One and Only

Chapter 71

Emma let herself into the apartment -she had probably had too much scotch but she and Melvin had been talking about a lot of very weighty stuff and they had both needed some extra stimulation to keep them going through a tough conversation. Emma put her keys in the bowl beside the door – two other sets were there  – that meant Kate and Tina were at home. Melvin had said that if Bette wanted to stay with Tina for a couple of days while the dust settled between him and Rosemary that was fine by him. Emma admired that Melvin had accepted Tina and Bette as a couple and he had said that he would talk to Bette and Tina in a few days. But his current priority was to sort out his problems with his wife.- that was something that Emma perfectly understood and she had said that Bette could stay as long as she wanted. She and Kate didn’t have an issue about them sleeping together – Bette and Tina were a happy and stable couple and that meant that they deserved their support.
She removed her jacket and went into the sitting room. Kate was sitting watching TV.
“Hello “
“Hey there “
Emma walked across and joined Kate on the sofa and flopped back
“You look like you have had a rough evening “
“Its not the easiest topic for discussion “ Emma said
“Do you want a drink ?”
“God no – I have had too much scotch – would you make me a sandwich or something ?”
“Of course – coffee or juice ?”
“Juice please – thanks babe – where are the girls ?”
“Watching a movie in Tina’s room “
“I will go and talk to them later. I need to get my head together first “
Kate got up and headed into the kitchen. She quickly made Emma something to eat and returned five minutes later. Emma hungrily ate the first one and drank half the glass of orange juice. She lent back and shook her head.
“Tough ?” Kate asked
“It could have been worse “
“How was he ?”
“He is hurt – and as I said to him and I have said it to you – I would have hated it if Tina had told you she was gay and that she was in love with Bette but not me. That would have been such a rejection of me as a parent. He feels bad – he feels lets down “
“By Bette ?”
“No – not by Bette. Bette is his pride and joy  – just like Rosie said. He is totally fine with her being gay – he said she is what she is and he would rather she came out now rather than when she is 40. “
“Good for him “
Emma let out a sigh “I like him -I had forgotten how much I did “
“Yeah – I was thinking that. We were a great foursome – its just such a shame that it all ended “
“We talked about that “
Kate raised an eyebrow “Rosie and I talked about it “
Emma looked at the sitting room door  – the last thing she wanted was Bette and Tina hearing this conversation. Kate looked to see what was bothering Emma
“They are watching a movie and the bedroom door is closed “
Emma smiled “Obvious am I ?”
“Well I don’t want them knowing any more than you or Rosie or Melvin “
Emma shook her head “I have been reliving it all over again “
“Yeah  – me too “
Emma looked at Kate – this was hard for all of them and Emma knew that it was her doing. She had set out to seduce Rosemary because she really turned her on. She had fucked up. As a foursome things had never been the same. Melvin had started rising with more venom to the bait she threw out on an almost regular basis. She had been arrogant and cruel to hurt Kate and Melvin in the way that she had. And now her sins had come back to haunt her 20 years later because of their daughters. If they found out it would destroy their budding relationship and they would have every right to blame their birth mothers for screwing up their young lives. Emma looked at Kate and took her hand
“I am sorry “
“I forgave you then and nothing has made me regret giving you a second chance. You haven’t done the same again have you ?”
“You know I haven’t “ Emma said
“I do – look – this would never have come up again if it hadn’t been for Bette and Tina”
“But its because of them that we are having to face some ancient history”
“He is very firm in that he never wants them to know “
“Well I am not going to tell them and I don’t imagine Rosemary will and you aren’t “
“Fuck no – it would destroy my relationship with her and you know that I never want to hurt her and it would “
Kate nodded
“How’s Rosemary ?”
“She is kicking herself – she really thought he wouldn’t figure it out “
“Well that was foolish wasn’t it ?- he said that he knew because of how much Bette had changed.”
“I did wonder how he had figured it out “
“Well he had been surprised at some of her more obsessive little traits when he had seen them so he was watching her more closely. Melvin said she has just changed beyond recognition “
“He’s hurt – he’s not hurt at Bette because he blames it on Rosemary – he said that we were stupid to tell them about the feud “
“Yes – well he can throw the brickbats out all he wants but its done now. And how the hell were we to know that they were going to end up as lovers ?”