Love Revisited – Coming Home Part 21


Previously


HEY, HEY, whats that on your hands? Everyone turned their eyes to Bette and Tinas hands.

Bette and Tina just smiled. Im disappointed in you, Alice, Tina said. Why, youve been here forty-five minutes and you just noticed.

You know how the interest in someones ***** life causes her to miss the little things, Shane said. Shane was smiling at Bette and Tina. She was just so happy for them. Everything was coming back around to its proper place. Bette and Tinas relationship had always been a beacon of light and hope for Shane. When that light went out, Shane was devastated. Now, it appears light and hope had returned.

Yeah, well, I noticed them now. SO SPEAK! Alice leaned a little into Dana. An unspoken sigh of relief passed between the two of them that the attention was no longer on them.

Bette and Tina told them about the rings and that Tina was moving back in.

They never did get to watch movies this night. They just talked and laughed for hours. Just like all families do

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




It was a great night. Before everyone knew it, it was the wee hours of the morning. Tina at some point had laid her head on Bettes shoulder and conked.

I think its time we get out of here, Carmen said, patting Shanes knee.

Yeah, thanks, Bette. It was a great night. Alice, Dana, lets clean up this mess and hit the road, Shane said as she got to her feet.

Thanks, everyone. I better get this momma to bed. Hey, are any of you available over the weekend? Tina wanted to bring some clothes over and any extra hands would help.

Sure, let us know when, Shane said.

Give me a call and Ill call Dana. Well help, said Alice. Of course, she didnt have to call Dana – Dana was sleeping over her place this weekend – but they didnt know that. Oh, what tangled webs we weave.
Great. Just pull the door closed behind you. Im going to get Tina to bed. It was a super night. Well call you tomorrow.

~ ~ ~

Come on, baby, time to get you to bed.

Wow, I didnt even realize I went out, Tina groggily said.

Yep, you did, for a good hour and a half. So, lets go, into bed and then Ill just finish cleaning up out here and join you.

~ ~ ~

With most everything cleaned up, teeth brushed and doors locked, Bette made her way to their bedroom. It sure sounded nice saying that again, she thought.

Tina was lying on her right side. Its been the most comfortable in this stage of her pregnancy. Bette thought how long she waited to have Tina right here where she was sleeping now. Six months may not seem very long to some people, but when they are filled with the emptiness and want of that one special person and with the knowledge of the hurt you inflicted on her, it seemed an eternity – and up until this past week an impossible dream that there would ever be a happy ending.

Bette got undressed and slipped into bed and cuddled up as close as she could to her T. She wrapped her arm around her – but before placing it on her belly, she lifted her hand up and, yes, there it was – her wedding band. No matter what the legal system or rightwing radicals had to say about our right to marriage, our legal rights to marriage, Bette knew that Tina placing that ring back on her finger today reconfirmed their commitment to one another; they would always be married in their hearts.

Yes, its really there, babe.

Hey, I thought you were sleeping.

I was but felt you come into bed.

Go back to sleep, T.

Hold me?

No problem there. Sweet dreams, T. I love you.

Umm, I love you back, babe. Night.

They both drifted off leaving this day behind.


~ ~ ~

Tina could feel Bette stir behind her. She awoke with the feeling of Bettes body heat enveloping her; her arm still protectively wrapped over her with hand on her belly. No matter what spats or arguments or disagreements they will have in the future, the vision of this and the feeling of safety and contentment it brought will always let Tina know things will be all right.

She knew right now she had to pee! She gently lifted Bettes arm and sat up.

Ummwhere ya goin, T?

To the bathroom, babe. Ill be right back, sweetie.

You better.

Bette just lay there with her hand on the warm spot just left vacant by Tina. Umm, my babymy baby with our baby.


Bette was jolted nearly upright by the sound of the phone ringing.

Who the ***** is calling so early in the morningChrist She glanced at the clock. It said 10:10 am. Okay, well, it wasnt that early but I dont want to hear it anyway. Probably Alice.

Bette slid over and reached for the phone. Alice, come on, let us sleep in – its Saturday – Oh, hi, Daddy. Bette sat up and swung her feet over the side of the bed. No, you didnt wake me – didnt wake us. We just had a late night last night and slept in a bit.

