly.

“Why does love have to hurt so much?”

“Love has the extremities of emotion. To feel the highest highs you have to feel the lowest lows” Bette tried to explain.

“We’ve had them all, haven’t we?”

“I guess we have”

“Sometimes I think it would be easier just to walk away and call it quits. That way I’d stop hurting” Tina looked up.

Bette’s eyes filled with tears “Please don’t say that”

“But then I think, I’d be walking away from the best thing that ever happened to me, and so I have to hold on”

Bette swallowed “I will never hurt you like that again”

“I just hope you mean that”

“I do…believe me”

They held each others’ gaze for a while.

“Can we go?” Tina asked.

Bette nodded and sorted the bill. She helped Tina into her jacket, and they held hands loosely on the way back to the car. The drive back to Alice’s was in silence, but it wasn’t awkward. As Tina unfastened her seat belt, Bette leant over and cupped her face with her hand. They stared into each others’ eyes and Bette’s lips parted slightly.

“Please don’t push me, Bette” Tina said quietly.

Tina leant over and kissed Bette lightly on the cheek. She climbed out of the car and walked back up to the house.

Once she’d made sure Tina was safely inside, Bette drove slowly home. Mentally she was kicking herself. They’d had such a great evening, and then she’d taken it one step too far. Good one Porter, she chided herself, next time you’ve got to have more control.