**

Emma was not having a good day – she had been called away from a not that successful lunch with Rosemary Porter to find that her client in a major fraud case had been found guilty and been given a very stiff sentence by a judge who took delight at being extra draconian with her clients. That had been a bad couple of hours – she was now sitting in her office looking at a picture of her wife and missing her like she missed her every single day. She had been thinking about Kate a lot and she couldn’t imagine her wife letting her get involved with this crazy conspiracy to get Bette Porter and Tina together.
The door of her office opened – she was about to shout at whoever it was – no one entered her office without knocking. To her delight it was Tina
“Tina – hello sweetheart “
“I have just come here to say one thing “
“What’s that darling ?”
“Stop interfering in my life – stop trying to get Helena Peabody to invite me on a date . I have just been with her submitting my application to get more money for the community centre and I was so embarrassed when she told me what shit you had come up with at that library benefit last week. Don’t ever do that again. If I don’t get that grant for the centre I will be holding you responsible. Stop showing me up and another thing – stop trying to guilt me out by using my mother against me. I hate it and I am still as mad as hell with you for laying that shit on me last week “
Without waiting for any explanation Tina turned and walked out of her mother’s office making sure she slammed the door nice and loud. With that off her chest Tina decided to go shopping for some nice outfits for her trip to the Bahamas