Bettes voice began to rise in volume. Daddy, her name is Tina – Tina! Shes feeling fine. Our daughter – your grandchild, is due in three weeks – Well, I dont care that you still think its biologically impossible – youve already registered that opinion with us. My problem is – was that I didnt register my unhappiness and disappointment when you made that statement regarding Tinas first pregnancy. I let her walk away from the table, didnt have the courage to stand up to you on your remarks. I was so concerned and worried about letting you down, that I didnt see how much I had let her down. I so want your blessing on things I do in my life that I completely ignored what Tina was feeling – and I refuse to do that anymore!

Tina had finished in the bathroom, heard Bettes somewhat irritated voice speaking to someone, and just stood at the bathroom door. She realized immediately from the tenor of the conversation it was Melvin and did not want to intrude in Bettes space. She also was very surprised at the tone Bette was taking with her father. Bette has never been ashamed of who she was, sexually or otherwise, but Tina had never seen her take a firm stance with her father – until now.

I havent done anything to you, Daddy, except try to excel at everything Ive done in life so far. My silent wish on anything Ive accomplished was that you, Daddy, would approve and say, job well done. Im so proud of you. And why is it I have a lifestyle and not a life? Well, you can think that way, Daddy. Thats your prerogative. Yes, I know, you keep saying you want the best for me. Let me ask you something, did you want the best for me when you let Mom walk away, um? Yes, it is a subject for conversation!

Bette was talking very loudly now, accenting each word.

Oh, stop with the self-righteous pity talk. You didnt do anything wrong for me to be this way. Ive bought into your tale of woe regarding my life for all these years and succumbed to the feelings of loss from you not accepting me for who I am. I just went through the most horrendous six months of my life and it was due to my own making. You knew that Tina and I split up and knew how unhappy I was. Did you once when you called say, Dont worry, things will be okay. I know how you feel or even an Im sorry? No, you didnt. Yes, I know its not your way to do that. Well, guess what, maybe its time you started re-evaluating how you respond to your children when they are experiencing pain. Listen, to me, Daddy, I love you, but listen clearly to what Im about to say. Listen hard and understand this is the way it is and it will never, ever be any other way. Tina and I are back together. We are committed to one another in a loving, passionate relationship that is NO DIFFERENT than that of a man and woman in their gift of legally acknowledged matrimony. No, dont interrupt me – if you do, I will hang up this phone – I love Tina with every fiber of my being and I know she loves me with the same depth of feeling. I can only hope that you had a chance in your life to experience that or will again. And if you refuse to allow that kind of love into your life, you will die a very angry and lonely man. I was just given the gift of a second chance and there is no one, NO ONE, not even you, Daddy, that will tamper with Tinas and my love for one another. Melvin was silent. Now, Im going to end this call. I will call you in three weeks when YOUR grandchild is born. It will be your choice whether she has the opportunity to meet her grandfather. Goodbye.

Bette hung up the phone and just sat there with her hand still on the receiver, staring at it. She appeared emotionally drained but yet, still firm. She, never in her life, talked to her father that way. She knew it was long overdue.


Tina walked over to Bette and stood in front of her. She leaned down and kissed Bette and said, If there was a scintilla of doubt still remaining in the recesses of my mind as to how you feel about me, about us, its completely erased now. I love you so much. I know how hard it must have been to stand up to your father just now.

I just couldnt do it anymore, T. I love him very much and I want him in my life, but I refuse now to let my need for him to give his approval rule certain parts of my life. You are my life, baby. I foolishly took you for granted, lost myself, and nearly destroyed everything that was important to me. Youve given your heart and love back to me and no one, my father or anyone else, is going to take it away from me. If they try by their words or actions, then theyre going to have to accept the fact I will no longer be in their lives. It will be their choice, not mine. When it comes to you and me and the protection of what we are, sorry, but I will remain the Alpha *****.


A smile spread across Tinas face. Yes, but what a beautiful Alpha ***** you are. Now, how about you lying back down, Alpha *****, and letting me have my way with you.


Bette had no trouble at all acquiescing to Tinas demand. And for these two lovers, morning became afternoon in a most delightful way


TBC