Bette opened the front door and was greeted by the sweetest of smells. The entire house was cooking. Bette smiled to herself. Tina was home and she was in the kitchen. There was rosemary and basil, thyme and garlic, all gathered around the smell of newly-baked bread.

Tina was dancing around in the kitchen, moving effortlessly, with the ease and skill of a confident woman who knew a thing or two about the subject at hand.

In one hand she held a glass of red wine, casually taking small sips, while she stirred the contents of the pots that were simmering on the stove with the other.

Bette stood and watched, making sure she was taking it all in. The wondrous smells, the flickering of candles, the soft music being played and the movements belonging to the woman she’d been blessed with, one Tina Kennard.

As if on cue Tina turned around. She always seemed to know when Bette was near.

“Hey, babe. You’re home early.” Her face lit up, the warmth from her hazel eyes striking straight into Bette’s soul.

“Hey”.

Tina walked up to Bette and kissed her lips. Bette wrapped her arms around Tina’s waist and held her in place. For a few moments they just looked into each other’s eyes.

“Oh, you want me to kiss you again don’t you?” Tina smiled as she spoke.

With an all too familiar twinkle in her eye Bette answered. “I think I’d like that.”

The gentle swirl of Tina’s tongue and the taste of the wine on her lips made Bette lightheaded. The kiss was slow and deliberate. There was nothing hurried about it. Tina’s hands were lost in the wild locks of Bette’s hair and Bette’s hands were stroking Tina’s hips. Inch by inch her hands were making their way under the hem of her blouse, a tantalizing slow journey in the search of skin.

Tina leaned into her body and welcomed the feeling of Bette’s hands on her burning skin.

“Mmmm...Hi.”

Tina smiled into the kiss.

“What’s cooking?”

“Oh, just something I whipped up today. I wanted to try something new.”

“It smells heavenly. And so do you.” Bette nestled herself against Tina’s shoulder.

Tina squeezed Bette a little tighter before stepping out of the embrace.

“It’s Italian; I think you’ll like it.”

“Should I have brought dessert? If there’s still time I can manage to bring back something sweet.”

“You’re all the sweetness I need for the night”.

Tina blushed at her own banality and Bette just smiled.

“Besides, I’ve already got that covered.” And with that Tina’s face changed from sweet to mysterious.

Bette raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, you have, have you? Do I want to know?”

“You’ll like it. I might even go as far as to say you’ll love it.”

“It sounds awfully promising, you are certain of my satisfaction?”

Tina ran a hand through her golden hair making Bette shiver in the process. She found it incredibly sensual to watch Tina try to control her unruly locks of shining golden hair.

“I always keep my end of the bargain.”

Slowly Tina approached Bette. And with a smile she whispered. “Trust me. You’ll be left completely satisfied before the night is through.”  

Angelica squealed in delight when her little toes dipped into the water waking Bette from her thoughts.

Alice was entertaining, herself mostly, floating around on a big turquoise recliner in the pool, while Helena was dipping an excited Angelica into the water, as she herself was sitting safely on the edge fully clothed. However, with the amount of splashing coming from Alice’s side of the pool Helena soon found herself just as wet as the rest of them.

Bette walked out on the patio and joined her friends.

“That was Kit on the phone. She won’t be able to make it tonight.”

“Ah, that’s a pity.” Helena looked up.

“I was hoping she would be the one who mastered the grill.” Bette smiled. “I suppose it’s all up to me tonight.”

“Porter, I love you, but I really don’t have the deep desire in spending the night with a fake smile plastered on my face while shamelessly lying on how incredible your cooking skills are.”

“I suppose you can do a better job then, Alice?”

“Oh, no my friend, of the many earth shattering skills I so cunningly possess, that particular one is not one of them. I do know the perfect person though.”

“Who might that be?”

Alice pointed her right index finger straight at Helena, surprising both Bette and Helena.

“You cook?”

“On occasion. I like to wallow in gastronomy, especially when I have someone to share the experience with. It’s been a while though, the last person I cooked for was Tina, when we were –“

Helena felt herself blush incredibly as the words fell out of her mouth. Oh, crap. She immediately let go of Angelica and the little girl made her way over to Bette, who in turn bent down to pick her up, never letting her eyes wander from Helena.

Alice eyes sprung open and she felt them frantically move between the two dark-haired women. Damage control. Now.

“HAHA! Oh, you know what’s funny, just at the top of my head. Yes I know, “shocking”, right? I’m always hilarious. I’m thinking of writing a book. You know, getting the truth out. Alice Pieszecki and the Five P’s.”

Bette shifted her attention to Alice, gladly breaking her starring competition with herself, since Helena wouldn’t look her in the eye.

“And this has something to do with cooking, these five P’s?”

“Oh no, they stand for: Penile Pension of a Predominately Poopy President – A life in exile...”