“There is just one proviso “ Bette said
Tina raised her eyebrow
“Lets NOT tell our parents “

Tina nodded “ Nothing my mother could do would drag the details of tonight out of me “
Is this love
Chapter 12
Bette arrived at the café just after 2pm and found a booth – she was just removing her jacket when Helena came through the door
“Hey there – hope I am not late “
“I just arrived myself “ Bette said “Sorry I had to delay this until 2pm – one of my clients came by and there was no way I could tell her that I couldn’t listen to her rambling on about the time she chatted up Andy Warhol in a club in Manhattan – god she’s boring “ Bette said with a smile
“No problem – was it worth it – did you prise some cash out of her ?”
“I did – a nice juicy $7500 dollars – so lunch is on me “
“I will bear that in mind “ Helena sat down and looked at her friend “You are looking smug “
“I have reasons to be “
“Reason or reasons ?”
“The latter “ Bette confirmed
“Now that sounds interesting – lets order and you can tell me all about it – I know that you are dying to “
“I am “ Bette agreed “ Buy the most expensive sandwich on the menu and the biggest cup of coffee “
“I might even order cake “ Helena said
“I can take it “
Bette waited until they had placed their order before dropping her best piece of information
“I got to the bottom of the Mystery of the Older Lesbian “
“You did – great – tell me everything “
“It transpires that Emma and my mom are not conspiring to get her hooked up with me “
“Right “
“I had the wrong Kennard – they want me to hook up with her daughter”
“Daughter ! – mm that sounds more hopeful and by the way you are smiling it looks like its something that doesn’t freak you the way that being linked with Emma does “
“It doesn’t freak me out because she is gorgeous “
“Gorgeous – how do you know ? I smell a Porter Plot “
“Just call it a touch of turning the tables on our mothers “
“Come on- give me the story “
“I was really suspicious of the whole thing – the single theatre ticket and all that so I set a trap. I booked a table at the new restaurant at The Paramount and told my mother that you were out of town – so if she sees you – you were out of town last night “
“Right “
“Anyway – as soon as I told my mother that she was on the phone to Emma telling her to get a table for Monday night. I turned up last night and there was Emma’s daughter “
Helena raised her eyebrows “ I can tell by your voice that it was a successful meeting “
Bette beamed “ She’s just gorgeous “
“That’s twice you have called her gorgeous “
“That’s because she is – very “
“Blonde ? “
“Blonde hair, great figure, she’s smart and funny “
“How old is she ?”
“26 “
“Promising “
“She’s cute “
“On a cute scale what are we talking ?”
“1 to 10 ?”
“Yeah “
“Close to an 8 “
“Ohh – this does sound promising – are you going to see her again ?”
“Yes – I told her that I really liked her and that I wanted to see her again”
“And what degree of Porter charm did you turn the dial up to ?”
“I didn’t give her the full works “
“And was she putty in your hands ?”
“We got on really well and there was a lot of flirting going on – she was checking me out “
“As much as you checking her out ?”
“Probably on a par “ Bette hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Tina and also trying to figure out how soon she could contact her again. She really needed her mother to start interfering in her love life so she would have an excuse to see Tina.
“And is she a normal lesbian ?”
“She is – she says that her mom is really driven and always interfering in her life but while it bothers her it doesn’t seem to really get her down”
“Did she suspect what was happening ?”
“I think she was beginning to smell a rat and when I mentioned the single theatre ticket she was convinced that I wasn’t some mad woman. Luckily for me as we were talking her mom rang with some utterly spurious story about why she couldn’t make the dinner. Tina called her mother all sorts of names “
“And did you stay and talk all evening ?”
“I turned on a bit of the Porter charm to get her to agree to let me buy her dinner “
“What does she do ?”
“She’s a community worker “
“What’s one of those ?”
“Not 100% sure – I don’t really care what she does – I just want to see her again – we had a really good laugh Helena – it felt so comfortable – you know “ Bette tried to put it into words how she had viewed the evening with Tina “It just felt nice “
Helena smiled “I hope it goes well for you Bette “
“So do I “ Bette said “I know it was only a few hours of chatting over dinner but something – somewhere just clicked between us “
**
It wasn’t often that Tina was able to turn the tables on her mother but since the evening she had spent with Bette on Monday she had been hunting through the internet to find some event that she could use to con her mother into planning an attempt to pair her up again with Bette.
Tina had thought about Bette a lot since they had meet. She couldn’t remember the last time she had spent a more pleasant evening or one with a more stunningly hot woman. Bette was everything that all the other women that she had dated in the last few years had not been – witty, intelligent, charming and smoulderingly hot. Tina had gone home floating on a cloud – Bette was just tasty and Tina could eat her for every meal of the day for several years and not get bored.
Tina arrived at her mother’s office building and strolled along the corridor towards her mother’s office. Typical of her – it was the best office in the building – a perk of being the senior partner. Being in this building reminded Tina so much of her other mom – as she was growing up she was brought here to see her mother. Her mother had talked about seeing Kate in every corner of her office – Tina knew what she meant.
“Hey Nell – is my mother tied up ?”
“Hello Tina – its been a while since you were here – she’s got a conference call in 30 minutes – do you want me to announce you ?”
“No – I will surprise her “ Tina said smiling – though not in the way you surprised me you cunning old trout
Emma’s office had a marvellous view across the city and when Tina walked in she always took a few seconds to admire the view of the bridges and the river
“Morning mother “Tina said
Emma looked up in surprise from her computer – it was unusual for Tina to arrive unannounced at her office and even more unusual for her to look so happy and healthy. Tina was wearing smart Levi’s and a warm fleece jacket – her long blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail and she was also wearing black boots
“Darling – hello – its good to see you “
“You too mom – I brought you a coffee “
Tina walked across and put a Starbucks coffee on her desk
“Thank you Tina “
“Latte with a shot of espresso “ Tina explained “ So how is the world of legal matters in New York these days ?”
