Chapter 7

Bette paced the length of the main gallery as her mind replayed the scene between her and Megan. She questioned whether she had made too much out of the help Megan gave her. She needed to place her hands on Bette’s body if she were to save her from falling off the ladder and potentially injure herself.

“Am I making too much out of this?” Bette muttered to herself.

Bette’s cell phone vibrated in her pocket breaking into her thoughts. She struggled to retrieve it from her jeans before the caller was placed into her voice mail.

“Hello?”

“Baby Sis?” Kit sounded worried at the tone of Bette’s voice. “You okay Girl?”

“I’m not sure I know what that is these days,” Bette answered honestly. “What’s going on with you?”

“I have a fucking emergency here that apparently nobody else is competent to handle. I can’t make it to your house to meet Angie when she gets home. I know this puts you in a jam, but I can try to track Angus down or call Tina.”

“No!” Bette’s mind quickly began to process the news. “I’ll make it home to meet her. I just need you to do me a favor.”

“What’s that?”

“Just call her,” Bette said as she began to walk toward her office. “Leave her a message not to go into the pool until I get there. I have one thing I need to take care of here so I’ll walk out within the next 10 minutes.”

“Do you want to talk about what’s really buggin’ you Bette?”

“No,” Bette answered quickly.

“Bette,” Kit said in a warning tone.

“Kit,” Bette sighed. “I can handle it and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, I’ve got to lean on Tina first if I can’t.”

“While she’s losing her ever-lovin’ mind over this menopause thing?”

“She is not,” Bette said defending Tina.

“I’m not sure what you see, but the rest of us see things a little clearer.”

“Can you please just call Angie and handle that for me? I’ll open my eyes more when I see Tina if that makes you feel better, but I know my wife better then anyone and she’ll be fine.”

Bette shut her phone desperate to gather her belongings to work from home the rest of the day under the guise of supervising Angelica and her friends in their quest for team comraderie.

Once Bette had gathered her belongings, she quickly sent Tina a text to inform her of the slight change in plans. Without waiting for a text back, Bette walked out to Jordon’s desk and told her she would be leaving for the rest of the day.

“What do you want me to do with Miss Thing working in the gallery?”

“Throw her a raw piece of meat every once in a while,” Bette said without cracking a smile.

Jordon burst out laughing as she nodded her head and waved as Bette walked toward the gallery to inform Megan she would be leaving for the day. Once she got there, she quietly observed Megan lost in thought. Megan was walking around the gallery slowly, as if envisioning what the finished product would look like.

“I’m leaving for the day,” Bette announced with little care that she was disturbing Megan’s thoughts. “My sitter can’t meet my daughter at home so I’m going to do it.”

“What’s her name?” Megan asked as she continued to walk through the gallery without looking at Bette.

“My sitter or my daughter?”

“Daughter.”

“Angelica,” Bette said in a hard voice. “But you already knew that didn’t you?”

“Actually no,” Megan finally turned and made eye contact with Bette. “The information from Google never mentioned any names.”

“Protecting the innocent I suppose,” Bette mumbled. “How much longer do you think you’ll be?”

“Maybe another hour or so,” Megan smiled. “If you’re going, I’ll just set up everything I can so that when we get here tomorrow morning we can begin sculpting.”

Bette turned her back and walked out of the gallery and to her car. Once there, she felt her anger rising at the interaction between her and Megan. She dialed a phone number by heart and waited for it to be answered.

“Is it really you Porter?” Alice asked with humor as she balanced the phone between her shoulder and ear. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I need a judgment call,” Bette said as she began her journey home. “It’s about Megan.”

“And you’re asking me?”

“It would appear that way.”

“Go ahead,” Alice sat back on her couch and rested her feet on the coffee table in front of her. “I’m all ears.”

“I could be making more out of this then there really is,” Bette began gaining control over her thoughts. “But I can’t shake this feeling that Megan wants more.”

“You didn’t have to call the Psychic Friends Network for that!”

“Last time I checked you weren’t Dionne Warwick.”

“That’s my point,” Alice said. “I’m not and even I know that.”

“She touched me today.”

“She WHAT?” Alice flew forward and smashed her feet down on the ground in shock. “Say that again?”

“Not that way,” Bette scolded her. “I was up on a ladder working on dusting off a display. I started to fall and she caught me.”

Bette turned onto the main street leading to her house as she silently swore at the drivers ahead of her driving at least 5 miles per hour slower then the posted speed.

“What the hell is the matter with these people?”

“What people?” Alice asked confused.

“The ones that can’t read what the posted speed limit is.”

“Can we get back to the Minx?” Alice asked curious about the rest of the story. “What happened?”

“That’s the story, she caught me and sort of pushed me back up by sliding her hands upward.”

