Bette closed the phone with a satisfying click and made eye contact.

“Your what ?” Alice, the one and only, was first.

Followed by three other, which voiced the very same question at the same time.

She lifted her hand, but said nothing. One by one the words died on their lips. Then she smiled and dropped bomb number two.

“Since this morning, I have a man in my life ! I fell in love with him at first sight and he is going to stay !”

This time it was Kit who recovered first. “What the fuck are you talking about. In love with a man since this morning ?”

“How the hell did that happen ?” Alice was next.

“Bette, are you sure ?” Jenny’s five cent.

Helena just looked at her with teary eyes, got up and went in the direction of the rest room.

“Shit !” Bette was out of her chair in a second and in close pursuit.

“And what’s that supposed to be ?” Kit couldn’t help it.

“What does it look like ?” And that cam from Jenny.

She looked at Alice, but there was no answer forthcoming. For once in her life, Alice Pieszecki kept her mouth shut at the right time.

* * *

Helena stood at the sink and was wiping her face with a paper towel when Bette entered.

“Helena…”

“No, Bette, you mislead me into believing…”

“Helena, just hear me out, please.” Bette took a step forward, placed one hand on her shoulder and gently turned Helena around.

She took both of Helena’s hands into her own. “Helena, he is five month old, his name is Blue King and he is a … cat !”

She cupped Helena’s face now.

“You’re kidding, right ?” Helena tried to smile.

“No, Helena. It’s true. You can ask Shane, when she is here.” Bette’s facial expression was honest and Helena believed her.

“I’m sorry for making that statement so carelessly. I didn’t want to…”

There’s time for talk and there’s time for non-talk. And Helena decided now it was the latter.

She looked into Bette’s eyes and could see a smouldering fire. She bent her head ever so slowly, her eyes showing the same fire and giving every opportunity to withdraw. But that was the last thing on Bette’s mind. Ever so slowly their lips met. They embraced fully and the kiss quickly reached passionate heights. It was like they could feel the others heartbeat, hands started to roam, tongues duelled and Helena pressed herself tightly at Bette. The kiss was intense and overpowering and left them gasping for breath.

Their foreheads touched and both of them smiled.