“Fated” – Chapter Seven – By Querida

Tina had been in New York for about three months now.  Bette missed her like she had never missed anyone before.  She was planning another trip the coming weekend, but tonight she was having her friends over for a barbeque.  She saw them frequently at the Planet, her sister’s restaurant, and they had patiently listened while she sang Tina’s praises, so the party was a kind of reward for their support.  They had never had a chance to meet Tina, due to her crowded schedule when she was at the university, and then the sudden trip to New York.  Shane, Carmen, Alice and Dana were sitting around the pool, enjoying the evening and each other’s company, when Bette heard  a knock on the front door.  She wasn’t expecting anyone, but when she opened the door, much to her surprise and delight, there stood Tina, a big grin on her face. 

“TINA!”  They wrapped their arms around each other as though they would never let go.  Bette was covering Tina’s face with kisses when a burst of laughter floated in from the garden, and Tina said,

“Do you have company, Bette?  Oh, I’m sorry…I should have called..”

“NO!  You should have come here directly from the airport, which I hope you did!  Come in and meet my friends, I’ve told you about them…”  She pulled Tina and her baggage into the front hall, and with their arms around each other’s waists, Bette took Tina out to the garden to meet her friends.

“Tina, these reprobates  are my best friends in all the world, and I hope they will be yours, too.  And this, ladies, is the woman I love, Tina Kennard!”

The women crowded around, welcoming Tina warmly; she felt as though she had become part of a family.  Bette fussed over her, getting her some food, a beer.  She sat close beside her; she couldn’t keep her hands off her.  Tina told them she had been transferred back to LA for an indefinite length of time, and had been promoted.  Bette felt every cell in her body fill with happiness: Tina was home again!

“So,” Alice began in her irrepressible way, “Are you moving in with Bette now?”  Bette sent Alice a look that would have fried anyone else, but didn’t stop Alice.  Tina squeezed Bette’s hand and said calmly,