NEW YORK MINUTE
CHAPTER 51

Bette arrived at her gallery just after noon – she needed to pick up enough work to keep her work load down to manageable levels and that would be a lot easier if she had copies of the latest catalogues that were so much a part of her job. She was also thinking about what to tell James. She had become closer to him since he had moved to New York and there had been times when for weeks he was the only person she saw on a regular basis. So she had to decide what to tell him because she did feel that she needed to talk about this huge drama that was unfolding. James was eating a sandwich

“Hey there “

“Hello James – how’s things ?”

“Good “

“Busy ?”

“Yes “

“That’s good – I have locked the front door for an hour – I want to talk to you and I don’t want us to have to be interrupted “


“Okay – we haven’t had much footfall – a party of tourists yesterday who bought a few things and one of them said that he would come back for another look at one of the $3800 pieces “


“Promising “


Bette handed him a bottle of his favourite rum as she sat down


“Thank you Bette “


“Thank you for holding the fort “


“I know how freaked you were the other day – is everything alright ?”


“I don’t know – but I am not going to be around much until its sorted out to my satisfaction “


“Is it Tina or Angie ?”


“James – I am going to tell you the whole story – partly because me not being around is going to make things harder for you but mainly because you and I are friends and I know that we have been there for one another through a lot of good and bad times “



“I know that – you know that I am discrete “



“You are and you are very patience given what a difficult boss I have been in the past – in fact what a right bitch I have been in the past “


“That is all in the past though Bette – you have turned your life around and things are very different now – especially since Tina and Angie came into your life. “



“Thanks” he lent back – Bette looked more in control than she had when she had fled the office two days before. He knew more than anyone else just what degree of torture Bette had been through since she had left LA. Only he knew how close to death she had been because of drink and drugs – he didn’t imagine for a minute that she would have told Tina the full extent of her illness. Which was why to see her now so content and happy with her rightful family made him ridiculously proud of her. He dreaded to think what it would do to Bette to lose either of her girls.



“Do you remember Alice used to say that Tina was raised by wolves ?”



“Yes ” he smiled” It was one of her more annoying comments “



Bette smiled “Yes it was – anyway – she used to say that because Tina would never talk about her family”



“She told me once that it was best if her family never found her and visa versa “



“Yeah ” Bette had been thinking about that – she had never pressed Tina about her family – she wondered if Tina would have told her – she thought that she probably wouldn’t. “Well – two days ago Tina came face to face with her sister “
James raised one eyebrow but didn’t comment



“I know what you are thinking – and you are right – I didn’t know that she had a sister either. It went badly because her sister Louise is a substitute teacher at Angie’s school “




“Holy smoke “





“She hates Tina and as Tina hasn’t seen her for over 20 years it was a horrible shock – which is why Tina fled and took Angie with her “



“I don’t get why seeing her sister would cause her to disappear – I know it must have been a shock but I assume there is more to it than that “



“There is ” Bette sighed “Tina’s father killed Tina’s boyfriend over 20 years ago because he wouldn’t marry her and she was pregnant”




James was silent for several seconds – that was a huge thing – it was beyond huge. He saw immediately what this would do to the whole family – Angie would have been terrified that her mom was upset and confused as to what was happening. He couldn’t begin to imagine what effect it was having on Tina. James had always adored Tina – originally she was the balm to the anger in Bette and now she was the reward that Bette deserved for everything that she had gone through. And more than anything else – theirs was a happy ending – love had found a way and brought them together to share the rest of the lives.



“Bette – there is nothing anyone can say is there ?”




“No ” Bette agreed “It devastated Tina at the time and its why she left Carolina and why she has never spoken about it until two days ago “



“You didn’t know ?” James said



“No “



“Oh boy – that must be tough – for both of you. I mean she’s kept it to herself and you had to hear all this for the first time after being with Tina for so long “



Bette nodded



“How is she now ?”




