Chapter 10

Tina finished her plate of fruit just as Helena walked into The Planet and sat down. She was casually dressed in linen pants and a sheer shirt with a designer bra on underneath. Her boots, outrageously expensive, added several inches to her already above average height. She sat down at the table next to Alice and greeted everyone with a genuine smile on her face. When she got to Tina, she stopped and looked puzzled.

“What are you doing here?” Helena asked.

“I can ask you the same thing.”

“I left you a message,” Helena frowned. “Didn’t you get it? I decided to work from home today.”

“I left you the same message,” Tina smiled at her boss.

“Funny how The Planet seems to be the residence of choice for each of you,” Alice pointed out with a smirk on her face. “Neither one of you really works when you ‘work from home’ do you?”

“About as much as you do,” Helena shot back.

“Touché my dear friend,” Alice smiled fluffing off Helena’s comment. “I’ll have you know….”

Alice stopped mid-sentence when Bette and Megan walked through the door catching her eye. Bette walked in first wearing a pair of Levi’s and an older Polo Jeans Co. t-shirt. The light blue color contrasting her skin was eye catching. Megan was dressed in a white t-shirt and a simple pair of khaki cargo pants. She had a smudge on her cheek, and a smile on her face, as she stepped through the door.

“Quick,” Alice leaned over to Dana handing her a piece of paper. She began to dig for a pen when Dana took the paper and began to look it over.

“What is this?”

“Here,” Alice threw a pen in her direction. “It’s a survey and we’re about to be able to witness things firsthand.”

“What are you handing out Al?” Tina asked.

Alice began to dig in her pocket feverishly, pulling out nothing but a wadded up $5 bill and some lint. She smacked it down on the table loudly in Shane’s direction.

“I need to borrow some money Helena,” Alice said quickly. “How much do you have?”

“What in bloody hell is wrong with you?” Helena asked her friend confused by her behavior.

“I’m about to cash in on my windfall,” Alice smiled.

“Windfall?”

Helena’s eyes followed Alice’s toward the entrance of The Planet and widened at the sight of Bette and Megan walking in together. Shane’s gaze, as well as Dana’s, quickly followed. The last person to glance in the direction of the door was Tina.

“Now isn’t this interesting,” Tina mumbled as she waved in Bette’s direction.

Bette turned and caught Tina’s movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned back around, shocked to see Tina sitting at a table with their friends instead of at work. However, the smile that crossed Bette’s face was nothing but sincere and radiated honest joy in seeing Tina for the first time that day.

Bette’s eyes lit up as she walked closer to the table with Megan quickly following behind. Alice leaned over and grabbed the pen from Dana and began to write on the sheet of paper in front of her.

“Dana,” Alice whispered. “Is Megan watching Bette walk?”

“What?” Dana looked at Alice as if she had lost her mind.

“Her ass Dane,” Alice said a little louder. “Is she watching her ass because that’s 5 points?”

“Points?” Shane looked confused. “What are you up to?”

“To make a long story short, Bette called me and wanted me to devise a points system to rate whether Megan is into her or not. Sort of like the recon we did on Lara Perkins.”

“I think you lost your bloody mind if you think Bette would call you for that,” Helena said watching Tina study Megan’s every move.

Bette approached the table and leaned down to kiss Tina passionately on the lips. The kiss itself took Tina by surprise. It wasn’t one that Bette usually would offer in a public setting. There was an energy about it that Tina hadn’t experienced in public in a long time. When Bette pulled back and smiled at her wife, Tina smiled back and momentarily forgot that Megan Freedman was standing behind Bette.

“I missed you this morning,” Tina said as she licked her lips and finally looked beyond Bette in Megan’s direction.

“I missed you too but I wanted to get an early jump on things,” Bette answered quickly.

“Can I assume they’re going well based on how happy you seem?”

“You have no idea Tina,” Bette began to resemble a child excited about Christmas morning. As Bette began to speak, her hands became more animated with each word, her smile widening as she recalled the events of the morning. “We’re working off the sketches Megan made for the show to start creating the pieces. It’s so amazing to see things taking shape under the care of your own hands.”

