Chapter 13

Bette moaned as her back seized up and started to throb. She felt the numbness in her arm and winced as she moved her fingers, feeling the tingling sensation shoot up her arm confirming that not only was her hand asleep, but most of her arm was as well.

“I’m too old not to be in my own bed,” Bette mumbled as she opened her eyes and saw the ceiling of the tent, realizing quickly that they had fallen asleep on the hard wooden stage.

She chuckled as she looked down and saw Tina draped over her body sheltered from the harsh coldness of the wood. Bette’s body had absorbed most of the pain from sleeping for a few hours on wood. She grunted as she attempted to shift Tina’s body off of her own in order to get off the stage and stretch her sore muscles.

“Ugh,” Bette grunted as the pain shot through her body at even a small movement.

Tina picked her head up slowly, not conscious of her surroundings yet, but instantly smiled at Bette and kissed her lips lightly.

“What time is it?” Tina asked in a sleepy voice.

“I have no idea,” Bette said as she worked to get out from underneath Tina. “What I do know is that my body is screaming at me for falling asleep out here.”

“I told you to get up.”

“You should have rolled me off the stage to make sure we didn’t fall asleep.”

“At least I got dressed,” Tina snickered as her senses started to come alive.

“My entire body hurts,” Bette whined causing Tina to begin to laugh. “I’m not sure if I ache from sleeping here or you attacking me.”

“What?” Tina asked in shock as she helped Bette to her feet.

“What part of attacking me don’t you get?”

“Clearly the attacking part,” Tina said with a smile on her face that matched Bette’s.

“Sneaking up behind me,” Bette said seductively as she wrapped her arms around Tina’s waist and began to kiss her neck. “Luring me into a false sense of security with the entire dance façade.”

Tina snickered as Bette’s lips found every one of the sensitive spots on her neck. Bette made a point to talk in a seductive tone after each kiss she placed on Tina’s neck to continue to play the role of a martyr.

“I mean, really Tina, I came out here only to get some fresh air and then I’m seduced! Before I even realized it, you were getting exactly what you wanted from me.”

Tina burst out laughing and ran her hands down Bette’s sides before grabbing hold of some of Bette’s skin and pinching it.

“Ouch!”

“My poor Bette,” Tina said in a mocking tone. “How can you stand to live such a hard life?”

“I think I need a reward,” Bette muttered as her lips met Tina’s with more force then she used kissing Tina’s neck.

Tina ran her hands up the back of Bette’s t-shirt while kissing her furiously. The feel of Bette’s soft skin against the palms of her hands made Tina moan her approval into Bette’s mouth.

“Well what do you want?” Tina asked.

“I think I may want a full body massage.”

“Nuh-uh,” Tina said laughing at the shocked look that crossed Bette’s face. “You haven’t been that good.”

“That good for what?” Alice asked as she made her way into the tent, breaking up the intimate conversation.

Both Bette and Tina rolled their eyes at the intrusion, but continued to look at one another and lightly caress each other as they worked at ignoring Alice.

“Am I talking to myself here?”

“It would appear so,” Bette confirmed.

“Wow aren’t you two the perfect picture of happiness?” Alice asked as she leaned against a table and smiled at her friends. “It’s good to see.”

“Thank you Alice,” Tina said smiling. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said all weekend.”

“Don’t get used to it, I think Hicksville is growing on me and it’s causing me to be polite, like a good ol’ Southern Lady. Anyway, this sickening display needs to be interrupted for a short period of time for breakfast. Mom was tired of waiting for you to wake up.”

“She knew we were down here?” Tina asked wondering what her mother had thought of them sleeping in an intimate manner.

“Oh yeah,” Alice laughed. “It inspired a passionate debate about lesbian death bed and, might I add, your mother is very well versed in lesbian 101.”

“Oh dear God what did you do?” Tina abruptly turned her head and made Alice her focus.

“Me?”

“You’re behind every conversation like that,” Tina accused her.

“You’d be shocked to know that our little Dana actually was brave enough to show her face after that mockery of a speech and she was the one that thumbed through the book and answered some of your mom’s questions.”

“Great,” Bette rolled her eyes. “Now there are at least two people clueless about lesbians.”

“I’m so embarrassed,” Tina said hiding her head in the crook of Bette’s neck.

“In a few hours we’ll be leaving and hopefully that conversation can be forgotten shortly thereafter,” Bette said snickering.

“I’m going to miss this little obscure piece of America,” Alice said in seriousness. “It’s nice to know Tina wasn’t raised by wolves.”

“Although you may like it here Alice, I don’t think Asheville could survive you long-term.”

Bette felt the difference in Tina’s posture immediately as Alice began her witty banter with Bette.

“So you’re saying I’m a woman that’s too hot for Hicksville to handle?” Alice shot back with an emphasis on the word woman. “Just so you know the song ‘I’m Too Sexy’ was really inspired by me Porter.”

Bette looked down at Tina to see if she could read the sudden change of her mood.

“I’ve always believed that everyone should have a theme song,” Alice continued to babble not realizing that her audience was not paying attention. “Mine is for sure that song.”

Alice began to walk around the area twirling and imitating what a model on the catwalk would do in order to make her point.