“She’s shaken up still. I have promised her that nothing is going to happen . I have been to the school and virtually demanded Louise’s head on a plate – she’s only temporary and Angie isn’t going back while she is there “




“You threw your weight around ?” James asked raising one eyebrow




“I did – I came close to reverting to the old Porter but that was just when I confronted Louise and told her what I would do to her if she came near my family. But with the head I was much more considered and reasonable “




James couldn’t help himself – he laughed “When it comes to Tina and Angie you reverted back to Big Bad Bear Bette “



Bette’s eyebrow raised at his comment “Who ?”



“Sorry – that was kind of my nickname for you “



“Big Bad Bear Bette ?”



“Yeah “




Bette smirked “I guess I was – and what am I now ?”





“I think disclosing that might breach my rights not to incriminate myself “





“This is an conversation for another time James – but we will be having it – Bears rarely forget “




“I know – seriously – this is huge Bette “




“I know – in a way its lucky that Angie has come down with a cold – she is lying asleep on the sofa when I left. Tina was feeding the kitten “



“The kitten ?”

#

“I wanted to cheer both of them up so I went to the pet rescue centre yesterday and I got us a kitten “





“Softie “





“I am and you know what – I love it. I love my family and it felt right to get a pet for Angie “




“What sort of kitten ?”




“She is a tabby – very cute – still getting used to us. We told Angie she wasn’t sleeping with her but last night to stop the kitten crying Tina brought her into our room and she slept on a duvet in the corner “




“Is she too small to climb on your bed ?”



“Yes ” Bette grinned





“Sounds like you have all fallen in love with this kitten “





“She is very sweet – Angie is crazy about her – she seems to really love Tina “



“And you ?”



“I am the boss “




“Since when ?” James teased ” Cats don’t respond to sarcasm and raised eyebrows – you might have to change your weapons with Ms Kitty “




“I know ” Bette admitted “How much trouble can anything that small get into ?”





“You can tell me when she gets into it – because she will – we had cats at home when I was growing up and I promise you – mischief is what they are all




brilliant at – along with sleeping. Anyway – that’s getting us off the topic “




“It is – I got her so she would put a smile on Tina and Angie’s faces and she has – and it’s a statement that we are a family- that means a lot to all of us at the moment “



“I can’t imagine how you feel that its something you didn’t know about Tina. Just like I cannot imagine what it must have been like for Tina to have kept it bottled up”




“Its horrible – I feel so bad for her. I have so many thoughts in my head and its tough “




“Why didn’t she tell you ?”




“Because she was trying to forget about what had happened – she was only 21 when this happened. Imagine being 21 and having to give evidence against your own father for killing your boyfriend and she was slated – she really was painted as such a whore. The scars that must have left – it really hurts that she went through all this alone. The other day I said to her while we were talking that it wasn’t her fault that her father had killed her boyfriend. Every time I say that she bursts into tears because no one has ever said that to her – none of her family ever told her that she wasn’t to blame “




Bette felt the tears that she had been holding back so she could be the strong one for Tina finally starting to come to the surface. She had fought the tears for the sake of Tina and Angie but now they were at home and she was here she let the tears flow. James handed her a tissue and got up to make her a coffee. When he came back he put the coffee down and put an arm around her




“I am so sorry Bette -this must be hard for you – I know what it means to you to protect both of them “




“I hate that she is in so many different sorts of pain – she is so scared and she is scared that somehow Louise will get to Angie. Its horrible and I don’t know if what I am doing is the right thing “




“You always do the right thing when Tina and Angie is concerned “



“I always will – I love them both “




“They love you and I can see how happy they both are. I guess its going to take some time for Tina to get her head around the fact that after two decades her secret is out. She must have been so scared about how you would react “




“I think after a while it got so she couldn’t tell me because of how long it had been. Its been so tough on her and she’s feeling really hurt that she couldn’t reassure Angie “




“How is Angie apart from having a cold ?”