Tina looked past Bette at Megan as she smiled listening to Bette recall the work she had done that morning. The smile on Megan’s face made Tina a bit uneasy. It seemed like they were recalling a private moment, one that Tina would never be able to share in not being an artist herself.

“I struggled a bit at first, but once I just felt the clay and let go, it all came together.”

“You’ve done amazingly well,” Megan added causing Alice to scribble down notes and arch her eyebrow in a knowing manner.

“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced,” Tina stood up and extended her hand in a professional manner with little emotion showing. “I’m Bette’s wife, Tina Kennard. And you are?”

“This is why my money is on her,” Alice whispered as she continued to jot down observances watching Megan.

“I’d have thought you’d recognize me,” Megan smiled politely as she shook Tina’s hand. “I believe you saw me at Bette’s gallery when I arrived into town. I’m Megan Freedman, Bette’s partner in the new show.”

The tension between Tina and Megan was palpable. They shook each other’s hands politely and Tina was the first to pull away, but she continued to stare into Megan’s eyes.

“What are you doing here by the way?” Bette broke the silence quickly. “You aren’t going into work?”

“I’m working from home today,” Tina answered. “Didn’t you get my message from earlier?”

“No,” Bette looked perplexed. “My phone didn’t even ring.”

Bette reached in her pocket, removed her phone, and allowed a puzzled look to cross her face as she saw she had a message. She listened quickly to the message and shut her phone sliding it back into the pocket on her Levi’s.

The tension began to grow between Tina and Megan as they both stared at one another. Bette noticed this and chanced a glance in Alice’s direction.

Alice was smiling, watching the scene unfold before her eyes, jotting down notes as Megan sized up her competition. Bette quickly saw Alice would be no help in defusing the situation, which meant she quickly had to develop a different plan to ease the tension.

“Are you going to stay so I can eat with you?” Bette asked Tina slipping her hand around her waist casually.

“Sure,” Tina agreed. “Go order something and I’ll get you a chair Babe.”

Tina walked toward the nearest table that had vacant chairs and asked politely if she could borrow them. Once the women at the table agreed, Tina dragged them over gracefully and pushed them in. One was set next to her, the other between Alice and Helena.

“Smart thinking,” Alice offered her support.

“It’s not that I’m worried about anything,” Tina defended herself. “But why not purchase additional life insurance when you’re swimming with sharks.”

Shane, Dana, and Helena laughed as Alice continued to scribble notes on her paper while she watched the interaction between Bette and Megan.

“She’s already up to 25 points on my scale,” Alice informed the table.

“Out of?” Shane asked.

“A possible 32, which means if she were actually at 32 she’d be standing in front of Bette with nothing on but a sign that says ‘fuck me now’ and a can of whipped cream.”

“Really Alice?” Tina asked not amused with the direction of the conversation.

“You’re handling her well though,” Alice amended. “The ‘not knowing her’ thing was brilliant.”

“I’m glad you approved,” Tina said sarcastically.

Tina watched in silence at the same scene Alice was, Bette and Megan were standing at the counter ordering their breakfast and talking about the progress they’d made on the show that morning.

When Megan touched Bette’s shoulder and threw her head back laughing, Tina’s eyes widened for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

“How many points is she at now?” Tina asked without averting her eyes from the scene in front of her.

“She got an extra 3 for the shoulder touch and head move.”

“Of course she did,” Tina muttered more to herself than to the table in general.

Tina smiled seeing Bette consciously remove Megan’s hand from her shoulder and put some needed distance between them. She played the crowd expertly to block an advance of Megan’s by the position her body was now in.

Bette and Megan walked back to the table with their food and each holding a cup of coffee. As they approached the table, Tina smiled at Bette and allowed her eyes to travel the length of her body. While subtle, Tina was intelligent enough to know that Megan saw it and registered it in her mind. When Megan sat down, Tina graciously made introductions around the table to show she was above being threatened by her.

“So Babe,” Tina snuggled in closer to Bette. “What time will you be wrapping up tonight so we can make sure we get to Angie’s game on time?”

“What sport does your daughter play?” Megan asked gaining Tina’s attention.

“She’s the captain of the cheerleading squad,” Tina answered proudly.

“Oh I remember those days, I was the captain myself.”

“Somehow I can see you in that role.”

