Bette woke up the next day in bed holding her head. After one too many drinks the night before at one of the local clubs she felt like a Mac truck had hit it. But what hurt worse was the fact that her heart was once again ripped from her chest. At 21 years old she had run the gamut of broken hearts all within a two year period- once by her girlfriend, now ex, and twice by her ex’s mother the woman she had loved since she met her and would give anything just to be with.

”Fuck my life” She muttered to herself as she sat up in the bed holding her head. ”I’m done with women. Nothing but fucking heartbreakers”

Bette yawned and fit out of bed slipping on her slippers and held her head until she reached the medicine cabinet in her bathroom, grabbing the bottle of ibuprofen, and slamming back four with a glass of water.

After putting on a pot of coffee, she went to the front door opening it, grabbing the paper at her feet and stepped back shutting the door to walk outside onto her deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Inhaling the salty air and listening to the waves crash against the shore relaxed her somewhat until she heard her cellphone ring. ”Great” Bette grumbled walking back inside and grabbing her cellphone off the counter not recognizing the number but answered it anyway.

”Hello” She answered groggily.

”Bette?” The voice asked questioningly

”Yeah”

”It’s Tina”

Bette gasped and wasn’t really in the mood to hear or talk to Tina but her curiosity and love for the woman was winning out.

”What can I do for you Tina?” Bette asked almost coldly

”Bette? I need to talk to you”

”What is there to say Tina? You obviously have moved on with your life and I lost my chance to be with you because I was an idiot and didn’t call you back”

Tina sighed and Bette heard her begin to softly cry on the other end

”Hey Um Tina? What’s wrong?” Bette asked hating that Tina was upset or sad about something.

”Can I see you please? I need to talk to you in person and not over the phone”

”Bette? You have been awfully quiet since we left the house and you have hardly said two words since we left the store.” Megan said as she glanced at Bette then at the road.

Bette sighed and turned to Megan grabbing her free hand and brought it up to her lips kissing it then placing it in her lap.

”Sorry. I guess I’m worried about tomorrow. I mean I’m taking over my father’s investment company now that I am 21. I can’t believe he named me in his will to head it. I was sure he would have chosen my sister Kit since she has been working in the company for a long time. I have a feeling we are going to butt heads when I walk in there in the morning” Bette sighed as she rubbed Megan’s hand with her thumb.

”I know you are going to be great. It’s what you have worked so hard for in school. I mean you graduated Magna Cum Laude with a business degree, you have a keen business sense and a nose for detail, and your father wouldn’t have named you to head the company if he didn’t think you could run it” Megan assured making Bette feel a little better.

Megan smiled and sighed wanting to talk to Bette about something that had been bothering her. She decided now was as good a time as any to bring it up. Not wanting to be driving while they had this conversation she put on her blinker and pulled off the road into an empty parking lot.

”Megan? What are you doing?” Bette asked curiously as Megan shut the engine off and unbuckled her seat belt to turn and face Bette.

”Bette? Um? I don’t know if I can handle us being apart. It’s killing me that you will be here and I will be at Yale plus I have a few years of law school after that to go and we will never get to see each other” Megan began and found herself not wanting to continue the conversation and stopped. Bette decided to continue the conversation for her.

”What are you saying Babe? Are you telling me that you don’t think our relationship can survive long distance?” Bette asked not liking where this was going.

Tina composed herself and took a deep breath. Not sure how she was going to handle seeing her daughter with the young woman that had literally turned her world upside down, she walked back into the house and made her way into the kitchen to get a glass of water.

Tina leaned against the kitchen counter nervously gulping the water down and turned around setting the glass in the sink. She sighed resting her hands on the edge of the counter and looked out of the window thinking back to the day she met the young brunette that literally stole her heart and she hasn’t seen it since—until today.

Turks and Caicos Islands Spring 2012:

”This restaurant is owned by Melvin Porter. It is the most popular on the island. You already know that Melvin is a successful lawyer and a shrewd business man. Very wealthy. He owns probably 60% of the villas and condos here as well. Basically stamping his name on the island. You need to charm him at the meeting tomorrow Tina. If he will invest in our project then you are definitely going to get that promotion” Linda explained as she and Tina entered the restaurant and waited to be seated.

”Don’t worry Linda. I did my research on Melvin Porter. I know what I need to do when we meet with him. He is very particular on where he invests his time and his money and I have prepared the perfect presentation that will surely have him throwing his money our way” Tina assured as they were seated at a table.

”I knew there was a reason I told Leonard to hire you” Linda smiled then looked down at her menu.

”My God Linda. You have to leave an arm and maybe a leg here after eating a meal looking at these prices” Tina observed and gasped as she studied the menu.

”Excuse me?” A voice called out and both looked up at the waiter who was staring directly at Tina.

”Yes” Tina questioned

”The young woman seated over there at the corner table wanted me to send this to you to share with your guest” The waiter explained setting down a chilled bottle of wine resting in an ice bucket.

Turks and Caicos Islands Spring 2012

”Wait!..Don’t leave! Tina! Please!” The brunette called out to the blonde who had finished dressing ,grabbed her purse, and walked out of the door.

Tina turned around with tears to see the brunette wrapped up in a bed sheet.

”I’m so sorry Bette. It was a mistake. I should not have gotten involved with you. I never expected this to happen” Tina sobbed apologetically wiping tears away as she turned to walk down the beach.

Bette ran after her and caught her by the arm ”Tina please? Why are you running from me? Is it our age difference? It doesn’t bother me. I want to be with you. This week has been the best of my young life. The moment I saw you walk into the restaurant I was drawn to you. And last night we made love for the first time and it was better than anything I have ever experienced” Bette said honestly trying to put her hand on the older woman but was rebuffed.

”Bette! I’m old enough to be your mother. God this is hard!” Tina yelled in frustration

”What is hard Tina? We can be together. Don’t you feel the connection we have?” Bette asked as Tina’s rejection was starting to take its toll on her.

Tina shook her head and sighed reaching out her hand to cup her young lover’s cheek.

”Bette? I’m married. I have a husband and a daughter. She is your age.” Tina admitted and Bette backed away stunned and completely devastated as she sunk to her knees in the sand.

”Bette?” Tina called out softly as Bette began to sob loudly.

Tina reached out to touch Bette but it was her turn to be rebuffed.

”You are fucking married?! How could you not tell me that?! How could you lay there in my bed and let me make love to you knowing that you were married?! How could you let me fall for you!?” Bette screamed at Tina in anger

Tina began to cry uncontrollably

”Go away Tina! Leave! Go back to your husband and your daughter and leave me the fuck alone! How dare you play with my feelings? I had fallen for you Tina. Just one week and I had fallen for you!”