She drove around the small sand lot to find Harmony’s car.  It was Harmony’s car alright.  She parked next to it and began to walk up the dock.  Most of the boats were dark and seemed to be empty.  One at the end had a light on it and music was playing.  She headed towards it.  It seemed as if no one was there.  She didn’t want to just step on.  She stepped closer and called out.

Bette:  “Hello?!”

No answer. 

Bette started to give up and head back to the car when she saw a figure appear from the front of the moderately sized vessel.

Bette:  “Harmony?!”

Harmony:  “Right on time.”

She was wearing a linen outfit that was sheer and allowed her underwear to be noticeable with the light now behind her.

Bette:  “Harmony Sunfire-Scott!  Do you know the hell I’ve been through?!  Where the hell have you been?!  Why were you with Roxanne?!  Why didn’t you tell me about the promotion?!  And where the hell do you think your going without me?!”

Harmony stood and allowed her to yell at her.

Bette:  “Well?!”

Harmony:  “BB, look at the name on the boat.”

Bette took at step back.

S.S.Elizabeth

Bette’s mouth fell open.

Bette:  “Why do I keep missing things right in front of my face?”

Harmony began to laugh as she extended her hand to help Bette onto the boat.

Bette:  “I thought you were cheating on me.”

Harmony:  “I know.”

Bette:  “You set this all up didn’t you?”

Harmony:  “Yes and you almost ruined it by showing up at my job.”

Bette:  “You saw me?”

Harmony:  “Yes as we were leaving the garage I saw you on the other side of the gate just as we pulled out to the street.”

Bette:  ‘Why were you with her?”

Bette held her breath as she waited.  Harmony looked away into the night and began.  Her hesitation made Bette even more nervous.

Harmony:  “Roxanne is in a yacht club, her father sails ships, his father sails.  She taught me how to sail so when I bought you this wee vessel I would able to do it myself.”

Bette again felt like a total idiot.

Bette:  “They were all in on it weren’t they?  Alice, Tina, everyone?”

Harmony:  “Yeah, I had to get them to keep you going today so I could put the final touches to my plan.”

Bette:  “Which is?”

Harmony put her arm around Bette’s shoulder as they walked further towards the front and into the darkness.

Harmony:  “Well since I got my promotion I took a 2 week vacation.  I called UCLA and Prof. Porter-Scott will be away for ‘personal reasons’ for the next 2 weeks.  Tina has Angelica and Kit’s going to keep an eye on MJ because you and I are sailing down the coast, maybe stop by Catalina Island again.  Just you, me, and the open seas.  No calls, work, and as much as I love them, no friends, babies or dogs.”

Bette laughed.

Bette:  “That sounds perfect.  You’re perfect.  I’m sorry I doubted you.”

Harmony stood and looked deep into Bette’s eyes.

Harmony:  “You never have to worry about me being unfaithful.  No woman has ever or will ever fulfill me as much as you do.”

Bette felt her insides ignite like a brush fire moving from north to south.  Harmony leaned in and kissed Bette in that electric way that she had a tendency to do.  It had been so long since Bette had felt Harmony.  She felt light headed at the taste of her tongue in her mouth.  They were both short of breath when they pulled away.

Bette:  “You know that was really mean, you not touching me for over a week.”

Harmony:  “How do you think I felt?  It was pure torture.”

Bette:  “Well is the wait over now?”

Harmony:  “Oh most definitely Mrs. Porter-Scott.  When I’m done with you, you’ll need another week to recoup.”

Bette laughed aloud as she and Harmony descended into the boat and the boat descended into the night.

The End