*****************

Is this love

Chapter 35

Bette had been out for a long run and was heading back to her house. She was very proud that running was one of the few things that was not being affected by the amount of time that she spent with Tina. Tina – just thinking her name made Bette smile. Being in love with Tina was the most fantastic adventure that Bette had experienced so far. Tina was everything that a lover and girlfriend should be and Bette was just bursting with happiness for the blonde. And now in two days they were going to The Bahamas for a holiday together – Bette was very lucky and she gave a silent thanks for her wonderfully generous best friend and totally fantastic girlfriend. She reached the start of her street and she stopped and stopped her wrist watch and took several minutes to get her breath back. She walked slowly the short distance to her own house.
“I can think of much better ways of getting out of breath “
Bette grinned at the sight of Tina sitting on the top step of her house reading a newspaper and surrounded by a several shopping bags
“Hey there “
“Hi – I called at the gallery but James said you had just left to run home via the park – you look done in “
“I feel it “
“So I nipped off to do some food shopping and here I am “
“You have food ?”
“I do “
Bette smiled “I knew there was a reason that I loved you “
Tina laughed “I take it that you don’t want me to just head home ?”
“No “ Bette replied fishing her keys from her jacket and walking up the steps to her front door
“come inside “
In a few minutes they were both inside. Bette went to get a bottle of juice from the fridge and Tina put her clothes purchases to one side then she followed Bette into the kitchen to put the food away
“You had a good day ?” Bette asked
“Not bad — though I am going to be losing another day at the centre if this application for funds from the Peabody’s doesn’t come through “
“I think you are okay – Helena knows that you are genuine and so is the centre. Have you finished the proposal ?”
“I handed it in to Helena this afternoon “
Bette looked at Tina and smiled – that had to take some courage – to face Helena at her office on her own. Bette nodded and took Tina by the hands
“Nice work Kennard “ Bette lent forward and kissed Tina on the lips. Tina smiled and put her arms around Bette to stop the kiss from ending just yet. The kiss lingered for several minutes – when it ended Bette sighed and stroked Tina’s face “ You just are the best “
“So are you “ Tina replied.
“So – do you want to go and have a cuddle or do I reek ?”
“You smell sweaty but nothing worse – come on and we’ll have a cuddle for a few minutes. You hungry ?”
“Yeah “
“Well then how about we have a cuddle then you have a soak in the bath and I’ll cook for you “
Bette beamed -this was nice. Hell – this was more than nice -this was just wonderful.
“You just get cuter “ Bette said and putting an arm around Tina’s waist they headed into the sitting room. Bette flopped onto the sofa and removed her running shoes and socks while Tina put some CD’s on. Tina turned and looked at Bette – she was wearing black running shorts and a long sleeved black tee-shirt. Tina couldn’t remember ever simply aching for a woman the way she did with Bette. Bette looked up at her and smiled
“Tell me something “ Tina said putting the CD’s she had removed from the player back into their boxes.
“Sure “
“Have you always been so beautiful ?”
Bette blushed a little “I don’t think I am “
“I would beg to differ “ Tina replied
“My hair is so hard to control, my smile is crooked and my nose is too big “
Tina crossed to the sofa and sat down
“Fact – your hair is wonderful – just the right length for me to keep hold of when you are between my thighs fucking me. Second your nose is just the right size “ Tina kissed Bette’s nose “And third your smile is enough to lift me after a bad day and to make my clit come to life – you are beautiful Bette “
“Is that the approach you used with Helena ?”
Tina chuckled “ I don’t think Ms Peabody’s ego needs any massaging “
“Helena is not as tough and sure of herself as she likes the world to think – she has always suffered from the fact that she is a Peabody. It takes a special person to be unaffected by Helena’s life “
Tina sighed “Helena told me what my mother said to her after the library benefit “
Bette raised an eyebrow. Tina had debated whether to tell Bette about her conversation but she was determined to do everything she could to make their relationship work and that had to mean that they were honest and up front with one another.
“I felt so ashamed- Helena was making light of it but its obvious that she was embarrassed by it – its worse because she knows that you and I are a couple “
“Helena is too well breed to let something like that bother her for long “
“But she is very loyal to you and doesn’t want anything to damage your relationship- that’s an admirable trait “
“She isn’t loyal to many people but you are right – we are loyal to each other – I am sorry that it upset you babe “ Bette stroked Tina’s face and they kissed again
“I am very ashamed of her – my mother I mean. Its one thing to try and get you and I together by arranging a meeting between us and seeing what might happen. This is entirely another thing – I bet your mom doesn’t know that she is hedging her bets “
Bette raised an eyebrow
“That hadn’t crossed my mind “
“My mother is acting like she is my pimp “
“She wants the best for you “
“And at first she thought that the best for me was you and now she thinks its Helena “
“What are you going to do about it ?”
“I went to her office and basically walked in told her to keep her nose out of my business and that I was humiliated for what she had said to Helena and I told her that what she had said last week about my other mom was way out of line “
“What did she say ?”
“I didn’t really give her the chance- I had just come from Helena’s office and I was really mad with her “
“You should have waited to see if she was going to apologize “
“My mother does not apologize “
Bette knew that it was a delicate area with Tina – she had seen first hand how hurt Tina had been with the comment from Emma about Tina’s other mom. Bette touched Tina’s long blonde hair and watched her face for a few minutes
“Did you feel better for getting it off your chest ?”
“I did “
“So what next ?”
“Well you are taking a hot bath and I am going to fed you – we might even have wild sex as well”
Bette smiled – well that sounded like a pretty perfect evening
“About your mom ?” Bette said steering her attention back to what they were supposed to be talking about
“Well she thinks I am going to this mythical fashion show on Friday when in truth I will be relaxing on a beach with you “
“If you get too much of a tan you will have some explaining to do – I know my mom was meeting her for lunch today “
“Rats – you are right – god this is just getting complicated “
Bette wanted to say that the simplest way to remove this unnecessary complication in their lives was to come clean to their parents but she knew that Tina still needed time to face what would her mother’s reactions.
“Hey lets not worry about her tonight eh – lets just enjoy the fact that we have one another “
Tina smiled and sighed “You are right – I love you “
Bette smiled “ You too “
They kissed for a few more minutes until Tina eased away and looked into Bette’s deep dark eyes
“Thank you for putting up with me – thank you for everything Bette “
“it’s a pleasure “ Bette pulled Tina closer and they hugged for a few minutes – both lost in how good it felt to be together. Tina eased away “ You must be hungry – go and have that soak in the bath and I will make a start on dinner for us “
Bette nodded “Thanks babe “
Tina looked again at Bette – marvelling at the sheer beauty and kindness of this woman
“After everything you have done for me and everything that you mean to me – a meal is the least I intend to do tonight for the woman I love so much “
Bette smiled “If you are trying to get me into bed – its okay – I am a pushover “
Tina laughed and watched as Bette got up and stretched her body out before heading upstairs. Tina chuckled and sat for a few minutes just trying to assimilate everything that was happening in her life. Helena had given her a lot to think about – as had yelling at her mother. Tina didn’t want to come between Bette and Helena – she could see what Bette felt for her best friend. It would be a delicate balancing act not to come between the two women – but equally Helena would also have some adjusting to do now that Bette was so besotted with Tina. After several minutes Tina got up and went into the kitchen to cook.