“Its lovely – its surprising what a nice apartment this is “
Tina glanced across at her mother
“Its always nice to see you mom but I am heading out soon “
“I came to see if you would like to come to dinner with me “
Tina was surprised
“Dinner ?”
“Yes – I think you and I need to talk – I was very disappointed with the way you behaved on Tuesday “
“I had been having a bad day and being accused by you of having an affair with Helena Peabody by my
own mother was a little hard to take. I am going out to have dinner with friends tonight – I am sorry “
“You are having dinner with Shane ?”
“I have friends other than Shane “ Tina said picking the lipstick she wanted and beginning to apply it
“Really ? who are these people ?”
There was no way on earth that Tina was going to tell her mother the truth. She turned and looked at her mother
“Mother – this may come as a surprise to you but I am a grown woman. I stopped having to tell you where I am going and who I am going to be with 8 years ago. “
“There is no need to be so defensive Tina “
“I am not being defensive “ Tina said “ I am merely stating that I am a grown woman with my own life. The tidiness or otherwise of my home is not your problem “
Emma shook her head sadly which only succeeded in annoying Tina more
“Would you like to meet for lunch on Monday ?” Tina offered as an olive branch
“I am meeting Rosemary Porter “
Tina didn’t comment – she looked back in the mirror as she put on her lipstick
“What are you doing tomorrow – Sunday lunch somewhere ?”
Tina had hoped to spend Sunday lying in Bette’s arms but she knew that it was probably time that she dragged herself away from her lover.
“That would be nice – would you like me to book somewhere ?”
“No-I will do it “
“Great – how about you text or call me in the morning ?”
“You could come round for breakfast “
Tina hesitated – this was her mother doing her best to make amends after the earlier sarcastic comments
“I am trying to lose weight – if I eat a huge breakfast which you like on a Sunday I won’t eat lunch . How about I come over after I go for a run “
“You are running again ?”
Tina smiled “ I started last week “
She omitted the fact that the motivation for her running again was to spend more time with Bette. They had been running a couple of times and so far Tina had a 100% record of barely being able to move her body the next day. But it had been worth it because she did feel fitter and anything that helped her spend time with Bette was a winner in her book.
“So – you get rid of Jane the Pain, you totally spring clean your apartment and you are running again – well done darling I am very proud of you. “ Emma looked at her watch “I expect you home by 12:30 tomorrow – bye darling “
__
“So she has first given me a kicking about what a shock it was to discover my apartment was spotless and then she grills me about whether I have any friends other than Shane and suddenly she goes all nice and chummy and she’s taking me for lunch tomorrow “ Tina explained
Her mother’s appearance had meant that instead of arriving at Bette’s early so they could have some quality kissing time she had arrived a few minutes after Helena and as soon as Tina had arrived Bette had announced that dinner was served.
“Oh – now that sounds familiar – utter inconsistency “ Helena agreed
“She said it my apartment usually looks like an Oxfam drop off point “
Helena and Bette laughed
“I thought your place was lovely “
“Mainly because I had spent the week before hand cleaning it “ Tina admitted
“I didn’t know that “
Tina shrugged “I am not a slob – really I am not but with various things that have been happening in my life I haven’t had the desire “
“And now ?” Bette raised one eyebrow at Tina
“Certain events have given me a boost “ Tina admitted
Helena laughed “You are a boost Bette “
“Apparently so “ Bette said dryly “So are you going off early in the morning ?”
“I have to be there by 12:30 so I need to leave here by 11:30”
“Shame “ Bette smiled at Tina
Helena watched at the interaction between the two lovers.
”So what is your mom like Helena ?”
“Peggy is insane “ Helena said “Totally mad “
“Really ?” Tina asked
“Utterly – I love her very much and I would hate it if anyone harmed a hair on her head but oh yeah –crazy doesn’t come close to describing the old rogue “
“Why is she a rogue ?”
“She makes Donald Trump look like a panhandler when it comes to business “
“My mother can be pretty ruthless “ Tina said
“Yeah – Bette said she’s the Kennard in Kennard, Truman and Black”
“The one and only “Tina replied
“That is impressive “ Helena said “That really takes some doing “
“She’s a great lawyer and runs the firm like a military operation but God she’s so inconsistent when it comes to mothering”
“Buying you presents when you wanted her time ?” Helena suggested
Tina nodded “You too ?”
“Yes as my own best friend will tell you – I am a very spoilt young woman”
“You are “ Bette remarked taking a mouthful of food “But to your credit you know that “
“I do – there are few people who know me who don’t call me spoilt”
“My great grandparents and grandparents were all billionaires – the Peabody Foundation gives away millions each year. My mother sold a company in Japan last year that she had set up the year before for $23 million. So in my defence its hardly surprising that I am spoilt “
“I think that none of us could claim to be hard done by money wise” Bette said, she looked at Tina “Any comeback on what happened on Tuesday ?”
“She think she showed up to give me grief but the sheer shock at the sight of my not a book out of place apartment knocked it out of her head. I did tell her that I really didn’t appreciate the accusation that I was having an affair with Helena “
“Is that what she said ?”
“Yes – once she got over the shock of the fact that the very wealthy and well connected Helena Peabody knows me she assumed that I must have used my lesbian powers “
Helena raised one eyebrow
“She assumed you and I were sleeping together ?”
“She did which I used as an excuse to storm off “
“Well my mother knows that I will use my name and position to get the women I want but I did think that was a unique Peabody family trait”
“You really took her out at the knees – she thinks all my friends are as disreputable as Shane”
“Have you met this Shane person Bette ?”
“I have – she seemed very nice to me but she is the sort of lesbian who can start a fight in a convent “
“Ahh “ Helena nodded “Well –I know the type”
“Shane is a dear person “ Tina said
“I don’t doubt it – for some reason my mother has taken a shine and I had thought that was something that only a therapist would do to dear old Alice – have you introduced her to Alice yet Bette ?”
