A Walk on the Wild Side - Chapter 23
Vual looked over at the brooding brunette nervously. Bette sat, arms crossed, a look of thunder clouding her delicate features. Vual flinched at yet another exasperated sigh that escaped Bette's pouting lips.
Goddamit she thought. I can't believe she is staying here and letting me go to the airport by myself. What? Can't afford to waste any of her precious time on seeing me off? She questioned sarcastically.
Bette clenched her jaw, Typical! She thought. I wait all these years to find my soul mate and she can't even be bothered to see me safely onto my plane. Bette clenched her fists, wanting nothing more than to slam her hand on the dashboard in frustration.
Doesn't she realise I needed this? Doesn't she realise that I needed to spend every last second I could with her, to store up these memories to last me until she joined me once again?
We didn't even have time to talk, not properly she thought.
She thought back to last night. How perfect everything had been.
They had watched the last remaining embers of their camp fire slowly turn cold, the gentle breeze occasionally sending small sparks flying into the air. Even then, they had not returned to the comfort of Tina's studio, preferring to lay on their backs, counting the stars above them. Tina had slowly turned onto her right side, propping her self up with her hand.
Bette had felt Tina's stare without having to turn her head. Bette had wanted to return the blondes loving gaze, but suddenly had felt frightened. In just a few short hours she would gaze upon this face for the last time before she left. She had needed to postpone that moment as long as she could, the irrational feeling that it would be the last time she would see her clouding her mind.
She had picked up on Tina's sadness twice during the course of the day, and had brushed it from her mind, thinking that Tina was as sad as she at their parting. Now though she was sensing a hesitancy in Tina, like there was something she needed to say, but couldn't bring herself to.
Oh God Bette had thought. What if she has realised she doesn't need me the way that I need her? She had panicked at the thought. A month is a long time, and it's not like I can just pick up a phone and call her. How could she know that Tina would indeed join her like she had promised. How could she really know what Tina was thinking.
Suddenly a thought had formulated in her mind. Tina had one of the most expressive faces she had ever knownEven without speaking it was always possible to know what Tina was thinking. That's it! She had realised the answer was there all along. Bette had decided to buy Tina's flight ticket at the airport, knowing that the answer to her question would present itself in Tina's expressive sherry eyes.
Bette had been interrupted from thoughts of her master plan by Tina's sudden movement beside her. Tina had stood and gently taking Bette's hand had lead her toward the studio.
Bette had been amazed at the transformation. Gone were the original photo's from the walls, to be replaced by a picture diary of their time together. Bette walked up to the bank of pictures, studying them intently. The first few had shown her looking pensive and out of place in her crisp new safari gear nervously looking around her, uncomfortable in the heat. As her eyes roamed across the pictures she noticed how she had gradually relaxed, looking more at home in her new environment, more vibrant somehow.
Tina's hands had reached around her waist from behind as she had watched the beautiful brunette take in her efforts. "do you want to see my favourite?" she had asked Bette kissing her softly at the nape of her neck. Bette had leaned back into Tina's embrace before allowing herself to be guided toward the most recently developed shots. "so this is why you kept sneaking off on me!" Bette had teased. She came to a stop at a shot Tina had taken of Bette, whilst they were watching the lions relocate. It was a close up, showing Bette in profile, her eyes wide with wonder and delight. She looked at the photo, never remembering a time when she had felt so carefree, her face glowing with pleasure, an almost child like wonder about her.
She had turned around then, her eyes shimmering with tears, wanting so much to express the love she felt for this amazing woman that had freed her heart from the shackles that had held it captive for so long. "T" She had started to say, only to be silenced by Tina's finger pressed against her lips. "Shhhhh" she had said shaking her head, a smile gracing her lips. "NO words baby, not tonight."
Tina had slowly led her to the bed, where they had made love, slowly and tenderly all night, each of them expressing their feelings not with words, but with kisses, and gentle caresses.
As Bette remembered the perfect night they had spent, their bodies wrapped together in the throws of lovemaking, she felt her breath quicken, Licking her lips, she could almost taste Tina's sweet lips against her own. Oh God what have I done she groaned to herself. She felt for Tina's pillowcase in her pocket, and quickly removing it she bought it to her face sniffing deeply.
"It is hard to say goodbye, no?" Vual said, interrupting Bette's thoughts.
Bette sighed wondering how last nights magic had been replaced by this mornings disaster.
"You will look after her, wont you?" Bette replied, looking across at Vual sadly.
Vual laughed softly, "That is funny Bette, I was planning to ask the same of you!" He said, his deep velvety voice filling the Land Rover.
Bette turned away, unable to meet his gaze. "I owe you an apology" she said regretfully. "I referred to you as the hired help this morning," she explained. "That was wrong of me. I know what you did for Tina when she was attacked, and I know that you are a good friend." Bette turned her head, looking into Vual's Deep concerned eyes.
"I accept your apology" Vual replied, unaffected by Bette's admission. "I have known Tina a long time. She is my employer and she is my friend." Vual paused for a moment. "Part of me is sad that you will take her away from us, but a bigger part of me is happy that she has found love." Vual stated matter of factly.
Bette stared at Vual, shocked that he had guessed the special relationship the two women shared.
Vual laughed once again, at the look on Bette's face. "You are shocked because I have guessed, or because men are not usually so smart?" He asked. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "It is obvious how much you care for each other. I would have to be blind not to see it! Just promise me that you will make her happy"
Bette looked down at her hands, sighing deeply. "I don't think I can make that promise, she said forlornly. "I think I have already broken it. We argued this morning when Tina told me that she wasn't coming with me to the airport."
Vual stopped the Land Rover, and looked over at Bette. "Tina asked me not to give this to you until we had arrived at the airport. Maybe it would be better if you received it now."
Vual reached behind the front seats to retrieve a 12" long tubular case. It was made of Metal, with a thick skin of leather covering it. It was battered and dented, the leather scuffed and faded in parts, and was obviously well used. Bette looked at Vual inquisitively. "It is a present for you" he explained.
Bette took the case from Vuals grasp, and slowly opened up the leather buckle at the top. She pulled the lid of the holder up, removing it completely.