“I think people underestimate the discipline it takes to be a good cheerleader,” Megan continued to eat as she talked. “It’s so much more then screaming at the top of your lungs words that rhyme. It’s the complete and utter focus that someone has to have, to do their part, so others are safe and can do theirs.”

“Are you always this intense?” Alice asked still scribbling notes occasionally. “After all, it is only high school cheerleading and a way to be popular if high school hasn’t changed much.”

“Most artists are intense,” Megan noted. “You’d have to be intense to represent important and influential pieces that come from the recesses of your mind.”

“I think these days that art, unfortunately, doesn’t reach the millions it once did to make such a change.”

Megan looked up and locked eyes with Tina across the table. She put her fork down and folded her hands in front of her before speaking.

“It reaches enough to have a voice.”

“Oh please don’t misunderstand me,” Tina began acting innocent. “I know how hard it is to impact change through media avenues that can, and do, often reach millions. It still doesn’t mean the message will always be received even if given the opportunity to present it.”

“That’s right,” Megan remembers Jordon telling her that Tina worked at a movie studio. “I forgot momentarily that you worked at a movie studio.”

“I do,” Tina plastered on a fake smile to the best of her ability.

“Let’s not be modest Tina,” Helena chimed in. “You really run the movie studio. I’m more of a silent backer these days.”

“So your stance is that movies, and not art, can lead a crusade in society to right the wrongs of injustice?”

“Film has a higher potential audience and given the right movie, I do indeed think that change can be effected.”

“Give me an example from history.”

“An Inconvenient Truth comes to mind,” Tina tapped her mug as she held it between her palms. “The Passion of the Christ also rings in my mind as being extremely influential. Look at the debates that The Da Vinci Code, the movie and the book, sparked among the religious of that time.”

“Without Da Vinci’s works of art that movie would be nothing but a silly conspiracy theory,” Megan shot back.

“Are your hopes to reach as many people with your message regarding this show as Da Vinci did with his works?” Alice broke into the conversation when Bette had opened her mouth to speak.

“Who wouldn’t want to reach people in a manner in which your creations know no boundary? The concepts of time and place mean nothing when your work carries the right message and transcends that well beyond your years.”

“Not to mention money,” Alice added.

“That is an added bonus,” Megan agreed with a smile but continued to talk. “However, this particular show isn’t about that for me. If I never see a dime, but my message is received loud and clear, I’ve reached my goal.”

“And what is the message?” Tina pushed Megan further about her work.

“In a word,” Megan paused for effect. “Choices.”

“So this entire show is pro-choice?” Alice reiterated to ensure she had her facts correct.

“You’re thinking too narrow,” Megan said as she sipped her drink. “I didn’t say pro-choice although that is the means in which I plan on illustrating the concept of choice. If nothing else, it’s a subject that will evoke an immense connection with the female population.”

“How so?” Tina asked. “Not every woman is pro-choice.”

“No they aren’t,” Megan said back. “But they have a vested interest in their opinion when the concept of choice suddenly becomes a heated woman’s issue.”

“I’m not too sure about that,” Tina smiled politely.

“How so?”

“Well here you have a table full of women and I’d wonder how many of us would take an interest in the show if my wife and her gallery weren’t showcasing it?”

“I’m not sure that I would,” Alice took her lead from Tina as the tension grew at the table. “Since I’m a lesbian that has no plans of having children I’m not sure that it would catch my eye.”

“Then I’m glad I’m the one showcasing it,” Bette spoke up having heard enough of the struggle between Tina and Megan. “If nothing else we can hope that the show will generate enough interest for the gallery to be the future site of other anticipated shows.”

Bette was thankful she could spin the conversation back to the business reality and abandon the debate that had just occurred.

“That being said,” Bette continued. “When do I need to be home to leave to witness the first unveiling of the new ‘cheer cult’?”

“New unveiling?” Dana asked confused at the turn of the conversation. “Isn’t it all her friends from last year?”

“No,” Bette smiled thankful for Dana continuing the discussion over a neutral subject. “One of the girls left so the ‘cheer cult’ has a new look in the name of Tracy.”

“Ah Tracy,” Tina smiled as she leaned into Bette and put rested her hand on Bette’s thigh comfortably. “You should have seen Tracy yesterday!”