“She’s delighted about the kitten “




“How much of it all are you going to tell her – she is going to want to know and there is a chance that when she gets back to school she might get questioned”




“I know – we need to talk about how much to tell her – really its too much for her to take in”




“What do you think will happen to Louise now ?”




“She vanishes into whatever river of Hades she emerged from – she blames it all on Tina – no sense that her father was to blame – he killed a man with a gun -how the hell is that Tina’s fault ?”




“Is there much of an age difference ?”





“About 7-8 years – I know she was only 13 when all this first happened but even before then she hated Tina. After Tina left Carolina it must have all been painted to be her fault “




“Easy to do that when she wasn’t there to defend herself “




“Its wrong “



“I know but your priority is Tina and Angie – forget about everything else- you cannot change a bigots mind “




“Bigot is the right word – she has two chips on her shoulder “




“Don’t tell me that she doesn’t like the fact that her least favourite sister is gay ?”




“No – she doesn’t “




“That’s not the right school for her is it ?”





“No – something I intend to exploit if she isn’t out on her ass very soon “





“I can bet – what’s her other grievance – is she racist ?”




“I don’t know – I got the impression that she really resented me for being – quote a rich dyke “




“Ouch ” James said “You have heard worse “



“I have but never from my sister in law “




James smiled “Good for you – I know that you will do the right thing “




“I hope so – I do worry about Tina -this has been locked away inside her for so long – there has to be consequences right ?”




“I would think that it was inevitable – the most important thing is that she knows that you love her and that you support her “



“I think she knows that “




“How would the old Bette have reacted to this ?- it’s a credit to you that you seem to be handling it well “



“Apart from the tears ” Bette dried her eyes




“You are allowed a few tears – you must have been really worried when you couldn’t find them “



“I was terrified “




“I think the other Bette would have been looking to take people out”



“Big Bad Bear Bette ?”




“Yeah that one “




“I don’t know how I would have handled it “




James raised an eyebrow at her ” I think I can guess”



“Yes ?”




“You would have been angry that Tina hadn’t told you – you are much less judgemental nowadays Bette. You have accepted your own weaknesses and that means you have accepted other peoples as well. I think its one of the most important ways that you have changed “




“I forget sometimes that you could write the book on me “




“I could but I wont – I know what you have been through. It’s a testimony to the strength of your character that you have come through this and you are a much happier person . The old you would have not been able to handle it and be there for Tina – you would have been so angry that you didn’t know and worst of all in your eyes – you couldn’t do anything about it”




“I am still pretty annoyed that I cannot make it go away “




“Yeah but did you go at the school like a bull in a china shop ? demanding the head sack Tina’s sister ?”




“No I didn’t – I just pointed out that I knew that Angie loved the school but I hoped that she understood why we couldn’t let our daughter be taught by this woman “




James grinned “See – that was smart and that was playing the game. The
headmistress will be grateful that you did and not go all macho. You did the right thing “




“Thank you – I think it was the right move but I am so new at this – at protecting them “




“They are both just very happy that you are you “




Bette sighed “There is something that Tina doesn’t know and I know we are going to have to have the conversation and I think that its going to make her freak “




“What ?”




“Her father was released a couple of years ago and they live in New Jersey “




“Oh holy crap “





“That was my thoughts on the matter. How the hell do I tell Tina that her parents are only 2 damn hours away ? Its hard enough for her seeing her sister – can you imagine what will happen when she comes face to face with the man who has spent time in prison for what he did to get her married off when she was 21 and pregnant “



“God Bette – that’s – well you know what that is “



“I do and I am torn James – do I tell her now and really knock her sideways when she is coming to terms with this meeting with her sister and the fact that she now knows where her daughter goes to school and knows who I am. Its not going to be that hard to find out where we live and where my gallery is. Do I wait until the dust settles or do I not tell her and pray to God that this just goes away and she never has to know that her father is a free man and he might feel the same way as her sister about her ? What is the right thing to do for my family James ?”