“Upward to where?”

“My backside,” Bette said cringing at the way that sounded. “But maybe I’m making more of it then there really is.”

“Doubt that.”

“I could be,” Bette said trying to convince herself. “There was just this….”

Bette paused trying to determine the appropriate word for what was going on between her and Megan.

“What?” Alice prodded.

“This tension between us.”

“Sexual or just overall?” Alice asked for clarification.

“I’m not sure,” Bette admitted.

“You really want my opinion?” Alice asked to ensure she was free to express herself without ramification.

“I wouldn’t call if I didn’t Dionne.”

“It could be both,” Alice said eliciting a scoff from Bette. “Let’s examine the evidence shall we?”

Alice didn’t wait for an answer before she launched into her backward analysis.

“The relationship, if you will, started out with a fair amount of tension to begin with. First, she has you by the short curlies and knows it. You need this show and don’t like being pushed into a corner where you feel you aren’t calling the shots.”

Bette rolled her eyes as she pulled into her subdivision.

“It isn’t beyond the realm of feasibility that she would want you sexually. But, either way, the tension will be there as a matter of design. Do you see what I’m saying?”

“Not really,” Bette admitted as she pulled into the driveway.

“It means it can go either way,” Alice said exasperated that Bette wasn’t following her logic. “I’ll devise a points system to analyze it and get back with you.”

“Wow,” Bette said sarcastically. “Thanks Alice, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“I know,” Alice said ignoring the obvious sarcasm. “I won’t leave you hanging. I’ll get right on that.”

Bette closed her phone shaking her head as she parked the car and got her laptop and briefcase from the backseat of her car.

“Why did I even call her?” Bette muttered as she walked in the house and looked around for evidence of Angelica and her friends arriving home from school. A quick perusal of the front room and kitchen indicated she had beaten them home. The answering machine’s light was blinking indicating a new message.

Bette walked over to the machine and pressed play, smiling at the sound of Kit’s voice explaining to Angelica that Bette would be there instead of her for her afternoon of fun with her friends. Bette looked around at the house and realized it tended to look better when Tina was home and people were expected to arrive for a visit.

“Snacks,” Bette snapped her fingers. “Tina always does snacks. What’s considered a cool snack that isn’t hard to make?”

Bette opened the refrigerator and shut it after seeing nothing quick and easy. She opened it up once more as if to find something that had magically appeared, but knowing it wasn’t realistic. She closed the door once more seeing an advertisement for the local pizza place they typically ordered from.

“Pizza it is,” Bette smiled as she called the number and placed her order for delivery.

Once that was done, she walked out to the pool and began throwing in pool toys from the shed so the girls had something to float on while swimming.

Angelica opened the door and dutifully allowed her guests to enter before her.

“Why is your mom’s car out there?” Cathy asked.

“I have no idea,” Angelica said dreading the answer. “It’s a good thing Darren couldn’t come.”

“I still think it was dumb to invite him even with your Aunt Kit here.”

Angelica led the group to the backyard as Bette bent over checking the water temperature.

“Hey Mama B,” Angelica said casually causing Bette to look up at her and her group of friends with a smile on her face. “Why are you here?”

“I live here,” Bette answered with a smile on her face. “Auntie Kit couldn’t make it and I was almost done for the day so I opted to work from home.”

“That’s so cool,” one of Angie’s friends said catching Bette’s attention. “You must be really successful to be able to do that.”

“I’m not too sure about that,” Bette said standing up and facing the new girl. “I’m sorry I don’t believe we’ve met.”

Bette extended her hand causing Angelica to roll her eyes.

“Mama B, this is Tracy our new cheerleader. Tracy this is, um…”

Angelica paused not sure how to introduce Bette being that Tracy wasn’t aware of her family dynamics.

“This is one of my moms, Bette Porter” Angelica decided on.

“Nice to meet you,” Tracy shook Bette’s hand and held it a slight bit longer then needed. When Bette pulled it back, Tracy blushed and bit her lower lip avoiding Bette’s gaze.

“The pool should be all set,” Bette said to Angelica. “I’m going to go inside and change and work out here. I also ordered pizza thinking you might all be hungry.”

“Thanks Ms. Porter,” Cathy said smiling. “You’re the best.”

“Well if Angelica’s other mother was here you’d have something better then pizza,” Bette teased. “Jump in when you’re ready.”

Bette walked off leaving the girls to get changed and plunge into the pool when they desired. The girls walked into the house, most of them changing in Angelica’s room, where Tracy spotted a picture of Bette and Tina.

“Who is this with your Mom?”

“My other Mom,” Angelica said. “They’re….”

“Lesbians?” Tracy helped Angelica with her explanation.

“Pretty much.”

