***

Since Bette wasn’t making the trip to Queensland with them Emma hired a shuttle boat to take them to Raiatea. From there they would take the charter flight to Tahiti and then the commercial flight to Queensland. Tina packed all her belongings including her seashell collection to take with her as she wasn’t coming back to the clinic with Emma. Many of her paintings were displayed on the property and some she’d stored in her bungalow. She gifted most of them to Bette and the staff. The rest was packed up to be shipped to Eden.

The night before Tina was to leave the Porter Clinic they had a small going away celebration for her. Helena had a special meal prepared for herself, Tina, Bette, Emma, Dusty, and James. Afterwards Bette and Tina went for a walk and as usual ended up at their favorite spot on the other side of the island. This would be their last night together. Since everything was so fluid in Tina’s life she couldn’t say when they would see each other again. They walked hand in hand mostly in silence until they came to their special place on the beach.

It had gotten to where they visited here so often either alone or together that they left beach blankets at the spot so they would have them easily available for impromptu times like this. Bette unfolded the blankets and spread them out. They sat facing each other and again linked hands. Tina was fighting with every fiber of her being to control her emotions but with the way Bette was looking at her she couldn’t help it. She broke down in tears. Bette wiped the tears from Tina’s cheeks and looked into her eyes.

“You’re so beautiful.” Bette said looking deeply into the hazel eyes that she loved so much.

Tina sniffled. “Well you should be proud. You did it.”

“Your beauty comes from within ‘T’. No amount of reconstructive or cosmetic surgery can match that. Beauty is in here ..” Bette points to where Tina’s heart beats. “.. you just have to trust it.”

“Thank you.” Tina is touched by Bette’s sincerity.

“I’m going to miss you ‘T’ more than you can imagine.”

“I think I can.” Tina answered as more tears wetted her cheeks.

“May I kiss you?” Bette asked no longer able to hold back her own emotions.

“Please.” Tina answered wanting more than anything to feel those lips on hers. Tina closed her eyes in anticipation as Bette moved closer and put her hands on either side of Tina’s face and pulled her in. The first kiss was gentle and sweet yet magical and it led more heated intimacy between them. In another time and place, if things were different they would have made love that night on the beach but they accepted that the time wasn’t right. Tina only had some of her answers and Bette had promised to wait no matter how long it took.

They lay side by side on the blanket just holding each other and talking softly. Their bodies fitted perfectly and intimately entwined in what could only be described as a lover’s warm embrace. Tina finally knew how it felt to be loved by a woman; she felt no guilt that she was cheating. This connection was what she’d been missing in her relationship with Jodi. This was the ‘something special’ that she was craving and couldn’t convey to Jodi. Her wife who thought cuddling was the death of a good sex life would never understand that the feeling she was experiencing wrapped in Bette’s strong protective arms could never be simulated with a teddy bear.

***

Joyce and Tasha met Tina and Emma at the airport in Queensland and as expected it was a tearful reunion for Joyce and Tina. Joyce had booked suites for each of them at one of Queensland most luxurious hotels. After resting and freshening up the four women met for dinner and drinks. They made it an early night and the following morning Tina met with Dr. Partridge. She was once again put into a hypnotic state and finally she had the answer to the only question plaguing her mind. Did she fall accidently or was she pushed with murderous intent on that fateful day …