“I just want to get this out in the open because I am sure that you are jumping to conclusions and I want to nip this in the bud. I am with Bette -we love one another and we are extremely happy. I am not and I have never been interested in Helena Peabody –who as you probably know is Bette’s best friend. Bette knows that I only want her . Bette’s mom would be very hurt if she knew that you decided that you virtually offered me to Helena after the library benefit. I know that you had no idea about Bette and I so we are prepared to forget it but I don’t want you interfering in this relationship “
If Emma was shocked by the news about Bette and Tina she was even more surprised to have Tina bring this into the open
“So she knows all about you have cosy little lunches with her very beautiful best friend ?”
“What ?”
“You may think you are fooling the Porters but you are not fooling me – Tina – how can you be two timing Bette with her best friend “
“I am not two timing Bette – I would never cheat on her “
“So she knows about the two of you having cosy lunches ?”
Tina thought quickly and suddenly remembered the lunch a couple of weeks earlier where Bette had been forced to cancel because of work.
“I have had lunch with Helena alone once – that was about two weeks ago and we were waiting for Bette who had to cry off because of something that had happened at her gallery. We had lunch – afterwards she went to a meeting and I went to the gym. Mom – I am not seeing Helena – I am very deeply in love with Bette “
“If “ Emma began
“No “ Tina wasn’t going to take this from her mother – not anymore “Enough of this nonsense. If you don’t want to believe me then fine – you know what – I have officially given up trying to make you proud of me. I don’t care – but I am telling you this here and now – if you do anything to screw up what Bette and I are building I will never forgive you and neither will your great friends Rosemary and Melvin who you might have noticed are delighted that I am dating their only daughter “ Tina decided on one final low blow as a revenge for all the jabs she had taken from her mother “ Kate would have just adored Bette and she would have been right behind us and wanted me to be happy “
Tina turned and walked out of the room before she really let rip. She was just standing in the hallway wondering what to do next when Bette came out of the kitchen
“Hey “ Bette said seeing Tina
Tina smiled shyly “Hey “
Bette saw her girlfriend was upset and walked to her “Its okay “
“I don’t want her upsetting your parents about Helena “
“You have spoken to her ?” Bette was surprised
“I just hated seeing her looking and me and oozing disapproval because she had this fanciful notion about me and your best friend “
“Its okay “ Bette took hold of Tina and they embraced “Its okay sweetheart “
“She saw Helena and I having lunch last week – you know the day you were tied up with that rich client “
“And that is all – is that what all that was based on ?”
“There are probably some other stuff but she saw Helena and I together “
“Your mother has one suspicious mind “ Bette said
“Well I am not going to damn well let her hurt us – I love you – I am not going to let anyone come between us “
“It cannot happen “ Bette replied holding Tina close. Before Emma left tonight Bette was going to have words of her own with her.
Rosemary had been following Bette out of the kitchen with a tray of dishes and overheard most of the conversation. She stood in the doorway watching how Bette and Tina interacted – it was obvious that Bette was in love – she had worked that out by the way Bette had spoken so openly about their relationship. When Bette and Tina started to kiss Rosemary smiled and headed into the dining room with her tray of food with her mind trying to assimilate what she had heard between her daughter and the woman she so clearly loved.
+++
As Bette had predicted the food was heavenly – conversation was brief as they all ate. Rosemary was watching Bette who was sharing long loving looks with Tina. It wasn’t until the crumble and custard was almost finished that Rosemary looked at her daughter
“Okay – if you want second helpings Bette Porter and I have never known you NOT want second helpings of custard you had better start telling us failed conspirators how the two of you got together – we want details and we want them now “
Bette grinned and looked at Tina
“As I am still eating – I think you can start the tale “
Tina shook her head “For someone as slim as you – you can really shift your food “
“With a mother like Rosemary that’s not a surprise Tina “ Melvin grinned at Tina
“Everything Bette told me about your cooking was true – its truly a delight “
“Thank you Tina – I hope that you and Bette are free on Sunday “
Tina looked at Bette who was reaching for the custard “Told you babe “
“Thank you “ Tina said
“Excellent – are you free on Sunday Emma ?”
“Sorry – I am going out of town for a couple of days “ she didn’t elaborate and no one pushed her on it
“So – girls – start talking “ Melvin pushed his bowl away and pour himself a coffee
“Odd things had been happening – like my mother suddenly and utterly out of character decided that she had an interest in art and wanted me to go to a gallery with her – the Porter gallery“
Emma laughed “Tell everyone I am a philistine why don’t you ?”
She had been very stung by Tina’s speech and over dinner she had been brooding over her words. It was a harsh conclusion that Tina had been right – there was no reason to say that Helena and Tina were lovers – she had jumped to the conclusion because she had wanted to -just like she had wanted to have Bette and Tina as a couple. Well she had got her way on the first part and looking at Tina it was clear that she was happy.
