Everyone had piled into the limo and they were ready to head out. Tina, Bette, Alex and Dani, were all inside the car with their fingers crossed, while Susan was looking out her livingroom window doing the same thing.

Paul however, was in his glory. He was sitting in the drivers seat of a brand new limousine, with his Mom and sisters in his care, ready to back the car out of the driveway. Mike, was sitting as close to Paul as he could, without actually being in the drivers seat himself. He was more nervous than Paul, because he knew the trouble he would get into if anything happened to the car, whether Ms. Porter paid for the damage or not. There were strict rules about letting someone else drive the car, but because Bette had asked him to, he ignored them. Mike shook his head, thinking that it didn’t matter what Bette asked him, or any of the other drivers to do…they would all fulfill her requests without hesitation. They were very protective of this gorgeous woman, who was always so nice and respectful of them, and who carried herself with such dignity, even when she had been going through so much pain. They had all, at one time or another fantasized about being the person she turned to for comfort. She just had that way about her that made you want to take care of her, even knowing she could, and did take care of everyone around her. You wanted to somehow, in some way be better for her…

“Ok, I’m ready!” Mike was jerked out of his thoughts by Paul’s excited, but nervous voice.

“Ok then. Make sure your foot is on the brake…now put the car in reverse.” Paul followed Mike’s voice commands. “Now, gently take your foot off the brake. Don’t put it on the gas. This driveway slopes down, so the weight of the car will cause it to back up on it’s own.” Sure enough, the car started slowly down the driveway. There wasn’t a sound coming from within the car. Tina was biting her bottom lip in a nervous reaction, while Bette was sitting back with a big grin on her face, thinking about how excited Paul probably was at that moment, and because the look on Tina’s face was absolutely priceless.

They had gotten to the end of the driveway and Paul stopped the car to see if any traffic was coming. There wasn’t, so he took his foot off the brake and started turning the steering wheel in the direction Mike was telling him to. Unfortunately, in his nervousness, he put his foot on the gas, rather than the brake. Turning sharply, the car lurched backwards. “Hit the brake!” Mike’s command was forceful, but not loud. Paul hit the brake, right as the rear end of the limo rolled over the three foot Japanese Maple Susan had just planted the week before. As she looked from the window, she put her hand over her mouth to hide the fact that she was giggling. ‘Poor Paul…oh *****, my poor little bush’…which made her laugh even more.

In the car, all four passengers had been slammed towards the back of the car when Paul hit the gas, and then forward, when he hit the brake. They looked at each other for a moment, before Bette let out a soft chuckle, that quickly grew to a full laugh. Dani and Alex both started giggling at their brothers driving skills, while Tina just lowered her head, shaking it back and forth. As she raised her head, Bette could see Tina struggling not to laugh, as she didn’t want her son thinking she was laughing at him.

“Whew!” She jumped out of the car to survey the damage, then looked up at the livingroom window, knowing her sister had been watching. She could see Susan standing there, her shoulders shaking from laughter. Tina held her arms out to her side and shrugged her shoulders. Susan blew her a kiss and gave her a wave that said, ‘don’t worry, get going.’ Tina got back into the car with Paul close behind her, oblivious to the demise of the Japanese Maple, totally hyper from the excitement.


The rest of the ride to the airport was full of conversation…on one end of the car, Paul was explaining the intricacies of driving to his two sisters, while on the other end, Tina and Bette quietly continued their conversation from the night before.

“Have you talked to Dana recently?” Bette shook her head. “No. She sent a wonderful card and flowers when Nica died, but I haven’t heard from her since. Alice says that even though she is not playing singles matches any more, that she still goes on tour, playing doubles. And, I guess she ran into Laura Perkins at a restaurant in LA about five years ago…you remember her…and they have been together ever since.” Bette sighed and looked at Tina. “Can you imagine, running into her after all those years…must have been meant to be.”

Tina looked at Bette with a loving smile. “Must have been,” she whispered.

They both looked at each other, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Bette broke the silence. “What about Shane? I haven’t talked with her for about six months, but when I did, she stilled seemed so happy.”

Tina’s face lit up at the mention of Shane. She unconsciously fingered the locket that she still had on around her neck. “Yes, her and Janey are still very happy. I thank God all the time for introducing those two. You know, Shane always wanted what we had, she was just too scared, thinking that because everyone had left her when she was young, that it would be that way all her life. She just needed someone like Janey to show her she was wrong. Her meeting Janey right as we were breaking up, really was a gift…for us all.” Tina smiled at the thought.

