Previously…

I heard Shane’s heavy footsteps before I heard her voice, but soon her arms were around me and she was rocking me slowly back and forth as if she knew exactly what was going through my mind. She held me as I cried the last tears I’d ever cry over Bette’s betrayal. I forced myself to pull it together and looked up at her with love and gratitude.

“Okay,” Shane said sternly, standing up. “Let’s get this moving thing over with.”

Shane always knew the best way to deal with any problem. She allowed the much-needed mourning period, and then she always found a way to snap you back to reality. As she headed back into the living room to haul more boxes inside, she turned back to me and winked and I knew that everything was, just like she said, as it should be.

* * * * * * * * * *

That evening, after the girls had gone home, I settled into my make-shift bed on the couch in the living room. I decided to wait on sleeping in the bedroom until Bette was crawling into our bed with me, and it made the anticipation of her homecoming that much more heightened. I couldn’t wait for the night that I could hold her in my arms, in our bed, as we drifted off to sleep together. Thoughts of Bette filled my head as I slowly succumbed to some much-needed sleep.

The next morning, I was awakened by my ringing cell phone at eight o’clock. I groggily flipped it open and mumbled a “good morning” that was probably unintelligible to the person on the other line. But when I heard that familiar greeting in response, I knew that my caller didn’t care how rudely I answered the phone.

“Sorry I woke you up,” Bette’s voice said on the other side of the call

“Mmmm, that’s okay, baby,” I replied, smiling as I struggled to come to for the morning. “How are you feeling today?”

“Really good, actually,” Bette responded, a twinge of excitement in her voice. “They’re gonna let me come home tonight, T.”

“Oh my God, really?” I asked incredulously, sitting up quickly after hearing the good news.

“Really,” Bette repeated. I heard the smile in her voice and I couldn’t wait to see it up-close.

“And they think you’re ready to come home, and there’s no other complications or –”

“Tina,” Bette interrupted as I rambled on. “I’m fine. Dr. Taylor even said so. They just want to keep me here during the day as a precaution before the ship me out of here.”

I was speechless; I couldn’t believe Bette had recovered so quickly and was going to be coming home to me by the end of the night. I silently thanked the powers above and sighed contentedly.

“I can’t wait to come home and crawl in bed with you,” Bette said softly.

“Me neither, babe,” I replied. “Listen, I’m gonna get up and get a few things done around here before I come to pick you up. But make sure you rest up today, okay?”

“And why’s that?” Bette asked seductively. “Are you planning to keep me up all night?”

“Maybe,” I answered, matching her coyness. “I’ll come by this afternoon.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“I love you, T.”

“I love you more.”

I flipped my phone closed and sprung out of bed, the excitement building with every step. Bette was coming home. We were finally going to be together, just the two of us, in our home, in our bed… no doctors, no nurses… just us. I spent the rest of the morning cleaning the house thoroughly, making sure it was spotless for Bette. When I was finally satisfied with my hard work, I took a shower and got ready for the day before sitting on the couch and counting down the hours until I could bring Bette home.

~~~~~~~~~~

After filling out all the proper paperwork and getting Bette ready to leave, I pushed her wheelchair through the lobby and out into the parking lot towards my car. I helped her ease into the front seat and slowly strapped the seatbelt on her, careful not to jar her. She put up a strong front, but I knew her body was still sore and bruised from the accident.

“Ready to go home?” I asked after starting the engine.

“Definitely,” Bette responded, grabbing for my hand.

We held hands the entire ride home, our fingers intertwined as we sat in a peaceful silence. There was no need for words; the familiar feel of her hand in mine was all the communication I needed. I felt a gentle squeeze as we pulled into the driveway of our home.

“Here we are,” I said, turning to her with a smile. “Home sweet home.”

I leaned over and kissed her gently before running around to help her out of the car. We shuffled our way to the front door, Bette leaning on me for support the whole way. When we finally stepped inside, we both stopped in the living room and took in the moment. After all we’d been through over the past six months, we were finally home together.

“Let’s get you in bed,” I said softly, walking Bette down the hall to our bedroom.

“Oh, you want to get me in bed, huh?” Bette asked sarcastically.

“I just want you to be comfortable,” I replied with a smug smile.

We made our way into the bedroom and I felt Bette begin to lose her energy. The short walk from the car to the house took almost everything out of her, and I wasn’t sure if she had the stamina to make it all the way to the bed. I turned to her, looking into her eyes and searching for the trust I needed from her. The gaze returned was one of love, passion, acceptance, and forgiveness, and I knew what I had to do.

Scooping her weak and fragile body up into my arms, I carried her the short distance to the bed and laid her down gently, cupping the back of her head in my hand and lowering it slowly to the awaiting pillow. As I moved towards the closet to find more comfortable clothes to sleep in, Bette grabbed my hand and pulled me back to her. With a smooth and natural motion, I dipped down towards her, our lips meeting softly.

“Thank you,” she whispered when we finally pulled apart.

“Anything for you, Bette,” I told her with a wink.

I changed quickly and noticed that Bette’s eyes never left my body. She watched me undress, seeing my bare skin for the first time in six months. When I turned back and met her eyes with my own, I saw a tear rolling down her cheek.

“What is it, baby?” I asked, concerned. “Are you in any pain?”

“No,” she replied. “I just… I almost forgot how beautiful you are.”

Smiling, I walked over to my side of the bed and slipped under the sheets. My arms found Bette’s body and instinctively wrapped around her slender frame. I felt her relax into my arms and heard a contented sigh escape her lips. She nuzzled her face into my chest, finding the spot that fit only her as if it was made especially for her body.

“I love you so much,” I told her, running my fingers through her hair.

“I love you, too,” she said. “I’ve missed this so much, T.”

“Me too. God, you feel so good, Bette. I’ve missed falling asleep with you and waking up to you and holding you and smelling you… and I’ve really missed making love to you.”

Bette pulled away from me and looked deep into my eyes. I saw that familiar look of lust and longing, coupled with pure and never-ending love, and knew that I was done for. All promises I’d made to myself to be gentle with her and wait until her body was healed went out the window, and I dove in for the first of many passionate kisses. We spent the rest of the night exploring each other’s bodies tenderly, getting reacquainted with the touches and feels that we’d both missed for so long. I memorized every curve, every dimple, committing it all to memory and vowing to never forget it again. Secure in Bette’s passionate embrace and lulled to sleep by her gentle breathing, I knew that I was finally home where I belonged.

(TBC…)