Love Revisited – Coming Home Part 10


Previously

There was silence. Tina lifted her head slightly. Babe, you okay? Nothing. Baby? Earth to Porter – come in please. Tina pushed back slightly to look at Bette. Baby, please, are you okay?

Bette opened one eye, then the other. Are you trying to kill me, T? Do you want our daughter to have only one Mom? Tina grinned, I take it you enjoyed yourself then? I I know I sure did.
Bette smiled, Maybe, just a tad – Are you nuts? Im still reeling. Where the ***** did that come from – it was mindblowing.

Only the best for my heroine – only the best, baby. Come on, lets get these bodies to bed and put this day to sleep.

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Yeah, sounds good, T.

Im just going to wash my hair, babe, and Ill be right out. Theres towels right in that closet there.

Ah, T?

Yeah, babe.

Could you unwrap the plastic from my cast when you get out. I cant seem to do it.

Sure. Do you think any water got in?

Are you kidding? You should go work for NASA putting in the heat shields for space flight – I doubt anything was going to penetrate this – water, heat, sun, AIR!

Tina giggled and just finished rinsing her hair. She stepped from the shower, grabbed the towel from the bar and began to dry herself off. In front of her stood Bette with her back to her, holding her dripping plastic wrapped arm out to the side, as if it were waiting for a bird to perch, and drying herself with her other arm. She was bent forward rubbing the towel over her legs. God, what a sight she is. WHAT is wrong with me? We just had this incredible ***** in the shower – not to mention the hours of lovemaking this afternoon – and Im salivating again! What am I ever going to do for six weeks after the birth?

She just gazed at Bette and drank in all the beauty that she is. It was a long, tortuous road leading to tonight – for both of them. The path ahead is sure to have some speed bumps but Tina felt sure they both would be able to maneuver them. She knows it will be different this time around – as long as they remain open and honest with one another.

Hey, you.

Hey, T.

Let me unwrap that arm for you. Tina takes Bettes arm and immediately finds the spot on the plastic where she can start to unravel it. As Tina works the plastic, Bette leans in and is nuzzling Tinas neck, her hair, taking in the smell of her, the joy of breathing in her scent. Theres nothing quite like the smell of her T.

The short, quick in and out of her nose breath tickles Tina and also makes her hair stand on end.

There is something about being within a close space with Bette that makes my senses stand at attention, kick them into overdrive. They dont have to be making love; they dont have to be touching. Its her presence; its the way she looks at me. For a lot of reasons we lost that connection in the last couple years of our relationship. Its as if someone had gradually turned the level down on the generator supplying the power to that connection. It takes the meeting, the joining of the positive and the negative charges to create electricity. Only when the charges meet together mutually will the connection flow and create the power. If they dont, the lights go out.

Our lights went out for a time. We both went on our private trips through *****. Luckily, at this moment it appears we were blessed with one way passage only.

Thanks, T. Looking good. Wait till Kit – oh, *****, I never called Kit today. I told her I would bring a picture from the sonogram to her.

Babe, we had a few things happen today that derailed any other plans either of us had.

Yeah, aint that the truth. Ill call her first thing in the morning. Then after the visit to Dr. Wilson and the police station, could we head over to The Planet?

Sure, but why dont we do it around dinnertime instead, if thats all right with Kit. Ill call the girls and tell them to meet me there. You know, they have no idea you went with me yesterday. I have a feeling they may freak when they see us together.

Ill call James tomorrow also and tell him to cancel my appointments for the day and also the next. Yeah, dinnertime sounds great. But you go in first, okay, and then Ill come in a few moments after you.

Okay. Now, lets get to bed. Do you want a t-shirt and shorts to sleep in?

No way. Its been months since Ive slept with you. I want absolutely nothing between us.

I love the way you think, Ms. Porter.

Why thank you, Ms. Kennard.

We get into bed, I on my side, Bette spooning me with her arm over me. She must have the cast bent up alongside her head. I take her hand and place it over my belly and then over my heart.

Were both so tired and emotionally drained from this day. Our breathing is even, were both drifting…

T?

Ummwha, babe, I groggily reply.

Before you fall off to sleep, Id like you to know something.

Whats that?

Well, first, I didnt do so badly as a lefty, eh?

Tina laughed and slapped Bettes arm. Dont be a smartass, Porter.


When I stepped into the shower tonight all the events of the day were spinning through my mind. So much happened today, a great deal of change for you, for me. And I began to think of that song, ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes.’ Maybe it is just a bit of corny country. I think the line is: If tomorrow never comes Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way to show her every day That she’s my only one? T, I need you to know that should the flick of the fickle finger of fate decide
its up for me tonight, that what I said to you earlier this evening, you know, when I told you I was taking control back for a short time?

I remember, babe. Even with the state I was in, I did hear you.

Bette placed her lips next to Tinas ear and whispered, her warm breath causing little jolts on Tinas skin, Just know and remember in your heart that I do love you beyond words, even beyond the physical. I so regret hurting you and need you to know how truly sorry I am. I will love you forever -in this world and beyond. And if the gods should take me away tonight or anytime, all you need do is close your eyes, put your hand over your heart and know my spirit and my love beats within you. And our daughter – even though Im not biologically connected – will be mine in love throughout time. You are the forever I searched for, for so long. Thank you for giving me a second chance to be your forever, too.

Tina felt overwhelmed. It had been a long, long time since Bette had said anything as remotely heartfelt. She brought Bettes hand to her mouth and kissed it, squeezed and placed it over her heart again.

In a voice just above a whisper Tina said out loud what she declared in a whisper to herself earlier this afternoon – words she has not spoken to Bette in six months: I love you, Bette. I always have. I always will. Tina felt the teardrops as they landed on her ear.

In moments Bette Porter and Tina Kennard slipped into a much needed slumber.




What a difference a day makes…24 little hours…


TBC