Bette went back over to the side of the bed and held Tinas hand.  Neither of them could stop smiling.

Hey, Porter, I dont know how you pulled it off, but she looks like a mini Bette! Alice said in amazement.

A nurse came in with a very large arrangement of flowers.  These just arrived at the nurses station.  Ill put them over by the window.   And, you, Mom, need to get some rest.  Ill take the little one back to the nursery.

Everyone came over and kissed Tina and Bette goodbye and said theyd see them tomorrow.

Tina slid over a bit and patted the bed.  Come lie down next to me, babe.  Its small but Id love to have you hold me.

Bette got in the bed but stayed as close to the edge as possible without falling off so Tina would still be comfortable.  They faced each other and did their Eskimo kisses.

I am so happy, T, I could burst.  Do you have any idea how much I really love you?

Yes, babe, I do.  I want you to know that even when we were apart, this is what I dreamed about, this is what I knew I wanted. Im so happy we found our way back to each other.  Now kiss your woman.

It was a soft, warm and tender kiss, not one meant to arouse, but to once again seal the deep connection between them. 

Bette knew how exhausted Tina was.  T, Im going to go down to the cafeteria and get a little something and come right back up.  You rest and nap. 

um-hum..  Tina was already drifting away.  Bette slipped out of bed and headed for the door.  Her peripheral vision caught the flowers by the window.   May as well see who theyre from.   She took the card out of the envelope and felt her blood boil.

TK, Congrats. Im sure shes beautiful – just like her mother. HP

This ***** has no ***** boundaries, Bette thought.

Bette crumbled the card and threw it in the trash – then thought better of it and retrieved it and put it in her pocket.  Youll never know when you may have to prove something, she thought. 

She took the flowers out to the nurses station.  Would you see that someone who hasnt received any flowers gets these, please?

Last Monday Bette lay in a bed in this hospital trying to understand how somebody could hate so much that they would want to kill someone.   As she walked to the cafeteria, her mind fought the thought, but for the very briefest of moments she understood the how and the why.

TBC