ONE AND ONLY

CHAPTER 83

Bette couldn’t believe what was happening – she stared after Tina for a few seconds. She had to decide whether to chase her or not. She didn’t want Tina to be angry with her but she was and there wasn’t really much she could do about it.
Emma looked at Kate
“Was she really that angry at losing ?”
“Yes “ Kate said “I could tell she really didn’t like it every time Bette won a point – and played as well as she did”
“Bette said that Tina told her that she should play with me because I was the better player than you “
“Tennis is one of the few things that  I do outshine you  in “
“Exactly – so Tina lied to Bette – and it didn’t take Bette long to figure that out “ Emma said “ So what do we do now ?”
“Depends where she has gone – has she got any money or her phone with her ?”
“I don’t know – lets go and see how Bette is – I don’t think she knows what has hit her”
“I had hoped that Tina had grown out of out-bursts like that – they happened too many times a few months ago”
“I thought she had grown out of them when she met Bette. Nothing like trying to impress a new girl to put you on your best behaviour “
“Well she seems to be over that now don’t you – how do you want to play this Emma ?”
“What I would like to do is find Tina and ground her –  that little tantrum was out of order – so much for her being a grown up”
“She’s not the most gracious loser is she “
“That’s how we have brought her up – we both know that “
“Are you okay Bette ?” Kate reached Bette first and put an arm on her shoulder
Bette looked at Kate and Emma “ Yeah – what the hell am I supposed to do ?”
“Tell us what happened “ Emma said
“I just went to see her – to see if she was okay and she what she wanted to do. But she was really angry with me – she kept accusing me of lying to her – I didn’t lie “
“What did you say ?”
“Tina assumed that I couldn’t play tennis. I was a bit miffed about her jumping to that conclusion. So I didn’t lie to her – I just didn’t tell her that I had three years worth of tennis lessons because my dad thought it would get me out of my shell”
“It didn’t but you clearly still can play a very good standard of tennis “ Kate hadn’t enjoyed having a tennis ball blasted at her but she could admit that Bette was a good player.
“I haven’t played since I was 11 and I wasn’t as tall or as fit as I am now. I guess it just all came back to me”
“Tina shouldn’t have stormed off like that “
“She kept calling me a liar and told me she didn’t want to see me for a while”
“We heard that bit “ Emma said “ Bette  – has Tina got anything with her – her phone or some cash ?”
“She might have some cash in her pocket but her phone is with mine down by the net in the cover of one of the tennis rackets – should I go and look for her ?”
Emma looked at Kate “ I think we should try and find her – she can’t have got that far”
“She might have gone back to the apartment “ Bette suggested
“Okay “ Kate took over “ Emma – you go and return the tennis stuff and then go to the apartment. Bette – you walk around the complex — Emma can help you when she’s checked the apartment. I will go and follow her route through the trees there. Lets not crowd her – if one person finds her they can talk to her.”
“Its really between Tina and me “ Bette said
“It is but she’s our daughter who despite a lot of progress in the last few months – she is 17. We all need to look for her – the two of you can sort out your argument when we find her. The priority is to find her “
Bette nodded and walked towards the net and picked up their phones and her wallet before walking off. Emma looked at Kate
“Have we made a mistake assuming that she has grown up – that was a pretty childish little tantrum “
“It was – but it was the first one she has had since she started at her new school”
“You are always the one who defends her”
“I am  – I am shocked and disappointed in her but we can have a post-mortem about all of this when she shows up  – we need to find her. I know she is a  smart 17 year old but she is 17 and  this is a city she is not familiar with and if she gets into trouble she has no phone”
“Hopefully she realises that and doesn’t go too far “
“She is mad as hell – you know its going to take some time for the red mist to clear  — she is your daughter “
“She is always MY daughter when she loses her temper”
“Because only one of us loses her temper and its not me”
“Okay – so blame me “
Kate smiled – that was below the belt and Emma hadn’t deserved that
“Sorry babe – that was way out of line. Lets find her then we can talk to her – but Bette is right – it is something that she has to sort out between the two of them “
“I get the feeling that this is the first time that Bette has seen this side of Tina”
“And probably doesn’t like it any more than we do – or any more  than Tina herself does”
“You get going following her – I will get these rackets back”
“We should make an addendum to the Code of the Kennard – show some grace and dignity after defeat” Kate said
“I think leaving that until she is 17 is beyond late – we seem to have reaped what we have sown – and you and I are truly terrible losers – come on – lets find her “