Ch 27

Bette got home, and with the help of Tina they got all the children out from the car and walked up to the house. Bette gave the keys to Tina and asked her to open the door.
Tina: Bette are you sure you want me to do this?
Bette: Yes Tina I am, come on before Beatrice here beats you to it.
Tina: Ok Bette only if you are sure.
Bette nodded her head and nudged Tina forward. Tina with shaky hands put the key in the door turned it in and open the door. Beatrice was pushing her way in as usual and was the first to step inside, followed by Tina holding Melvins hand, and Bette carrying Sasha. Tina was amazed to find that everything was exactly where she left it last time she was there. Nothing much has changed and that made her feel overwhelmed, so welcome and at home. She looked at Bette smiled at her and kissed her lips.
Beatrice: Mommy where is my bedroom?
Tina: Wait a minute baby mommy Bette will show us around in a minute.
Bette: Tina this might come as a surprise for you but I had to change one thing in this house.
Tina: Oh and what is that may I ask?
Bette didnt say anything, she grabbed hold of Tinas had and escorted her to the other side of the house. They stood outside the room and Bette asked Tina again to open the door.
Tina: Why Bette what have you done to my office?
Bette: Open it and you shall see.
Tina opened the door and was completely blown away. The whole office was changed it was transferred into a nursery kitted with all babies needs. It had a cot a double bed and a spare bunk bed as well.
Tina: Oh my God Bette this place looks wonderful when did you do all this?
Bette: Well Tina you know that we together have started to think about putting a nursery in our house when you first got pregnant, remember? And then when youve lost the baby we didnt see the idea through. But as you can see a lot has happened since you were gone. I met Natasha and we planned to have a baby together and so I had to change this into a nursery to accommodate Sasha and any future babies. Tina I hope this isnt going to upset you?
Tina: No Bette no why should it? I dont blame you for moving on and for wanting to have a baby with someone else, after all I was gone for a long time.
Melvin and Beatrice were jumping up and down on the double bed, making so much noise, laughing and giggling. Tina told them to get off the bed and to behave, but Bette stopped her.
Bette: It is ok T let them play, this is going to be their nursery too, and they can share this bed or sleep in the bunk bed over there, whichever is safer for them.
Beatrice and Melvin started to jump again screaming and shouting and bringing the house down.
Tina: Bette I dont expect you to do this, its too soon you cant take us all.
Bette: T what are you talking about. You are not going anywhere, now that Ive found you. I have always expected you to be back with or without children Tina so dont say those words I beg you. It is never too soon my love, never. This is your home and will always be. I cant imagine how thrilled and ecstatic I feel to have found you. I am very, very happy to have you and the twins here with me again.
Tina: Bette that is very kind of you really, I dont know what to say? Thank you Bette.
Bette: Tina leave the children and come here I have something to show you.
Tina: What is it Bette?
Tina walked to where Bette was, Bette put Sasha in his cot and walked to meet Tina half way got hold of Tina embraced her and hugged her so tight she felt her ribs she kissed her fully on the mouth and said, T I love you.
Beatrice still giggling repeated after Bette, T I love you, I love you, I love you.
Bette and Tina were stunned at Beatrices outspokenness and started to laugh to laugh and giggle with her. She really was a bright child.
Bette: Now that we have established and sorted the arrangements for who is sleeping where, I think we should give these guys something to eat, I am sure they are hungry.
Beatrice: Mommy B can we have ith cream?
Tina and Bette: No.
Tina: Come on Melvin get down please, Beatrice off, lets go to the kitchen, come on follow me.
They left the nursery followed by Bette and with Sasha on her arms.
Tina took Sasha from Bette and gave him his feed. She was so captivated by this little boy and intrigued. She looked closely at his deep green eyes and was amazed at the likeness he has for Jack and her son Melvin. She couldnt explain it or fathom the mystery behind him. She was almost jealous of him because obviously he was the centre of Bettes life. She didnt want to compete with this little boy for Bettes affection or her love. What about her children will they be as loved as this little boy. Will Bette find a space in her heart to contain all of them? And his mother, where was his mother? Poor fellow!
Bette: Her you are Beatrice do you like pasta?
Beatrice: Yes and Melvin likes pasta too.
Bette: Is that right? Well that is good then, now sit at the table and eat please. Mommy Tina and mommy B will eat later, after we finish feeding all of you kids and then you can go for your nap. Tina I believe they have an afternoon nap?
Tina: Yes that is right mommy B.
They smiled at each others and heaved deeply their eyes were piercing each others body. They desperately wanted to be alone, the anticipation rendered them almost weak and they could feel the butterflies in their stomach already. Sasha finally finished his bottle and looked ready for his nap.
Bette: Tina do you want me to take him off your hands?
