It was Bette and Tina’s first day back at work after Angelica’s birth and they were struggling to concentrate. Bette did what she did best; drown herself in work so she didn’t have to think about her baby girl, at home, upset that her mommies were gone. Tina was a wreck; she was having a real hard time being apart from her. She had to cancel all her meetings because her emotions kept getting the best of her.
“Don’t apologize Tee.”
“Bette, this is like the fifth time I’ve called you and it’s not even lunch time.”
“It’s ok baby, honest. I would rather you call me than hold it all in,” Bette said, walking around the gallery, “I will be by there in an hour with lunch that way I can hold you ok?”
“Ok,” she says, sucking in her cries.
Bette walks through the gallery towards her office when she spots someone looking at Tina’s showcase intensely. She loved engaging in art talks so she thought she’d go over there and have a chat. She is very proud of Tina’s work and was glad she finally agreed to show her it.
“Hello,” Bette said, walking up to a handsome young man, “enjoying the work?”
“Yes, absolutely. This artist is phenomenal, who is TK?”
“Well, TK happens to be my wife, Tina Kennard-Porter,” she said beaming a proud smile.
“Porter,” he asked, looking at Bette for the first time, “as in Bette Porter?”
“Yes, welcome to my gallery,” she said, smiling proudly.
“Amazing, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d ever have the chance to meet you. I’ve been to your gallery in New York several times and I’m always amazed. I’ve even bought a few of your paintings.”
“I certainly do appreciate it very much. I have a few more of my recent paintings located on that wall,” I say pointing and I show him to another wall, “and this is my son’s work. This is sort of a family showcasing.”
“Wow this wall certainly feels strikingly familiar. It reminds me of my big brother’s work.”
“Brother,” Bette asks a panging in her heart.
“Yeah, my brother Sebastian,” he says, and Bette starts to feel dizzy, “are you ok?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Your brother, um, he still paints?”
“Unfortunately my brother passed about twenty years ago, I was a kid then, but he showed me a lot about art.”
“Oh I’m sorry about that,” Bette said, regaining her strength, “do you paint?”
“Yes, among other things. I am also a photographer and I work with metal.”
“I’ve seen some amazing work done with metal. Do you ever showcase your work?”
“No, I can’t find anyone who will take my work seriously.”
“Ok, well how about this,” Bette said pulling a card out of her breast pocket, “here’s my card, call my secretary and she’ll set up a meeting with my assistant director James and I and we will see where we go from there.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“You’re located in Los Angeles right?”
“Yeah, I just moved here a month ago.”
“Alright, well, we’ll be in touch then. Thanks for stopping by. What was your name again?”
“Stephen…Stephen Kale,” he said and my heart skipped a beat.
“It was nice to meet you,” Bette said shaking his hand and walking away.
As Bette walks to her office, she couldn’t believe that of all places and all the cities in the world, that his brother, her son’s uncle would walk into her gallery. She wondered if he even remembered her. She was sure he would have said something, but he was only eight when she and Sebastian were together. How could he possibly remember? Did Sebastian tell him about our son? She thought. She knew that he would have said something if he knew. She also felt somewhat guilty for offering him help with his work. Bette didn’t want Tina to get upset about her helping the brother of her first love. She decided to not think about it anymore, she didn’t want to stress herself out more than she already was. Tina was a mess and she had to go help her.
Bette knocked on the door to Tina’s office and she opened the door, her eyes blood shot. As soon as Tina saw Bette, her lip started quivering and Bette’s heart started to break. She quickly walked inside and set the food down on the small table in her office. Bette quickly scooped her into her arms, and she sobbed in her embrace; it pained Bette’s heart to see her so upset.
“I don’t even know why I’m crying. I miss her so much, but I know that in a few short hours I’ll be with her again. And I’m worried that she’ll think we’ve abandoned her. You saw how upset she was when we left.”
“It’s ok Tee, it’s your hormones, Dr. Wilson said this might happen. Angelica knows we love her, we didn’t abandon her and she knows we wouldn’t. It’s ok baby.”
“I know, I hate feeling like this. I hate crying, especially when I can’t control it.”
“You’ll be fine, look, I brought your favorite,” Bette said, and started unpacking their lunch, “California roll, tuna roll and the red devil. I even convinced Mr. Takata to let me bring you some sake.”