“I’m too sexy for my shirt,” Alice began to sing. “Too sexy for my shirt, shirt, shirt…” She twirled around and then noticed Bette holding Tina while tears streamed down her face.

“I didn’t think my singing was that bad,” Alice said as she approached them on the stage and began to rub Tina’s back along with Bette to offer comfort. “What’s wrong?”

“Talk to me T,” Bette pleaded.

“I’m just sad,” Tina said between breaths taken to attempt to settle her breathing. “I haven’t seen my family in so long and now I have to leave after such a short visit.”

“I knew this would happen,” Bette kissed the top of Tina’s head as she held her tight. “Babe, we can come back, they can come see us, we can make it a priority to see them more often.”

“I know,” Tina said as her tears wet the front of Bette’s t-shirt.

“Natalie said she was going to come visit,” Alice said as she rubbed Tina’s back. “Maybe Mom can come with her.”

“She is not coming to see you?” Tina said shocked that her cousin would offer that as a suggestion for the future.

“I’m serious,” Alice responded as Tina stared at her in disbelief. “I’m that good.”

Bette chuckled at Alice’s comment coupled with her arched eyebrow and seductive smile that caused Tina to smile.

“That’s what I like to see,” Alice laughed with her friend.

“You’re insane you know that?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way and neither would you.”

“Let’s get up to the house for breakfast,” Bette said draping her arm around Tina’s shoulder and holding her close to her body. “We’ll need to face the knowing stares I’m sure.”

“Knowing stares?” Alice questioned.

“Well at least questioning glances as to why we were down in the tent.”

“Oh,” Alice laughed. “Everyone knows you did it. There’s no need to worry about them wondering.”

“Great,” Tina said slightly embarrassed.

“Why are you blushing?”

“Because Alice,” Tina said shocked that Alice wouldn’t have gotten the reasoning behind the red creeping into her cheeks and neck. “I don’t think my family wants to think of me having sex with anyone.”

“Oh James thinks Bette’s hot!”

“He does not,” Bette argued as they walked toward the house.

“I’ll bet you $100!”

“Don’t take it Bette,” Tina said. “He does.”

“Ya know,” Bette began. “Kill me….”

“Now!” Tina and Alice said in unison.

“Right,” Bette said fighting her smile. “I’ve become that predictable huh?”

“Sadly yes,” Alice agreed.

Bette, Tina, and Alice walked inside and were promptly greeted with the smell of breakfast and the bustle of the kitchen as Donna began to put plates of food on the table.

“Mornin’ girls,” Donna said as she winked in their direction.

“Mornin’ Mama,” Tina answered in a slightly stronger than usual southern drawl. “Sorry we’re late.”

“No worries,” Donna chuckled. “Bette sit on down here next to me and I’ll get ya one of those fancy mimosas that you mentioned you like.”

“I did?” Bette asked as she sat down hesitantly in the chair next to Donna’s.

“Well someone did,” Donna said as she poured Bette her drink. “I thought we’d make this breakfast special for everyone since y’all are leavin’ today.”

“Mom,” Alice began to speak as Tina frowned at Alice’s familiarity with her mother. “I have to tell you how much I love your cooking.”

“Me too,” Dana said as she grabbed two biscuits from the platter near Bette and drenched them in gravy.

Donna brought out a plate of fresh fruit and a bagel with fat free cream cheese and placed it in front of Bette. Bette smiled politely at Donna as she sat next to her and then allowed the small plate of fruit before her become her focus. Bette watched as Tina, Alice, Shane, and Dana loaded their plates up with Donna’s breakfast specialties to Bette’s dismay.

Bette looked down at her breakfast and began to pick at her bagel while she listened to the sounds of everyone enjoying their breakfast.

“Pass the grits please, Mom,” Jackie asked as she loaded up her plate with the dish that couldn’t be explained by her nor Tina.

“This is so good Donna,” Shane said as she shoveled food in her mouth.

“I’m glad Shane,” Donna smiled. “You need meat on those bones. I thought Bette was bad when I hugged her but Darlin’ you’re worse. You’d blow away in some of the storms we have here.”

“She’s right Shane,” Dana said as she drank her glass of milk in front of her.

“I think Shane looks great,” Jackie said surprising everyone at the table.

“Oh no,” Alice mumbled under her breath.

“Thank you Jackie,” Shane said with a winning smile on her face.

“Not you too?” Alice said putting her fork down.

“What?” Jackie asked innocently.

“Bit by the Shane bug?”

“What the hell is that?” Shane asked rolling her eyes at Alice.

“You know what they say,” Dana began to talk. “Some people are straight, until they aren’t. But then some are gay and you can see them, wait, what was it again?”

“Stop talking,” Tina urged Dana as the group began to laugh.

“Can you please pass the grits?” Bette asked in a small voice as she pushed her half eaten bagel to the side next to her fresh fruit.

“What Babe?” Tina asked in shock at what she thought she heard.

“The grits, please pass them.”

“Oh,” Tina said trying to hide her smile as she reached for them and passed them to Bette without looking her in the eye for fear of breaking out into laughter.

