After getting back from the weekend at the cabin, the couple spent the following week at Bette’s West Hollywood home. They got into a morning routine where Tina would get up early to do her five mile run. In the meantime Bette would meditate with the sunrise, lift weights for her core exercises and cool down in the pool. After swimming her laps she would relax on her floating pool bed sans bathing suit to soak up the sun which accounted for the no tan lines on her near perfect golden bronze complexion.

This is mostly how Tina found her when she returned from her run but in contrast to her girlfriend’s Zen like state the blonde was hyperactive, breathing hard, dripping sweat, and cursing her too white complexion that got blotchy red and freckled in the sun. Like most of their philosophies they had different approaches to holistic health of mind, body and soul but they agreed on the importance of keeping the balance.

Since Tina wasn’t familiar with West Hollywood she would mostly stick to running trails at the nearby park for her run but on the way back she would explore the neighborhood and find different routes to the house. If she was in a particularly playful mood she would slip in the back gate, quietly strip off her clothes and jump in the pool flipping Bette’s floating bed and startling the brunette from her slumber.

Making love in and around the pool in the early mornings followed by showering together was a great start to their day but they were usually rushed. It was in the evenings after work when they got home that they really took care of each other. They talked, they laughed, they danced, they shared dreams and memories, they planned, they played, and most predictably they fell deeper and deeper in love. The lovemaking in the evening and through the night was slow, deliberate and magical. Their bodies, hearts, souls and minds connecting and making a declaration of love everlasting that they had yet to verbalize to one another.

***

As they neared the due date Bette went into ‘baby prep mode’. The first thing on the agenda was working out communication so that everyone in the family was easily accessible for when the time came. Francesca wasn’t left alone much during the weeks before her due date but she was instructed to always carry her fully charged cell phone even if she was just going to the bathroom. By the same token Bette, Peggy, Kit, Tina and Marcus all had their cell phones with them at all times should Francesca feel any contractions or have any signs that she was going into labor. All the numbers were set on speed dial and each of them had a distinctive ringtone so they would know when it was Francesca or one of the others calling.