Lifeline

Chapter 6A

Bette had struggled to stay awake afraid that she would miss the doctor, worried that Tina needed her presence of mind, her consciousness as a conduit to the living world.  Every now and then she would doze for a moment against her will, and in those brief lapses she was tormented by nightmares in which she tried to prevent the accident, tried to save Tina over and over, and couldn’t.  Perhaps it wasn’t rational, but it was a feeling she couldn’t ignore.  As long as Tina was asleep, she would be awake.  That was how it had to be.  Deep down Bette believed that if she lowered her guard Tina might slip away.  Somehow she knew she was meant to be a lifeline to the woman she loved. 

Now quiet reverberated in the dark room as Shane and Kit slept, allowing Bette time and space in which to think, to reflect on what had gotten them here.  She rose and walked to the wall of windows that overlooked the city, gazing at the twinkling lights without really seeing, remembering a night not very long ago when she and Tina stood together admiring the twinkling stars in the night sky.

It was their anniversary and they had enjoyed an intimate celebration together at home.  A restaurateur friend of theirs had prepared a delicious Jamaican dinner and served them on the back porch.  The night was slightly warm with a soft breeze blowing, and it was startlingly clear, the sky dotted with stars, which they could see well in spite of the city lights.   Bette had been in charge of the ambience for the evening, and had placed torches in the ground along the pathway around the pool, and set floating candles adrift on the surface of the water.  She laid the table with a lovely plum-colored cloth and bright green linen napkins rolled inside braided bamboo rings.  The centerpiece was an exotic natural arrangement of Tina’s favorite flowers –white ginger, white orchids, white anthuriums, calla lilies and tuberoses.  The fragrance was intoxicating.  Votive candles surrounded the centerpiece, casting a lambent glow on the faces of the diners.

She seemed to recall every detail of that night.  Tina had looked stunning in an off white, knee-length wraparound skirt with a gorgeous gold-flecked off-white halter that tied at the neck, featuring her cleavage like a package for Bette to unwrap, which was exactly what she intended to do when the opportunity presented itself.  She wore strappy gold sandals that showed off her toned calves and the pedicure she’d had that morning.  Bette surprised Tina with spa treatments for both of them in preparation for their anniversary dinner, and it had been a happily luxurious morning of facials, mani/pedis and massages-for-two, followed by a picnic lunch.