// Bette Porter straightened her shirt, tugged her collar in place and checked her hair for the last time. Drawing a deep breath, she hesitated to ring the doorbell.

Why was she hesitating? This wasnt the confident, self assured Bette Porter she knew she was, or at least what everyone else thought her to be. If only this was as simple and straightforward as business.

Why couldnt it be? She liked this woman, she was deadly sure of her feelings for her. And looking at the womans actions, it wouldnt cause a seasoned gambler to break a sweat to bet that this woman liked her back with equal fervour. After two meetings and one kiss, this woman had broken up with her long term boyfriend for her and appeared to have no apparent anxieties to the change of gender in her partner. Each phone call they had exchanged had been at least an hour in length and that was often because either of them had an urgent meeting or appointment.

It had been nearly two weeks since they had last seen each other, in Bettes office. Bette had to leave for a crucial art conference on the east coast. That was when the phone calls started. The first was meant as just a quick courtesy call, returning her polite and nervous thank you message. They had talked for so long, Bette slept through three hotel wake up calls the next morning. There was something about that shy voice at the end of the phone to begin with a school girlish giggle which made Bettes heart melt.

Their plans to meet the week that Bette got back were dashed when the woman with the shy schoolgirl giggle was called to an urgent meeting in New York. The high flying film executives would be none too impressed to reschedule their meeting so that Bette could have her date to herself.

As they traded coasts at opposite times, Bette was disheartened. She feared that the longer they had to wait to meet up, the less likely it would be to see her again.

Now, as she stood on the doorstep, Bette couldnt understand why she was waiting any longer. Knocking twice she stepped back, pushing her bob haircut away from her eyes swiftly.