Bette’s morning

Morning comes and I am woken by the streak of sunshine that comes through the window. I can see that it is still overcast and it is still drizzling but the unwelcome sun finds me. The rain is not heavy. We are in the same position we went to sleep in. Tina still sleeps. I gently dislodge myself from her, she stirs slightly but does not wake as I slip my arm out from under her. I see the embers from the fire from last night. It is still warm. I look around for my top and pants and pull them on. I have a slight headache from the wine and not enough sleep. I can’t have slept for more than a few hours. I smile at the progress we made and as I roll over I groan involuntarily at what is still in front of us. I make my way out to the porch and see the garden. I head over to the car and reach in the glove box for that emergency packet of cigarettes. I sit on the porch, no shoes and look at the garden and smoke. It is magnificent and I wonder how I have never noticed the garden before. Then it occurs to me that I have only ever been here at night time. Had I been here during the day would I have taken the time to admire it “probably not” I mutter and I flick the butt. I look up at a cluster of trees and they seem huge as I sit looking up at them. I make my way to check on Laurel and she is awake. I pick her up, she smiles and take her out to the garden with me. She is so beautiful. I don’t think I’ve yet had time to notice. She flashes her smile just like Tina and has brown eyes. She sits on my lap and I talk to her about the trees but then she wriggle free toddles off. I admire her, keeping an eye she doesn’t go too far. She runs away from me and back to me, then away from me. Each time she runs to me I pick her up and tickle her and then put her down. She runs back to me but this time stops and watches me. Laurel extends her hand and I am not sure what she wants. She tugs at my top and I realize she wants me to go with her. I stand up and take her hand and we walk through the garden. Rain drops sprinkle us from time to time. Laurel likes the garden. Probably Tina’s influence I think. We walk barefoot and hand in hand and I am so glad to be here at this time with her. Her little arms hardly reach up to my hand, yet she is determined not to loose touch. Despite anything that might happen with Tina and myself I know I want in on Laurel‘s life. Laurel stops and points and at the pink and yellow roses. I watch her and wonder what she is thinking. “Like your mom huh, good taste.” I say. Laurel let’s go of hand and runs to the rose, taking in a full whiff. I start to laugh. She definitely got that from Tina. Tina always loved roses, especially the light pink ones and would smell them each time she saw them. Laurel is still pointing at them and I start to realize she wants me to pick some. I step into the garden and pick two pink ones and two yellow one. I give Laurel one of the yellow ones and she hugs my leg. Bette: “careful honey, of the thorns” I say but she is an expert. I laugh and pick her up and look at her and smile. She giggles and points at me as she holds the yellow rose out in her other hand. She reaches in and hugs me and I am so grateful Tina let this little girl know who I was when I wasn’t here. Laurel pulls back and looks at me and points with one finger.