Unfortunately, our success in business didn’t carry over to our family life. We failed to instill these moral values in you Helena. Instead of teaching you to live by this doctrine we supported everything that went against it by indulging your bad habits and behavior. Every time we bailed you out of trouble we did it to uphold the integrity of the family name not taking into consideration that you would one day be the sole heir and the family name wouldn’t mean anything to you. Well it means everything to me Helena. I will not sit by and allow you to denigrate my legacy. I will put to right everything that you’ve touched with malicious intent. That includes revoking Jodi Lerner’s grant and honoring Bette Porter and the CAC at this evenings function.”

“You can’t just show up out of the blue and expect to just take over. This is my event. Everything is already planned.”

“I’m aware of that dear. Consider this a change of plans. I’ve already spoken to Julia to make the adjustments and I’ve given her the new guest list.”

“Mother this is ridiculous. I am the head of the foundation. I am the one making the decisions. I decide who gets grants and who gets invited tonight. You gave up that right when you left two years ago.

“Darling, you’re mistaken. I never gave up that right. I’ll see you tonight at the dinner. I understand that in addition to being a grant recipient Tina Kennard is also your lover. I hope that doesn’t prove to be a conflict of interest for the two of you.”

***

“Hi it’s me. Can you talk or are you busy?”

“What’s up?”

“Fucking Winnie blindsided me this afternoon. Peggy’s back in town. She knew it and didn’t tell me. They ambushed me at lunch.”

“What happened?”

“Peggy’s totally taking over everything. She propositioned Winnie to settle the custody suit and now she’s interfering with the grants and the foundation dinner this evening.”

“Without consulting you?”

“Yeah and you know whose behind all this?”

“Who?”

“Bette Porter that’s who. She’s got my mother fooled and buying into that whole power play bullshit. She even conspired to keep my children away from me this afternoon.”

Tina doesn’t respond and Helena senses her hesitation. “Oh please don’t tell me you’ve bought into it too. Did you know my mother was in town? Are you fucking with me too Tina?”

“I didn’t know anything about your mother being here Helena. I’m not fucking with you.”

“I hope not Tina because I really need you by my side now. Everything is quickly unraveling. I need to know that I have your support. She’s revoking Jodi’s grant and yours could be in jeopardy as well.”

“Why is that?”

“She’s citing conflict of interest.”

“But you’ve assured me there wasn’t any.”

“I know but she’s undermining all my decisions and reviewing all the grant submissions that I rejected. Yours will be under her scrutiny as well.”

“Well I’m confident it will stand up on its own merit. It’s a good program. Bette endorses it so I’m sure Peggy will take that into consideration.”

“I don’t give a fuck what Bette endorses Tina. She’s the reason I’m in this predicament. Her loyalties are not with you. She’s just looking out for number one. You and I just need to stick together. Mother will see why I chose to move away from the arts in support of social services. You can talk to her. She’ll listen to you. We can do this but we have to stick together. I need you on my side Tina.”

“Helena you were in distress and you needed someone to talk to. I’m willing to listen but I’m not doing this with you.”

“What? What are we doing?”

“You’re trying to control me and you can’t. I’m not going to allow you to turn me against Bette again. She’s only ever tried to be a good friend. You said you made your decisions knowing full well that your mother wouldn’t approve. You also said that you could handle her so don’t put this on Bette. This is all of your own making so deal with it. I will not allow you put me in the middle again.”