Bette hugged Tina tight into her body and rested her chin on Tina’s shoulder as she felt a blush creep past her neck and into her cheeks.

“We don’t need to discuss Tracy.”

“Oh do tell,” Alice begged Tina.

“Tracy has a crush on Bette,” Tina chuckled. “A serious crush on Bette and even called her Bette instead of what Angie’s other friends call her.”

“Get out!”

“Al,” Tina gained control of her laughter. “She got out of the pool and stood in front of Bette with her hands on her hips to accent her newly budding chest and asked for a towel.”

“You’ve always had a way with the ladies,” Alice teased.

“Tina, of course, left me there alone with her while she went and got towels. The poor girl just needs guidance.”

“Guidance is not what a crush is about,” Tina corrected Bette. “It’s your amazing eyes.”

“It’s your magic rack,” Shane piped up and smiled to show Bette she was teasing her.

“It’s your ass in those jeans,” Tina whispered close to Bette’s ear and kissed her as the blush spread over Bette’s entire face.

“Will you excuse me for a moment?” Megan asked as she left the table and headed to the bathroom for a private moment.

Once inside the privacy of the restroom she leaned on the counter and looked in the mirror. Megan grabbed a paper towel, wetting it with warm water, and began to dab at her cheek where a smudge from earlier that morning still sat. When she was done she looked for moments, in silence, at her reflection.

Megan noticed a few more laugh lines than she remembered seeing when she truly took the time to look. She noticed the glimmer once in her eyes was replaced with determination. The truth of the matter was that Megan envied Bette’s enthusiasm and experience from that morning.

It was inspiring to see someone enjoying sculpting like she used to. It was an amazing experience when she was in Bette’s shoes, working on her first piece, and it was a memory she knew she’d never forget. Her goal in experiencing sculpting with Bette this morning was to regain a sense of excitement that was lost to her.

The show was not one that Megan felt an excitement over. The usual excitement was replaced with a feeling of determination and anger, a sadness that underlined every action she took regarding the creation of her pieces for the world to see.

“This is the time we’ve always known would come,” Megan whispered to her own reflection.

She placed her hand over the back pocket of her pants and held it there as tears glistened in her eyes. Inside the pocket, a worn piece of paper sat, carried around everywhere she went as a glaring reminder of her work surrounding this show.

Megan leaned over and splashed water on her face to wash away the tears that had cascaded down her cheeks. She wiped her face and ran her fingers through her perfectly styled hair before leaving the confines of the bathroom and facing the public once more.

“I can’t believe anyone that age would hit on their friend’s mom in front of her other mother,” Dana said in shock.

“I’m pretty sure that scenario is reserved for just us,” Bette winked at Dana. “None of Angie’s other friends have lesbian moms.”

“Well I guess not but it’s still pretty aggressive at any age,” Dana said.

“We should get going if we’re going to make any more progress today on that piece Bette,” Megan said as she approached the table.

Tina couldn’t help but look at Megan with a look of concern. She seemed different, distant, as if something had happened in the short time she was in the bathroom to change her entire demeanor.

“Ok,” Bette agreed holding Tina tight to her body. “Are we having a family dinner then?”

“Yes,” Tina said emphatically. “Especially since I’m home. I’ll make sure we actually all sit down at the same dinner table at the same time to eat.”

Bette brushed her lips against Tina’s as she got up and waved to the rest of the table. Bette gathered her belongings and turned to leave The Planet when she felt Tina’s hand on her arm holding her there.

She looked down at Tina and smiled seeing a mischievous look in her wife’s eyes.

“I plan on coming to see this work of art soon that’s got you so excited,” Tina informed her and then stood up to be near her ear. She let her breath caress Bette’s skin near her ear before she spoke in a hushed tone. “I’m hoping those hands can sculpt a few other things as well.”

Bette closed her eyes briefly and then kissed Tina quickly once more before heading out of The Planet. Tina sat back down and sipped on the coffee that Bette left in her mug.

“You want her score now or later?” Alice asked as Tina sat back in her chair deep in thought.

“Oh I know what the score is,” Tina said confidently. “That being said you all should follow Alice’s lead and place your bets on me. Megan is not even going to have a clue what hit her when I show up at that gallery.”