Tina: No Bette its ok Ill change him and put him in his cot, if you dont mind keeping an eye on these two monsters till I come back?
Bette: Sure Tina, thank you. Ill bring them to the nursery in a little while.
Beatrice: Mommy B I like my room and my bed too, can we stay here tonight?
Bette: B of course you can stay here tonight and every night. This is your home now B, you Melvin mommy T and mommy B we all are going to live here.
Beatrice: And daddy Jack is he going to stay with us here?
Tina came to the room and heard Beatrices question. She looked at Bette and raised her eyebrows. Bette understood Tinas gesture and kept quiet.
Tina: Beatrice baby I told you that daddy Jack will not be staying with us because he has to go to work and he cant leave the house we lived in.
Beatrice: Mommy I am going to miss him.
Tina: I know baby I know, but he is coming to visit later.
Beatrice: I love you mommy and I love daddy.
Tinas heart was breaking for hearing her daughter saying these words she struggled from keeping her tears coming down. She went to Beatrice kissed her and hugged her and kissed Melvin too.
Tina: I know baby I love you too and I love Melvin and I love mommy Bette so much too, come on now lets take you to bed, you are very tired, you need to sleep for a bit. You too Mr.
Bette helped Tina with the children they tucked them in bed turned the baby monitor on and left the room shutting the door behind them. Bette held Tinas hand and escorted her back to the dinning room ***** living room and sat her down on the sofa. She sat back and was staring at her still not believing her eyes she took her hand in hers and kissed it.
Bette: I am glad were alone at last. Tina my god you look so good, is it the pregnancy effect or the children? I have missed you so much my love, oh how I missed you.
Tina: Bette I have missed you too. You are looking swell too are you putting on weight or am I seeing double?
Bette: Tina you are terrible, but I will come to this soon, first I want to hear the story of your disappearance and of your miraculous appearance. I have been waiting for this for so long.
Tina: But Bette let me ask you first about the girls, I have missed them a lot too.
Bette: Well the girls have missed you Tina and they are going to be really shocked when they see you on Wednesday. You know Alice and Dana have got together finally and now they engaged, live together and planning to get married soon.
Tina: Wow what a turn of event who wouldve thought that those two had the hots for each others like that.
Bette: Yah thats right. They are as crazy as ever. Well Shane has gone up in the world, she owns her hairdressing salon. You have to call months in advance to be able to have an appointment, she is really busy, and we hardly see her. Oh and she is living with a long term girlfriend Sanaa. Finally she had the guts to commit to one woman only. Kit is a grandmother, her son David got married and they had a baby girl. They called her Kate. Kit is very happy and she is in a regular contact with David and his family. but I am sorry to say that my dad has passed away few years ago Tina. I was devastated for losing him but he got ill and didnt recover well. I was really stunned when Beatrice told me that her brothers name was Melvin. I couldnt believe my ears. I thought who on earth would call their children B for Beatrice/Bette and Melvin. There could only be one person and it was, it was you Tina. I am so glad that you have called your twin boy after my father Tina, what an honour! This will guarantee that his name will live on, thank you Tina.
Tina: Oh Bette I am so sorry youve lost your father. I never told you this, but I have always wanted to call OUR boy Melvin remember when I was pregnant with our baby together?
Bette: Tina yes I do. Thank you again, its very thoughtful of you. Anyway, you know that Marina was struggling financially and wanted to buy the caf The Planet? Yah well she asked me if I would like to be her partner in the business, at first I thought it would take me away from my work, but she assured me that I could be her silent partner and that she would deal with all the headache so I agreed and together we got a loan from the bank and bought Francisca out. The caf is a scream and Marina is making a killing for the both of us.
Tina: Oh Bette I am very happy for you my darling, such a businesswoman youve turned out to be Ha?
Bette: For us T, for you and all our children too. Now enough about the girls I want to know what happened to you and please dont keep anything from me.
Tina: Oh my God Bette, I dont know where to start, it really is a long story dont you want to tell me first about Sasha and his mother etc.
Bette: I will T, I have a weird feeling that both our stories are connected in more ways than one, so start from the very beginning T, from the day youve left this house running, and I can stop you and fill you in on my side of the story. Like I said I am definite that we are going to tell the same story somehow, so go on.
Tina took Bettes hand in hers and kissed it, moved from her seat kissed Bettes lips and sat as near to her as she could possibly do. She wanted to feel and smell Bettes body; shes desired and hungered for her for ages. She started to unfold the pages of her saga bit by bit, slowly and carefully as not to offend or hurt Bettes feeling in case she thought that she was to blame for whats happened to her and for her disappearance.
Bette was listening and hanging on to every word Tina was saying. It was sounding like a fairy tale, incredible how could he? Bette would say from time to time.
