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Tina was on her second beer when she saw her mother arriving at the bar near to her law firm. Tina had been wondering how many of the bar’s clients worked at Kennard, Truman and Black as she has been downing her first beer. As soon as Emma walked in Tina saw the number of people who reacted – Tina chuckled to herself – that was the effect her mother had been having on people since Tina was 3. Emma bought a drink and walked across to where Tina was sitting
“Hello mother “
“Tina “
Emma removed her jacket and put it with her briefcase against the wall of the booth before sitting down and facing her daughter. Tina was feeling pretty strong – she wasn’t going to take any of her mother’s nonsense. Why would she ? she had the most perfect girlfriend and her life was really doing well. So Tina was determined to be firm but polite – depending on what her mother’s reaction was.
“How has your day been ?” Tina asked
“I am preparing for a trial that starts on Monday”
“A big case ?”
“By big you mean juicy ?” Emma smiled “It will be boring sadly “
“Shame – I always enjoyed sitting watching you in action “
Emma suddenly was faced with the memory of her beautiful 18 year old daughter sitting with her mother while she had summed up in a high profile murder trial. She had been sure at the time that it was only the determination that her two favourite women would not see her lose that she had pulled the most incredible closing speech out of nowhere and got her client off the charges and probably out of the electric chair as well. Emma smiled at the memory – they had been so proud of her and they had celebrated in style – all three getting drunk on champagne at home. Tina sipped her beer and sneaked a look at her watch – she really wanted to spend some quality time with Bette tonight. Both women were lost in their own thoughts for several minutes – finally Emma came back to the present and looked at her daughter.
“I must be seriously slipping if I haven’t been able to see how happy you look “
Tina smiled – it would have been easy to launch into an accusation about how her mother had been too busy fixing her up to see that she was already fixed up. But Tina had decided to be magnanimous – for now
“Its not been easy to keep it secret – I am glad that its out in the open “
“You and Bette seem happy “
“We are – she’s wonderful “
“So me accusing you of moping over Jane was wide of the mark ?”
Tina smiled “Yes “
“I was vile that day “
“The day after the library benefit ? “ Tina said “Yeah – yeah you were pretty vile. You made me cry “
“I am sorry – I just have been so worried about you “
“I am 26 years year old mom “
“Ask Bette’s mom – there is no statute of limitations on worrying about your kids. But I am sorry if I upset you – I just don’t want to see you waste your life “
“I am not wasting my life – what I do is worthwhile – it really makes a difference “
“But you could do so much better “ Emma protested
Tina could feel her anger rising but she was determined to rise above everything that her mom might throw at her
“Mom – please – I do not want to fall out with you – the job is what it is. Its not forever “
“How does Bette feel about what you do ?”
Tina took a drink of her beer and looked at her mom
“Bette supports me in what I do. She was the person who thought that the centre might qualify for a grant. She was the person who gave the centre a really good photocopier and paid for it to be moved from her gallery. Bette is so supportive – I am really lucky that she understands what it means to me “
“Meaning that I don’t “
“No – I don’t think you do “ Tina sighed – she really didn’t want to get into the full reason why she had initially volunteered to work at the centre and later took on a job there “But that’s not important – what matters is that it means a lot to me. Bette gets that – that’s one of the reasons that I love her so much – she respects my decisions even if she doesn’t agree with them “
Emma sighed – there was probably not much to be gained by trying to reason with Tina on this point at the moment. Emma drank some of her wine and looked at Tina – she certainly looked happier than she had for a while and that did mean a lot to her
“I didn’t think you could pull the wool over my eyes but to be fair to the two of you – you did “
“Its not been easy but we wanted to be able to find out about one another without any pressure”
“You expect there to be pressure now that we know ?”
“I don’t know – it started that we wanted to fool the pair of you “
“And what you didn’t expect was to fall for her ?”
“No – but it happened and its more than I ever expected it to be “
Emma gestured to Tina “ Another drink ?”
“Yes please “
Emma went to the bar and returned a few minutes later – she handed Tina a glass of beer. Tina raised her eyebrows at her mother
“I am not allowed to drink out of bottles any more ?”
“It just looks terrible “ Emma replied
Tina shook her head- it wasn’t worth getting into an argument about.
“Thanks “ Tina drained her beer and pulled the glass towards her
“So “ Emma said “Tell me about Bette “
“You have met her – she’s beautiful and totally wonderful “
“Tell me your version of her “ Emma said
Tina sighed “She’s really grounded – I think that comes from her mom and dad. She is very intelligent – she went to Harvard – that’s where she met Helena. She loves to run “
“Is that why you have started to run again ?”
“Yes and gradually its starting to pay off – she’s so much fitter than me – the first few times she nearly killed me but now I can keep up with her and I almost got ahead of her a couple of weeks ago. She eats right and that’s stopping me eating crap. She’s wonderful to cook for and she’s a great cook as well . She’s just marvellous “
“Ah – that wonderful stage of a relationship when nothing the other person does is annoying”
“Oh we annoy each other – and we shout at each other now and again “
“No huge rows ?”
“She’s incredibly easy going – having meet her parents I can see where she gets it from – she’s really placid. James and Helena keep telling me how she’s got a really hot temper but I just don’t see it – she’s been patient and very loving with me “
“You can be a little infuriating Tina “
Tina shook her head “Mom – can you not give me the slightest credit for anything ? I know I went through a really bad patch but in case you haven’t noticed but in the last few months I have turned the corner. I really can see a future for Bette and I and I am not going to risk that. Bette’s awesome and we do love each other and we are well suited. It would just be nice if you supported us and didn’t pull any stunts like you have over the past few weeks “
“What is that supposed to mean ?”
“You want a list of things ? why don’t we start with you telling Rosemary Porter that I was too busy and couldn’t make the dinner last night. I gave you every opportunity to invite me and you even said that it was just going to be a dinner for the three of you. You did that because you went off Bette as an option for me because Helena was richer . Don’t you think that its really insulting – you offered me to Helena at one point. That makes me feel like I am a hooker and you are my pimp. Mom – if you even think about messing with Bette and me I mean this – we are history “