“Babe, you trying to get me drunk at work,” she said and laughed, the last of her tears drying up.
“No, just trying to relax you a little bit. It’s just a shot.”
They sat on the small sofa and ate their lunch and soon Bette got Tina laughing. The sake helped her relax as Bette said it would. After an hour, there were no more tears in Tina’s eyes and the redness had left her eyes. Bette was glad that she was the one that could make Tina feel better in an instant. She really wanted to talk to her about who she talked to today but she put it aside for later. She’d tell her over the weekend, when they were stress free. They ended their lunch hour with an embrace and a promise to be home a little early for a nice dinner.
Bette had gotten home a half hour after Tina, she stopped by the store for a few things, and she walked into a quiet house. She put her things down and went looking for her girls. There was no sign of Angus, and she didn’t hear Alexander in his room and Tina’s car was parked outside. She looked in the sitting room, then the living room, no sign of her outside. Puzzled, she went to the bedroom and was met with a beautiful sight. Tina was asleep on the bed with Angelica sleeping on her chest. A smile of pride and happiness formed on her face as she took Tina’s camera from the side table and took a couple of pictures. She quietly left the room, shutting the door and made her way to the kitchen. She started to unpack the groceries and started to prepare her meal when she heard the front door open and close.
“Hello mother,” she heard in a low tone.
“Alexander,” Bette said, as he came and kissed her cheek, “how was class?”
“Dreadful, I can’t believe philosophy is a required class for my Masters.”
“Unfortunately it is,” Bette chuckled, “I had to have study groups almost daily for that class. It’s a very hard course, but you’ll do well.”
“I know, I just don’t understand it sometimes,” he smirked, “what are you cooking?”
“Chicken piccata over steamed rice.”
“Sounds delicious. I rarely ever see you cook, what’s the occasion?”
“Nothing, Tina had a rough day.”
“Poor Tina, work?”
“No, separation anxiety, and she’s worrying.”
“Ah, well, that passes at some point, right?”
“Once you become a parent, it never goes away,” she said staring off.
“I’m right here,” he says patting her hand and she smiles.
“Are you going to be here for dinner,” Bette asks, as Alexander starts to walk away.
“I can’t, I just came by to grab my book, and I have a philosophy study group in an hour.”
“Does philosophy study group have a name,” Bette asks with a playful smile.
“Nice try mother, but it’s a real study group.”
“Ok, don’t stay out too late and be careful.”
“Yes ma’am,” he calls from the front door.
Bette listens to the door close and smiles. She started to cook her meal, and listen to one of her art lectures. She was mixing the different spices and ingredients making the whole house smell delicious. She smiled to herself, proud that she had picked up cooking so well. When she and Tina first got together, she was a terrible cook, but they both took a few lessons from Lara. Now Bette was confident in making a meal for her family.
The beautiful aroma crept it’s way up the stairs to Bette and Tina’s master suite. Tina stirred, feeling Angelica still asleep, she got up slowly. She walked down stairs to Angie’s nursery, cradled her for a few seconds, kissed her forehead and put her into her crib. She grabbed the baby monitor and walked to the kitchen. She smiled as she saw her wife, slaving over the stove, her ear buds in. Bette had her back to Tina, so she snuck up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist to which Bette smiled.
“Hey baby,” she said, pulling her ear buds out.
“What cha doing?”
“Making dinner for my queen,” she smiled and Tina kissed her.
“You didn’t have to.”
“I know, but you had a rough day, so I thought you deserved some TLC.”
“Aw thanks sweetie,” she said kissing Bette again.
Bette waited on Tina hand and foot; her poor wife had a long emotional day. She poured her a glass of wine and served her dinner. They chatted about their first day back, and Bette mentioned thinking about showing a new artist, but she left the details of who it was out. She wanted to wait until Tina was more emotionally stable, and she wanted more information on Stephen Kale.
As they lie with each other they were silent, taking in each other’s scent. Tina was in between Bette’s legs, her head resting on her chest, Bette’s arms wrapped lovingly around her. Tina listened to Bette’s heart beating.
“This heart, it beats, it beats only for you. My heart is yours,” Bette whispers, and they kiss. Tina gets up and pulls Bette up and leads her by her hand to their room.