Bette was momentarily thrown back in time, remembering what her and Tina had experienced, all those years ago. She looked over at Tina with sadness in her eyes, but her look quickly changed to curiosity upon seeing Tina gently rubbing the locket around her neck. She noticed it was something she did quite often. The locket was obviously very old, made out of sterling silver. It was completely round, almost looking like pocket watch, except a little smaller, and had a beautiful engraved design on the front.

“That really is a beautiful locket. Where did you get it?”

“Hum?” Tina looked down to her hand, not realizing she was holding the locket. She hesitated for a moment, but then smiled. “Shane gave this to me years ago.”

“Shane?”

“Yes.” Tina looked away lost in thought for a moment. “She actually gave it to me on the day of her and Janey’s wedding.” Tina looked out the window of the car, before looking back at Bette, smiling. “It’s a long story, but not one for today.”

Bette was dying of curiosity, wanting to know why Shane was giving Tina such a beautiful present on her wedding day, when it should have been the other way around. But, since she didn’t feel like she was in a position to push Tina, she just said, “Well it’s beautiful, and it looks wonderful on you.”

Bette felt the car slow down and then come to a stop. Their ride was over, they had arrived at the airport. They had decided that with all the extra security, that it would be easier if Bette didn’t go into the airport with them. Besides, they had taken more time at Susan’s than expected and Tina would have just enough time to get them checked in and through the long security lines before they would need to board the plane.

Mike took Tina’s tickets so he could get them and their luggage checked in right there at the curb, rather than waiting in line inside. Bette said good-bye to Paul with a wink, thanking him for his masterful reversing skills. He blushed as she laid her hand on his shoulder. She then took one of Alex’s hands in hers and smiled down at her, telling her what a pleasure it was to meet her. Alex just smiled and looked at her shoes. When Bette turned to Dani, she didn’t hesitate to put her arm around Dani’s shoulders. “Dani, I am so glad to have met you, and like I told you, I want you to send me slides of your work.”

“I will Bette. We’ll do it as soon as we get home!”

Bette couldn’t help but chuckle. “That would be great.” She looked Dani in the eye and spoke softly so that only Dani could hear her. “Remember Dani, as long as it comes from your heart, everything you create is beautiful and important.” She laid her hand for just a moment on Dani’s cheek, and then gave her shoulders a final squeeze. Dani looked at Bette with a look of wonder and appreciation. “I’ll remember…thanks Bette.”

Tina had been standing watching Bette say good-bye to her children, whom she barely knew, but acted like they were old friends. ‘Who is this woman standing before me?’ The Bette that Tina remembered had always been uncomfortable around children. Tina also remembered Bette’s concern over how she would be as a parent when Tina had been pregnant with their son. She smiled thinking that must not be a concern of Bette’s anymore. Milaine had been so lucky to have all of Bette’s love directed at her all those years. Tina sighed. Anyone was lucky who got to experience being loved by Bette Porter.

Bette had turned and walked over to Tina. She took both her hands in hers, looked back at Tina’s children and then back at Tina. “Thanks for sharing your family with me. They are wonderful.”

Tina looked over at her children. “Yes, they are.”

Bette looked at Tina and frowned, not quite knowing what to say. “Tina…” She looked down for a moment and slowly shook her head. “God, I feel…so nervous.”

The look on Bette’s face told Tina what she wanted to know. Bette still loved her…it was there…in her eyes. Without realizing what her body was doing, Bette started to lean forward, to do something she had been wanting to do from the moment Tina had walked back in her life….Tina felt, then saw Bette coming closer to her. ‘Oh God…she’s going to kiss me!’ She looked over at her children, seeing all three standing there watching. She quickly squeezed Bette’s hands and pulled her face to the side and kissed Bette on the cheek. Feeling Tina squeezing her hands, Bette opened her eyes to the concern that was etched on Tina’s face. She realized at that moment that they had an audience and moved her face to allow Tina’s friendly kiss on her cheek.

Tina whispered into Bette’s ear. She was so close, Bette could feel the heat from her breath, sending a chill through her whole body. “I’m sorry Bette. I can’t do that in front of my children. They wouldn’t understand. But…”

Bette released Tina and softly said, “I understand Tina. I’m sorry…I forgot myself for a moment.” She leaned forward and gave Tina a quick, but tight hug and then let go and stepped back.

Mike stepped up and handed Tina their boarding passes. Bette looked at her with one last smile, hoping Tina could feel her love. “Well, off you go….Tina, do me a favor and call me when you get home. I want to know you got there safe.”

Tina smiled at Bette, hoping that she too would feel her love. “I will Bette. Thanks again for everything.”

Bette waved good-bye to Tina and her family, then let Mike help her back into the car. The ride back from the airport was quiet…and incredibly lonely…but Bette also felt something she hadn’t felt in so long…it was small, but she could still feel it…it was hope.