Tina was beginning to read Bette and one thing was certain – as the whole evening had gone on Bette had been giving Emma more and more dirty looks.
“You mean you did not feel the love from my momma dearest ?”
“I must have missed it “ Bette replied dryly
“I think she was just embarrassed that we had caught her out and she already must have known that I knew she wouldn’t have invited me to the dinner if I hadn’t forced myself on your mom”
“I do wonder if mom and dad picked up on the vibes – you were pretty cross with her “
“I was cross with her – but for once I stood up to her and let her know that she was not going to fuck things up for me. There is no way she cannot wholly approve of you “
“I am not my millionaire best friend “
“No – you are not – you are 100 times hotter and kinder and just wonderful in every single way. I like Helena – she’s nothing like she pretends to be but she’s not you babe”
Tina lent across and kissed Bette on the lips. Bette let Tina dominate the kiss- to decide where it was going and how long it was going on for. Tina pushed Bette onto her back and was soon on top of Bette kissing passionately. When Bette tried to end the kiss she found that Tina wasn’t going to let her – she pressed her whole body down on Bette’s as the kiss grew more demanding and urgent. Eventually Tina ended the kiss by leaning back
“Wow – you are just the best kisser “
“You seem horny “
“When was I not horny for you ?”
Bette stroked Tina’s arm
“Its going to be okay “
“It will if my mother plays nice “
Oh don’t worry – Bette thought – I am going to make sure she does.
“I am sure she will “ Bette replied
“I am going to make sure she does “ Tina thought

—

James brought Bette a cup of coffee and the post and emails that needed her attention.
“Should I get another cup for you ?”
Bette looked up “Tina is stuck in meetings and won’t be around all day – sadly “
“I meant for Ma Porter who I am sure is just bursting with questions “
“She must have caught that from you “ Bette said
“Well if you just told me how it went I wouldn’t have to drop such subtle hints “
“There is nothing subtle about you James “
“I shall take that as a compliment “
“I would if I were you”
“So — how did the grand reveal go ?”
Bette laughed “It went really well “
“I couldn’t get anything done last night because I was wondering how things were going “
Bette relented
“Take a seat “
“Thank you Bette “
“I started it as the strange case of the interfering parents “
“Excellent “
“And I laid out in terms that the two lawyers and trained librarian would understand – the theatre ticket “
“Her mother’s sudden interest in art “
Bette laughed- James knew too much about her life
“That as well – they really didn’t have much of a defence “
“Confessions all round and pleas for clemency ?” James asked
Bette smiled “My father did act under cohesion – I imagine its not easy to resist an idea concocted by my mother and Emma “
“And there were no excuses ?”
“I believe the phrase is banged to rights “
“And then ?”
“Then I said that there was something which did rather mitigate their behaviour “
“YES – For christ sake Bette – blood and stones !! “
Bette laughed
“And we demonstrated the mitigating circumstances by kissing one another for a long time”
James applauded “Bravo Bette “
“Thank you “
“And how did this go down with the conspiring parents ?”
“Guess “
“Ohhh – ask me a tough one why don’t you — its obvious – sour lemon face Kennard senior thinks you are the second best option for Tina to Helena with the large bank balance”
“Have you been listening to my phone calls again ?”
“No “ James looked suitably offended “I am merely applying psychology to the matter “
Bette’s face called that bullshit but she didn’t comment
“And in comparison your mom probably had to be peeled from the ceiling so happy was she”
“Care to try for your hat trick ?”
“Your father could have gone either way given that he’s never been totally into the plot. But anything that makes your mom that happy is bound to be a vote winner in his book. I would say that he is pleased that you and Tina are making sweet music “
“James – please do not say that in the context of my father”
“Well boss – I think you are being a little naïve if you think that all three of them aren’t 100% sure that you are sleeping together “
“All the same James — ugh “
“Okay – point taken – what are you going to do about lemon face ?”
“Well not call her that to her face “ Bette said
“Good place to start “
-=[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[]“I am planning a quiet word with her “
“You need to put her right on the Helena thing “
“I do – I know its bull and so does Tina and Helena but I also do not want my mother to get wind of it – she might see a crisis where there isn’t one. Tina isn’t interested in Helena and it goes the same the other way round. I don’t want my mom worrying and getting the impression that Tina is playing us off on one another “
“You seemed pretty cheesed off with it the other day if I am allowed to say that “
“You aren’t “Bette said and grinned “Well yeah – I was.”
“Have you and H ever fallen out over a woman ?”
“Not in the way that you mean – we have never both gone crazy for the same woman. She once refused to speak to me for six weeks when I was dating an Australian mad woman called Ajay. To be fair to her – she was right and I wasn’t “
“And would one of you stand aside if the other really wanted some woman “
“I know what you are driving at but its never happened – never even come close. Helena is not interested in Tina – well only in the sense that she is now talking about co-opting her onto the awards panel next year. I would like Tina to consider it – it would look good on her resume “
“You don’t like her working at that community place do you ?”
Bette sighed “I will always back everything that she does but having said that – I would be happier if she worked somewhere better. Yes it makes me a snob – I know that. I am well aware of what mumbo jumbo you are going to come up with “
“Nothing wrong with wanting her to do well “
“I think it served a great use when she was getting herself together after her mom died. Buts its not stretching her – she’s admitted that herself. She likes the people but what she does isn’t challenging and she is very smart James “
“I don’t doubt it for a second “
So what do you think ?”
“I think its just as well that you are fairly famous for your diplomacy because it’s a tricky path you have in front of you boss “
“How so ?”
“Well I know that what you want to do is slap Emma senseless for how she is with Tina but that’s a very thin ice out there. How would you feel if Tina criticised your mom ?”
“But “
“I know – your mom is a saint – and that will be hard for Tina right there. But its obvious Tina has a complicated relationship with her mom – she’s her birth mom but her other mom raised her- that’s got to be odd – don’t you think ?”
“Yeah “
“So don’t jump in with both feet. Yes she needs warning because I have seen how upset Tina has been sometimes when she comes to see you – but do it carefully or it might backfire on you ”