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The rain lashed hard against the large living room windows, matching Bette’s dark mood with every drop and every howl of wind. As boring as the perennial sunshine could be in LA, this sort of weather was just plain annoying. As she watched the rivulets drip down the glass, she pulled her cotton blanket tighter around her neck and shoulders, silently cursing the storm which had ruined her weekend. She tried to watch television, but neither a Kandinsky documentary on Netflix nor endless episodes of the Real Housewives of New York City on Hulu could hold her attention for very long. Her thoughts kept meandering back to Tina.
Of course, there had been many evenings of stargazing over FaceTime, and flirtatious, hushed telephone conversations in those stolen moments right before sleep, but neither compared to the feel of Tina’s body in her bed. This is where she was supposed to be, the big spoon to Bette’s little spoon, all warmth and comfort and the smell of her perfume and shampoo, their curves slotting together like perfect pieces, a jigsaw puzzle that they had spent 26 years putting together (and ripping apart), but had now finally figured out. Without Tina, Bette was incomplete, and in the silence of her big, empty house this weekend, it was all too easy to be reminded of those long nights she’d spent hopelessly pining for her ex-wife. Tina should be here, but Tina was not.
*
A few days prior, Tina stood staring out of her balcony windows across the Toronto skyline, hands on hips and chewing her lip with so much anger it was liable to start bleeding at any moment. Just an hour ago, her assistant had messaged her to unceremoniously ruin her upcoming plans to spend a long weekend in LA with Bette. Angie was away on a college trip with Bella and friends for a whole two weeks, and other than a brunch at Dana’s with Shane and Alice, Tina was very much looking forward to doing little else but stay in bed with her ex-wife for most of the weekend, emerging only to retrieve another bottle of white from the fridge or answer the door to a Postmates order. Her suitcase was already out in the bedroom ready to be filled with clothes. She had bought new lingerie especially. New perfume too. But none of this would matter, because Mother Nature and American Airlines had conspired to ruin her weekend of sex, food, and wine with the only person on the planet that she wanted to share them with.
Her sullen mood was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a WhatsApp notification. She grabbed her phone off the kitchen counter and saw it was from her darling daughter, complete with a photo of her and Bella smiling away on what looked like outdoor mountain hike. Tina smiled, for the first time in what seemed like hours, before doing a quick double take of the photo in question. As she observed the faded black tank top her daughter was wearing, with a familiar hole peeking out just below an armpit where Angie’s arm stretched out to take the selfie, realisation suddenly dawned. The tank top was Tina’s, she was sure.
Mama T: Looking good, kid. Hope you’re having fun?
Angie: The best time. Views are amazing. Will tell you all about it when I get back. Cell service is crazy bad.
Mama T: Quick Q, where is the vest from?! I could swear I had one just like that.
Angie: ? Dunno, grabbed it out of B’s laundry. Love ya x
Mama T: Be safe. XX
Tina’s curious smile gave way to a grin. Her heart swelled as she read and re-read the words of Angie’s message. “...grabbed it out of B’s laundry.” Bette had kept it and Bette still wore it. An idea formed in her mind.
*
“Is this fucking rain ever going to stop?” Bette muttered to herself. She had eaten little else but ice cream most of the day and figured if the rain let up, she’d at least go to the grocery store for some healthier provisions, but if anything the rain was heavier. As she lay down with the remote control in hand, flicking aimlessly through channels she had no interest in watching, she was swiftly roused by the sound of the door bell. Who is out in this weather? She threw off the blanket and padded to the front door, only to be greeted by a delivery driver who was already sprinting back down the pathway to his van as the rain hammered down. On the porch at her feet was a cardboard box, which she retrieved and quickly brought inside.
“I don’t remember ordering anything?” said Bette, as she brought the box into the kitchen and placed it on the counter to unbox the surprise cargo inside. As she opened it, she peered down quizzically into the box and packaging. She lifted up the protective shredded paper and there sat a neatly folded, dark green blouse. She gingerly lifted it up and instantly recognised the perfume notes of bergamot and ylang-ylang. Bringing it closer, she buried her face in its soft satin folds and inhaled deeply. The unmistakable scent of Tina . As she breathed in, she heard the distinctive crinkle of paper from the breast pocket. Lifting the piece of paper out, she read a note from her beloved.
“I know Angie has my tank top, so this is just for you. X”
Bette smiled as she inhaled the blouse once more before placing it on the counter. But that wasn’t all that was inside the box. There was also a large envelope beneath where the blouse had been placed, a large “B” on the front written in Tina’s handwriting. Opening it, she found and lifted out a colour Polaroid photograph of a beach she did not instantly recognise. The sun beamed down on the sandy dunes and Bette could clearly see the inscription “Bette + Tina 4 ever” inside a love heart on the sand. She laughed to herself and ran a finger over the photo, before flipping it over. Tina had written another message in marker pen.
Sugar Beach in Toronto. I wish you were here with me in person, but this will have to do. X
Tears began to form in her eyes. She placed the photo on top of the blouse and lifted the final piece of paper from the envelope. As Bette began to read it, she put a hand to her mouth and her eyes widened. It was a print-out copy of a one-way flight ticket from Toronto to LA for two weeks’ time. Placing the paper with the other gifts, she ran to the living room and grabbed her cell phone and hit dial on Tina’s number. A few moments later, the call connected.
“Hey, baby, how are y–.”
“T, the package came.”
“Oh I’m glad! I’m missing you so much and I thought you might need a pick me up–”
Bette cut straight across her words.
“I miss you too and I love you and why is the ticket one way? Do you realise you haven’t booked a round trip, T?”
Tina laughed.
“Of course I realise that.”
Bette laughed now too as the tears started to slip down her cheek. “Does this mean what I think it means?”
“Well, what do you think it means?”
“Just tell me!” Bette replied in exasperation. Tina stopped chuckling at her ex-wife’s impatience and took a small breath.
“Don’t you think it’s time I came home for good?”