“That’s so cool!” Tracy exclaimed. “Your Mom is so cool.”

“Mama B?”

“She’s just…..” Tracy’s voice trailed off as she smiled.

“Wait until you see her Aunt Shane,” Renee added. “She’s cute.”

“Her Mom is more then cute,” Tracy shot back. “There’s something about her.”

“Oh God,” Angelica rolled her eyes in disgust at another one of her friends finding Bette attractive.

“Do you think she’ll mind if I smoke?” Tracy pulled a cigarette out of her pocket and put it in her mouth.

“Yes!”

“For real?”

“Yes,” Angelica confirmed. “She won’t like that.”

“So tell me about this Darren?” Tracy leaned back on her elbows as she sat on the bed with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. “He’s a junior right?”

“Yes,” Angelica hesitantly answered. “Why?”

“I think it’s awesome you’re dating an older guy. I’d love to meet a friend of his if you know what I mean.”

“You want me to fix you up?” Angelica asked to confirm her thoughts.

“That dance is coming up right? I’d like to go.”

“I suppose I could ask him,” Angelica said. “What’s your type?”

“Someone who likes to have a good time,” Tracy answered with a smile.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” Tracy shrugged. “Just a good time. Someone to party with after the games.”

“We don’t do many parties.”

“But that should change,” Tracy said. “In fact, there’s one for the first game at my house. I’m going to pass out flyers tomorrow.”

“Won’t your parents mind?”

“Not at all,” Tracy said smiling mischievously. “Not when they’re out of town they won’t. Angie, you should tell Darren to stay over my house and you can stay over too. There are plenty of beds where you two could sleep.”

Tracy winked at Angelica as the others stood staring at her in disbelief.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never done it?” Tracy asked in disbelief seeing a look of panic cross Angelica’s face.

“It’s not that we haven’t talked about it,” Angelica started to stretch the truth slightly to remain popular with her peers. “We just haven’t had the right timing. It’s hard to be alone.”

Angelica adjusted her bikini as the others grabbed their towels and Cathy and Renee stood staring at one another in disbelief.

“We should get swimming,” Angelica said leading them out of her bedroom.

As they made their way through the door, Tina opened the front door with several large pizzas in her hand. She was struggling to balance the pizzas, given she was also carrying her purse, her briefcase, and the mail tucked under one arm.

“Angie,” Tina pleaded. “Will you please help me?”

Angelica walked over and took the pizzas out of Tina’s hands and handed one to three different girls before taking the mail from under Tina’s arm.

“Hi Mom,” Angelica smiled at Tina.

“Hey Mom,” Tracy said to Tina causing Tina to frown.

“Um,” Tina shook her head not sure what to say to the girl standing in front of her. “Hi?”

The girls ran through the kitchen and out to the pool where they placed the pizza boxes on the table and began to ravish them without waiting for plates or napkins.

“Babe?” Tina called out to Bette.

Bette walked out of the bedroom and smiled at Tina. She was wearing her bikini top and a pair of khaki shorts. Her feet were bare, her toes perfectly painted, and her hair curly and loose.

“Hey,” Bette kissed Tina lightly on the lips.

“Who is the new girl we adopted?”

“What?”

“The new one that I’ve never seen before that’s taken to calling me ‘mom’.”

“I have no idea,” Bette laughed as she took the mail from Tina’s hand and threw it on the coffee table. “How was your day?”

“Busy, but at least these budget meetings went better then the last round.”

“Helena decided to sit pretty and be quiet?”

“Something like that,” Tina chuckled. “Leigh is in town so Helena’s mind is not on work. She left early to meet Leigh for lunch.”

“A nooner?” Bette raised her eyebrow and laughed. “I didn’t think Helena had it in her anymore.”

“Why’s that?” Tina asked her mood suddenly changing, leaning toward the defensive.

“Because she seems to be so involved in the studio that I didn’t think she’d be the kind to leave in the middle of the day.”

“Oh,” Tina walked into the kitchen leaving a confused Bette.

Bette followed her and wrapped her arms around her waist as Tina poured her and Bette a glass of white wine.

“I’m going to change into my suit,” Tina shrugged off Bette’s arms and walked into the bedroom.

Bette waited a moment to see if Tina was going to come back and explain her sudden mood change, but decided to chalk it up to Tina’s condition. She grabbed the glasses of wine and walked out onto the patio and sat down at the table.

Tina followed quickly handing Bette her sunglasses. They sat at the table, watching Angie and her friends, as they soaked up sun. Bette smiled as Tracy waved at her and she hesitantly waved back.

“We need another person for volleyball,” Tracy called to her. “You can be on my team?”

“That’s the one,” Tina muttered. “She’s a pushy little thing isn’t she?”

