Chapter 12
Previously

“Yes, I will leave you a message, many messages. And don‘t worry we‘ll figure out the scheduling thing. You have a safe ride home. And I’ll see you soon. Okay?” Bette leans into the car and kisses Tina with a kiss that curls Tina’s toes.

“Damn can you kiss.” Tina says all hot and bothered.

“Honey, it’s just a prelude to even greater things to come.” Bette says seductively and plants another soft kiss upon Tina‘s lips. “Good night, Tina, miss you already.” Bette says as she pulls back out of the car.

“Good night Bette.”

Bette and Tina spent the next three weeks getting to know one another. They hadn’t been able to see much of one another during that time due to their busy schedules. Tina passed through the gallery a couple of times during her lunch breaks and then for only a few minutes. But mostly they played phone tag throughout the day, had very brief mid day phone conversations, sent and received text messages and emails from one another. And on a rare occasion they caught one another just before turning in for the night. They would talk until one of them fell asleep and the other would stay on the phone and listen to the other sleep until they themselves fell asleep. Usually Tina passed out first. This was proving to be harder then they thought especially for Bette.

Alice, unlike Tina had more free time in which to be around Bette. Which at the time Bette felt was a bit too much free time. This time Bette was with someone who was just as driven and occupied as she was. ‘So this must be what Alice was talking about. It does make you feel rather lonely. I hope that she can make time for me soon. I really need to see her. But I’m not going to nag like Alice did me.’

The people around them noticed a difference. Bette was smiling more and seemed happy. James knew that wasn’t the norm for Bette so he knew something was up right away. She saw her pull out her cell phone to text and read texts, something she wouldn’t normally do during working hours.
What told it all for James was the day Tina sent Bette a flower arrangement a little over a week after their beach conversation. Bette had received flowers many times before so receiving them wasn‘t unusual. But never had her smile beamed so brightly when she opened the card to see who they were from.