“You are not a philistine mother but galleries are not your thing. “
“So how did you not meet Bette there ?” Now that all of this was out in the open she might get some unanswered mysteries solved.
“Simple “ Bette said “I’d gone for lunch with Helena “
Rosemary laughed “Thwarted by that “
“Simple as “ Bette said
“Then there was the whole business of the single theatre ticket “ Tina looked at her mother
“Which I now realise must have cost you a arm and a leg to acquire “
“It did”
“I am sorry that I didn’t go – Bette says it was a fantastic show “
Bette was nothing if not smooth and someone who planned ahead. She pulled an envelope from her pocket and laid it on the table
“Five tickets to the same show – we would like the three of you to be our guests – its not for a few weeks but the show is really worth seeing “
“Bette ! how lovely “
“Thank you Bette “
Bette looked at Emma “Thank you Bette – I think that its only fair that we treat the two of you to supper afterwards – if that’s okay with your mom and dad “
“Fine by us “ Melvin said “ even though I am a philistine when it comes to plays “
“Its Pam Grier dad and she’s smoking hot “ Bette replied
“In that case I will suffer in silence “
Bette had finished her dessert – she pushed the bowl away and lent back
“I was really beginning to get suspicious “ they had decided not to tell Emma that what had freaked her out the most was the fear that she was being lined up for the older woman not her daughter. “Which lead me to investigate the website of a certain very prestigious New York law firm. Among the pages were snaps from a staff picnic” Bette looked at Tina then Emma
“I know the two of you hear this a lot but its startling how alike you both are. That made everything fall into place. “
“And Bette decided to fill me in on the conspiracy “
“And of course the fact that Tina was stunningly cute really played no part in my decision “
Bette made everyone laugh “I am ashamed that I fed information to my mother that I would be dining at The Clarendon – which lead Emma to book a table “
“That’s when you met ?” Rosemary asked “That was months ago “
“I told you that I was ill or something and Tina told Emma that she dined alone. In truth I introduced myself to Tina and we clicked “
Bette smiled at Tina who squeezed the brunettes hand
“We could have blown you all out of the water but it was more fun to tease you and do our best to thwart everything that the three of you did “
“Two “ Melvin said “ I want it to be known that while I was aware of the crimes I played no active part in them “
“You knew – as you know doing nothing is no defence in law “
Emma laughed “You would have been a good lawyer Bette “
“She would have “ Melvin agreed “ But she would have shown the two of us up so I am glad she keeps out of our territory “
“Do you remember the pop art exhibition ?” Tina asked her mother
“Yes “
“Bette and Rosemary were leaving just as we were arriving “
Rosemary clapped her hands together – “I have to hold my hands up – we have been utterly defeated by our daughters. What I want to know is how the two of you have been getting on ? where was your first date ? when ? “
“And how the hell have the two of you kept it from Cagney and Lacey here ?”
“I think the two of you were so caught up in the game that you didn’t see what we were doing “
“I think you should tell them about the closest they got “ Tina said
“You tell your mom “ Bette replied grinning
“What ? did I get close to bursting your cover ?”
“You did – and I owe you an apology “
“We both do “ Bette said
“Tell me “
“You and I were wandering around one lunchtime – it was when Helena appeared “
Emma looked at Bette and Tina “You two devious minxes “ she was smiling which was a relief for Tina
“What ?” Rosemary looked between the women
“Bette was having lunch with Helena when mom and I appeared – so we didn’t get busted Helena created a diversion by bursting up and pretending that we had met “
“You hadn’t ?”
“I knew she was Bette’s best friend – she was hissing in my ear that I had to pretend we knew each other “
Emma blushed – and from that she had leapt to the conclusion that Tina and Helena were involved. She pushed her bowl away and glanced away.
“Why were the two of you so determined to keep your relationship secret ?” Rosemary asked
Bette had been thinking about her answer to that question
“We knew that the two of you wanted us together and we felt that it would be easier for us to date without lots of questions about how it was all going “ Bette didn’t want to bring out Tina’s fears about Emma’s reaction
“It started as playing the two of you at your own game – then the closer we became the more we were both nervous about jinxing it – we wanted to give our relationship every chance.”
“And now ?” Emma asked “why have you decided to out your relationship ?”
Tina replied “ Because we love each other – because we are insanely happy together – because we both realise how serious its become in a short period of time, because you are our parents and we want to share our happiness with you” Tina paused for breath “ I had given up all hope of finding anyone – as my mom will confirm my track record just sucks with women. Bette’s different – she is so respectful and kind and very loving. I never expected that this would happen but she’s the best thing that has happened to me in years and I want all of you to know that I love her and I would never deliberately hurt her “
Tina looked at Bette “You are the best babe “
Bette beamed – she lent across and they kissed “I love you too “ Bette replied
She looked at her parents and Emma
“Everything Tina said I echo – I know that Tina has been through hard times since her mom died and I promise you Emma that I am going to take the best possible care of her “
IS THIS LOVE