Bette: but hang on T you have told me before that Jacks second name was Jubraan, am I right or not?
Tina: Yes Bette it is, I have eerie feelings about this Bette.
Bette: I do too Tina do you think, no it cant be. Its almost uncanny if it was true.
Tina: Jack told me about his adoption story and how he got separated from his family. He also told me that he looked for his sister Mary, his brother Daniel and his little sister Natasha for years but couldnt find them. He got very depressed about it and various other reasons, and decided to end it. So he took a cocktail of drugs and alcohol got in his car and drove aimlessly until he came to a halt when he hit me. Do you think that Natasha is the little sister Jack was looking for? Sashas mother is it her Bette?
Bette: Oh my God T, oh myyyy God.
Tina: What is it Bette are you shocked?
Bette: Tina Natasha told me about the story of her brothers and sisters adoption too, and their life with their alcoholic parents which was the reason for their adoption and separation. Its almost the exact version of the same story. My God Tina, I am beyond shocked. What are the odds Tina my good Lord!!
Tina: Please Bette help me to understand. I need to know everything you know to piece this puzzle.
Bette started to tell Tina her side of the story and they met in the middle where one was able to finish the others part of the tale. They both looked stupefied and completely stunned.
Tina: So what you are telling me is that Jack, the father of my children the man who kidnapped me and kept me away from you for so long, is the brother that your Natasha was looking for since she left home? And that Natasha was the little sister that Jack was looking for all his adulthood and still looking for now too? This is big this is beyond comprehension Bette. I cant get my head round this one.
Bette: I cant either T; I cant begin to comprehend the implication of this for us all.
Tina: But Bette you know honey you still havent told me wheres Natasha? And why is Sasha with you?
Bettes turned her face away from Tina and stared to cry. Tina hugged Bette and urged her to talk.
Tina: Bette I am sorry honey, why are you crying my love? Did I upset you?
Bette with a lump in her throat and choking on her tears managed to tell Tina whatve happened to Natasha, which in turn made Tina very upset, and she started to cry with Bette too.
Tina: Oh my poor, poor love I have caused you a lot of hurt with my stupid actions. My God Bette I feel awful for you my love. I really am sorry for your loss, I am. You must have loved her so much. Oh my love you are such a wonderful woman, I am blessed over and over again for knowing you and now for finding you and having you back in my life. How could I ever measure up to you Bette? How could I ever make it up to you?
My heart is breaking for you my darling, but I am here now. If youll have me I am going to love you for the rest of our lives and I am going to make you forget all the hurt and the suffering. Bette I need to show you how much I love you and need you if youll let me. I love you so much my B.
Bette still couldnt talk she was overwhelmed by emotion and couldnt stop her tears from falling. She wanted to wash away all her hurts and suffering and now she has another chance to do so. Her Tina is back and her life is just about to start again.
Tina hugged Bette and started to kiss her face and wipe her tears away. She wanted so much to be with this woman it hurts. She must have been through ***** and back since she was gone.
Tina: Let it all out my love I am here, I am here now. Dont keep anything in because I am going to fill your heart with only joy and happiness from now on. I am sure youve endured so much and have been through some horrible times but well get through everything together from now on I promise you.
As soon as Tina finished her last words Beatrice jumped on her and sat on her lap.
Beatrice: Mommy B why are you crying?
Bette wiped her tears and smiled at Beatrice but still couldnt talk.
Tina: Baby, mommy B is crying because she is very happy.
Beatrice: Do people cry when they are happy?
Tina: Yes baby grownups do sometimes. Go on give mommy B a kiss and make her feel better.
Beatrice threw herself in Bettes arms hugged her with her little arms and planted a kiss on her face. Bette hugged Beatrice and kissed her back. She felt a lot better now and was able to compose herself for the sake of her two girls Tina and Beatrice.
Beatrice: Mommy you kiss mommy B too and make her feel better.
Tina and Bette laughed and was a bit embarrassed by Beatrices request but Tina wasnt that shy so she planted a kiss on Bettes lips and wiped her tears with her hands. She looked at her and they both knew that theyd have to wait for later. They still had a lot to discuss and tell each others but for now they have to attend to the little ones need. Tina and Bette were thinking and couldnt put this off their minds completely.
They got up and went to the nursery to attend to the boys. Sasha was awake but he was quietly lying in his cot. Melvin was half awake when Beatrice got on the bed and started jumping up and down which woke him up and he in turns wanted to join her but Tina grabbed hold of them both and pulled them off the bed. Bette picked Sasha from his cot and they all left the room and went to the kitchen to prepare snakes and make a bottle for Sasha. Tina was busy making peanut butter and jam sandwich for B and Melvin. She looked at Bette puzzled.