“That’s alright,” Bette shouted back. “You girls play.”

Bette turned and smiled at Tina, taking another sip of her wine, and shrugging her shoulders.

“She’s staring at you,” Tina teased Bette.

“She is not.”

“I’m watching her,” Tina said shocked at Bette’s denial. “Believe me I know when someone is sending vibes to you because they want you.”

“She’s a teenager Tina,” Bette whispered. “She does not want me.”

“Bullshit,” Tina challenged. “I think it’s cute.”

Tina smiled as the ball bounced on the patio and Bette got up to kick it back in.

“Throw it to me Bette,” Tracy yelled with a smile on her face.

Bette kicked the ball back into the pool at Cathy and Renee ignoring the aggressiveness of Angie’s new friend calling her by her first name. Bette sat back down at the table where Tina began chuckling.

“Shut it,” Bette whispered as she smiled in Tina’s direction.

“Yeah Bette, you’re right,” Tina placed an emphasis on Bette’s name. “She doesn’t want you as I watched her stare at your ass while you walked back to the seat.”

Bette’s answer was silence, refusing to acknowledge Tina’s correct assumption.

Tracy swam toward Angelica and began to whisper to her.

“When are you going to ask you moms if you can come and spend the night after the game?”

“Later,” Angelica mumbled.

“I can mention it and set it up for you?”

“I wouldn’t do that, my moms are pretty smart about stuff like that.”

“I think Bette would let you do it,” Tracy said.

“Bette?” Angelica seemed shocked that Tracy was calling her mother by her first name. None of her friends had done that before and it was a tad unnerving. “I’ll ask my moms tonight before I go to bed. I’m not even sure Darren could make it after the game to the party.”

“If he knows what’s in it for him he will.”

Tracy swam to the other end of the pool before getting out and walking toward Bette and Tina. She stood, dripping, in front of Bette with her hands on her hips pushing out her slightly developed chest in Bette’s direction.

“I forgot my towel Bette,” Tracy purred with a smile on her face. “Can I bug you to borrow yours?”

Bette looked around as Tina worked on stifling a laugh.

“I don’t have one out here, but I can get you one.”

“Oh no,” Tina stood up ignoring Bette’s pleading looks to allow her to leave and get Tracy a towel. “I’d be happy to get you one Tracy.”

Bette glared at Tina through her dark sunglasses.

“Babe?” Tina turned to face Bette. “Where’s your beach towel? I can loan her your favorite one if you don’t mind.”

“Babe,” Bette said added emphasis on the term of endearment. “I don’t have a favorite.”

“Of course you do,” Tina left the pool area to grab a handful of towels in case anyone else had forgotten one.

Bette scowled in Tina’s direction before turning back to Tracy and smiling.

“She’ll just be a second,” Bette reassured her.

“I don’t mind.”

“Tina!” Bette yelled. “Poor Tracy is dripping wet! Hurry!”

Tina came out with a smile on her face and handed Tracy a towel, one that was not used frequently by Bette.

“My mom is going to be here in a few minutes,” Cathy announced as she got out of the pool. “I guess I need to get out too and dry off.”

Tina handed her a towel and smiled at Angelica’s oldest and dearest friend. One by one the girls got out of the pool and began to gather their things to make their journey home. Once the house cleared out, Bette sat on the side of the pool with her feet dangling in. Tina came back out and rubbed Bette’s bare back as she kicked her feet in the water.

“Angie wants to go to a sleep over at Tracy’s house,” Tina announced.

“Better then her being here.”

“She might crawl into bed with us,” Tina teased.

“Don’t remind me,” Bette rolled her eyes.

A silence fell between them for a bit, but suddenly Tina saw a look cross Bette’s face and became worried.

“What’s wrong Babe?”

“Nothing,” Bette said quickly.

“Bette?”

“I’m just thinking about something Kit said today,” Bette admitted. “It was about you.”

“What about me?”

“She said you were struggling with your condition,” Bette put her statement as delicately as possible. “I didn’t think you were and told her as much until you ran away from me in the kitchen.”

“I didn’t run away.”

“You didn’t stay,” Bette pointed out. “Are you ok with it all? If you’re not, you can talk to me. I’ve been there. Remember how sick I felt the first week on the pill?”

Tina nodded in silence.

“Are you feeling nauseous?”

“Not exactly,” Tina admitted.

“That’s good then.”

“Bette,” Tina began to make an admission of her own. “I’m not taking them.”

“Why not?”

“I haven’t settled on that as a treatment.”

“Why not?” Bette pushed again. “Please tell me you aren’t going to follow Helena’s path of special herbal remedies that aren’t medically proven to help anything?”

“No,” Tina shook her head.

“Then why?”

“Because,” Tina took a deep breath. “I want another baby.”