“Alice is a joy that I so far have not bestowed on Tina “ Bette said as dryly as possible “I wanted you to be the first to meet Tina “
“I am honoured –though if I had not bailed your asses out on Tuesday would the two of you be in bed watching movies tonight as opposed to being vertical and fully clothed right now ?”
Tina laughed “We would undoubtedly be naked by now “
She liked Helena a lot – she was funny and very self depreciating when it came to herself and it was obvious that she and Bette were close.
“And how is my dear friend shaping up as a girlfriend Tina ?” Helena fixed Tina with a quizzical stare. Tuesday had not given her enough chance to assess the blonde who had so besotted her friend. Up close Helena could see that Tina was pretty with a nice smile and a very good body. She could see what Bette saw in her new playmate.
Bette shook her head and sipped her wine
“I am doing fine “
“I asked the young blonde and not you Porter “
Tina looked at Bette and back at Helena
“Bette is wonderful – she’s fantastic “
“No complaints ?”
“Not a one “ Tina said looking at Bette as she spoke “ten out of ten in every department “
Helena chuckled – that had made Bette blush.
“Is she not rusty in some areas ?”
Helena was having fun and it was interesting to just test how good Tina’s sense of humour was. Tina raised her eyebrows at Helena
“If Bette was rusty I can assure you that between us we can provide plenty of lubrication “
Helena was for once out done – she stared at Tina whose expression was innocent. Bette almost choked on her meal, she put down her fork and took a long drink of wine and looked at Tina
“You are bad “
“Would you have me any other way ?”
“No – not at all “
Bette had been holding herself back from kissing her girlfriend but anyone who could render Helena Peabody speechless deserved at the very least a kiss. Bette lent across the table and kissed Tina on the lips. Tina smiled and returned the kiss before looking across at Helena who was looking at them with a very highly arched eyebrow. Bette looked at her friend.
“What do you think ?” Bette asked “Not that I much care but out of curiosity you understand “
“I think Tina is wonderful and I can see that the two of you are very much “ she paused before continuing- she knew Bette got anxious at the L word “I can see that the two of you are right for one another. Not that you two need it but you have my blessing and I am available for all future conspiracies “
“Thank you “ Tina said “I know that your approval means a lot to Bette “
“So “ Helena said after a few minutes of silence while all three women ate and drank . “When do you think we should introduce Tina to Peggy and Alice ?”
“Not at the same time “Bette said
“No – heaven forbid no – Bette was telling me about the community centre that you work at “
“Its on the east side – it does good work “
“Well I brought the paperwork for an application. Get the basic facts – size of the centre , what sort of area its in – its clientele – that sort of thing. But the thing that we really base our decision on – that’s the proposal. It’s a dark art in its own way – once you have a good proposal you can fleece a lot of different organisations for money. I will give you a list of other organisations that you can try as well as ours. Bette has seen a few of the proposals “
“You had me on the panel two years ago “
“Oh yeah – that was a drunken lunch and a half. Actually “ Helena looked at Bette “Tina might be good to get on the panel in the future “
“Hang on “
“But Helena – Tina is far minded “ Bette pointed out
“Exactly – she would be a perfect foil for cynical old Helena “ Helena said.
“But surely I couldn’t be on the panel if “
“Tina – this is my mother’s charity of which I am the chair. I can do what I want “
“Within reason “ Bette pointed out
“Within as much reason as I can get away with “ Helena replied “Anyway – you and Bette can do the proposal and we will consider it and then you will get your money for your centre. And that’s when she needs to meet Peggy “
“When’s the dinner for worthy causes ?”
“Oh – good point – in June every year we have a dinner for all those organisations who we have helped. Mother likes to bask in the glow”
Tina looked between Helena and Bette
“Just like that ?”
“No – its all above board despite what Helena is trying to make you believe. Your organisation has to meet certain criteria and from everything you have told me – it will. We will do the proposal together”
“If you can keep your hands off one another long enough “ Helena remarked
“Well yes – of course “ Bette winked at Tina “You okay ?”
“Do you two work at the double act ?”
“It comes natural “ Bette replied taking Tina’s hand and kissing it “but its not the same double act as you and I have going – that needs much more work on it “
Tina grinned “I agree – I hope this is not too nauseating for you Helena ?”
“As the first time Bette saw me I was having sex with one of her friends I think that I can stand to see her kissing her girlfriend. Mind you “
Helena picked up the wine bottle and poured herself another generous glass “You might need to warn Tina about Alice – as much as we all love Alice she is an acquired taste “
“Like a box of frogs on acid Bette said “ Tina remarked
“That’s a remarkably kind description of Alice – speaking of which does she even know that you have a new playmate ?”
“No or she would be camping on my doorstep trying to scare her off “
Tina shook her head and laughed. Bette stood up “As you have all cleared your plates I will reward you with my mother’s world famous apple crumble – freshly made because I told her I was having a couple of friends to dinner “
“Do you want a hand ?” Tina offered raising her eyebrows at Bette
“No you two are not going to stand in the kitchen touching each other up while I am in here starving for one of Rosemary’s crumbles “ Helena said
“We would have got away with it if it hadn’t been for that meddling Helena “ Tina said laughing at her own joke
Bette winked “Plenty of time for touching up after she’s gone babe “
Helena shook her head “Kids today – really”
Bette collected the plates and headed into the kitchen. Helena picked up an unopened bottle of wine and taking the cork screw began to open it. She looked at Tina and smiled. With other girlfriends Helena had given them a warning of what she would do to them if they hurt her best friend – with Tina she suspected that a warning was pointless – they were in love – even if neither of them knew it yet.
————