“What?” Bette looked at everyone avoiding her gaze as she piled grits on her plate. “Can I have the biscuits now?”

“Here,” Dana said as she passed them looking down at the table and biting the inside of her cheek.

“What is so funny?” Bette asked as she looked around the table.

“You are Babe,” Tina said winking at her and beginning to laugh.

“We’re makin’ you a Southerner yet, Sugar,” Donna said hugging Bette closer to her as Bette began to eat her biscuits.

“Uh-huh,” Bette mumbled as she struggled to swallow the biscuit after being pulled off balance by Donna. “Can I have the eggs Tina and the ones with lots of cheese in them.”

“Do you like your mimosa Bette?” Donna questioned.

“Well yes,” Bette finished it and smiled.

“Would you like another?”

“I’d kill for a cup of your coffee,” Bette smiled at the pleased look that crossed Tina and Donna’s faces.

Everyone looked up from the table when Jonathon and James entered the kitchen discussing travel routes.

“I’m tellin’ ya Dad we’ll run into traffic if we take them back to the airport that way,” James insisted. “Good mornin’ ladies and Jackie.”

Jackie threw her wadded up napkin at James causing him to laugh at his own joke.

“How are you this lovely mornin’ Bette?”

“Fine,” Bette said trying to eat as fast as she could in order to pack her things and be ready to head to the airport on time to make their flight.

“Y’all wanna leave a little early I think,” Donna added her opinion into the discussion. “And James stop staring at your sister’s girlfriend.”

Bette began to choke as Tina scowled at her brother. Donna pounded on her back in an effort to free the offending food causing Bette to put her hand up to stop Donna and grab some water to wash down the food that was swallowed wrong.

“Now that’s something you don’t hear everyday,” Alice said softly to Shane.

“You girls should get ready to head out to the airport,” Donna said with a slight sadness in her voice. “You’ve got to get through that fancy security system they’ve got there. There was a big write up in the paper about it and how it delays things.”

“It wouldn’t be that bad if we got stranded here,” Tina said sadly in a soft voice.

“Oh Baby,” Donna got up and hugged her daughter as tears fell from both their eyes. “You know you are always welcome here and this is your home.”

“I know Mom,” Tina said as both women rubbed the other’s back to offer comfort.

“That goes for all of you, you’re all welcome here at anytime,” Donna said to the rest of the table. “We loved meeting all of you and y’all are part of our family as long as you’re in Tina’s life.”

“Thanks Mom,” Alice got up and hugged Donna Kennard tight.

“Alice,” Donna said laughing. “Never lose that sense of humor because it’s just a breath of fresh air.”

“Glad someone appreciates me.”

“Shane,” Donna walked over to Shane and hugged her tight. “You put some meat on those bones because next time I see you I wanna see some curves.”

“Get an ass for next time I get drunk,” Jackie added with a smile and a wink causing Shane to chuckle.

“Although I like my ass the way it is, I’ll see what I can do.”

“Dana,” Donna held her tight and rubbed her back forcing the air out of Dana’s lungs. “Your sweet innocence is something I hope you never lose. Thank you for your touching speech last night, it means more then you know.”

“I was a babbling idiot Donna.”

“But a smile is priceless and you gave us those in spades Darlin’.”

“Baby,” Donna held Tina once more. “You know I love ya 10 bushels don’t you?”

“I love you 11.”

“I miss my Baby, but I feel better now knowing that your family there loves you just as much as we do and will take care of you.”

Tina cried for a few minutes in her mom’s arms as Donna rubbed her back. As Tina began to gain her composure, Bette got up and rubbed her arm lightly gaining a smile from her lover.

“You,” Donna turned and faced Bette and then holding her close to her. “You know I love you 12 bushels for all that you’ve done right?”

“Um,” Bette stalled not sure what to say back.

“I love you just as much as I love my own girls because you are a part of this family Bette. I want to thank you for everything. Not just the painting even though that is amazing, but for loving Tina and taking such good care of her.”

“I do love her Mom,” Bette said shocking everyone at the term of endearment used by Bette. “I promise I’ll do my best to take care of her.”

“I know Bette,” Donna said as a few tears streamed down her face. “I believe you and can see it for myself in how you are together. I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too,” Bette said as Tina covered her mouth allowing her tears of joy to stream down her face at the touching moment between her lover and her mother. “You are always welcome to our home at anytime.”

“You never know,” Donna winked at Bette and began to chuckle.

“Great,” Jackie said laughing. “The Kennard family can pack up and move to Beverly…”

“We’re onto bad TV shows?” Bette asked Jackie.

“Oh My God,” Alice jumped in, “Ellie Mae, wow, she was just the hottest. Right Dane?”

“I always thought Daisy Duke was hotter,” Dana replied.

“Are you HIGH? C’mon! Ellie Mae was way hotter. Bette, what do you think?” Alice called after Bette as she and Tina attempted to sneak off down the hall to finish packing.

“God, just kill…” Bette started, cut short by Tina’s finger on her lips.

“What if we kill her instead,” Tina said as she threw her arms around Bette’s neck and laughed holding her tight.

“It’s a thought,” Bette replied, “It is a thought.”