“Its fine thank you – how are you ?”
“I am really good “ Tina admitted
“How was the restaurant at The Paramount ?”
“It a nice job they have done with the refurbishment – you would have liked it “
“I am so sorry about that darling – I simply had to work on Monday night “
“And how’s the retrial going ?”
“Well I reviewed the papers and handed it to Henry – I thought it would be more complicated than it was. I am sorry about standing you up Tina “
Its amazing how I can’t tell you are lying but I know that you are – that’s why you are one of the best lawyers in New York you old fraud
“Its okay – these things happen “ Tina replied. It was fascinating to see how her mother was smoothly carrying off such a bare faced lie. Bette had been right – it was going to be much more fun to torment her mother this way rather than have it out with her and have her twist Tina’s words to her own ends
“Did you eat there ?”
“I did – the food was excellent – you can buy me dinner there another night “
“Anyone there that you knew ?”
Time for my own bare faced lie
“I did feel a spare part at a wedding – I had to check that it wasn’t Valentine’s day – I swear I was the only person there that wasn’t in a couple. It was very depressing – gay, straight, young and old – it was a duo’s evening “
“Really ?” Emma made the comment sound irrelevant
You are really good at this aren’t you ?”
“Yes – then I dragged myself home to my lonely apartment and fell asleep “ Tina added hoping she wasn’t going over the top with the description of the evening
“No hot women there ?”
“None that were not in a couple “ Tina said
“That’s a shame “
“Yeah it is “
“Anyway – I will be thinking of something that you can do for me to repay standing me up but it would be nice to spend some time with you – there is a exhibition of pop art next week. I know how much you love your music so I wondered if you wanted to go – maybe Tuesday evening then we could go on and eat somewhere “
“An exhibition ?”
“Yes – well I enjoyed the one we went to the other week – some of the pieces were just so delicate – they really were breath-taking. So I have been looking at Time Out and its amazing the sheer range of art on display in this city – and I have just neglected it for so long. The new Tina is going to go become an art lover “
Okay Ti – that was over the top but with luck I have got away with it.
“I would love to go- let me just check my schedule “
Emma did so and scratched out something that she did have pencilled in so she could be with Tina and hopefully it was an event that Rosemary could get Bette to attend with her – that was less than perfect. They had discussed it and they really wanted their daughters to meet without the presence of either mother but if it took one or both mom’s to give them a push in the right direction well that was what they were going to have to do.
After chatting to her mother for 20 minutes Tina left her mother’s law firm and headed across to Bette’s gallery. She had deliberately dressed casual but smart in hope of seeing Bette again and if she arrived around lunch time then maybe one of them would suggest they went for a sandwich.
Bette was looking at her favourite piece in her exhibition – the sculpture of a woman – every time Bette looked at it she shuddered –it was just so realistic. She heard the doors swing open and she turned – now that was a sight that made her shudder all over again – the blonde who was starting to dominate her thoughts was standing looking at her.
Bette involuntarily smoothed her hair down and walked across
“Tina – what a lovely surprise “
“I hope I am not disturbing you “
“No – I was just taking in this piece before it goes back to its owner “
Tina looked at the piece
“When I came here with my mother that piece just took my breath away”
Bette looked at Tina appreciatively – that was how she felt about the sculpture.
“I have had this piece in my gallery for three months and I don’t think there has been a day when I haven’t had it just render me speechless with how perfect it is “
“You can almost touch her “ Tina agreed “You know when I came here with my mom I had a feeling that the whole exhibition had been put together by a lesbian because there has obviously been such care taken in picking the right representations of the female form”
Tina turned
“There was a black and white picture of a woman beside a river “
“Oh the Cauwood piece – that was sold last week “
“That one “ Tina searched to find the words “It just seemed to me that you saw something in that piece that a straight man or a straight woman wouldn’t “
Bette looked at Tina – God she was as smart as she had thought she was on Monday night !
“It did – I know the pieces that will cause the most attention but so much of what I select is just based on my own gut instinct – particularly for this exhibition I have followed my own taste “
“There were so many pieces that just really affected me – I am not that up with art. I am a bit of a philistine really but – and this sounds clichéd but I know what I like and I was certain that another gay woman had picked some of these pieces. My mom enjoyed the exhibition as well and she is a philistine “
“You shouldn’t do yourself down – you obviously have an eye for art”
Tina looked again at the female sculpture and shook her head
“I could also imagine her in my shower – does that sound crazy ?”
“No – that sounds like its done the job that I wanted it to. My best friend Helena – whose also a lesbian said the first time she saw her that she could imagine seeing her under a tree in Central Park sheltering from the rain “
Tina laughed “Yes – yes I can see that “
Bette looked at Tina – yes her laugh was as musical as she remembered from Monday.
“Its really good to see you again Tina “ Bette said
Tina looked at Bette and smiled “Its good to see you too “
They looked at one another and for a few seconds Bette forgot to breath – oh God – she’s something else. Bette swallowed
“Eh – I was just going to go out for a sandwich – do you want to come out with me ? Nothing spectacular – just a coffee and a sandwich “
Tina grinned “I was hoping that you would ask me that “
Bette laughed at her honesty – they were skirting around one another but it was pretty obvious to both of them that there was a lot of sexual chemistry between them.
“Thank you – I’ll just get my jacket and tell James that I am going out “
“Is he the one who blocked access to you with my mom “
Bette laughed
“Yes – he was – come and say hello “
Bette lead Tina through a door that lead to her office. A tall young man was standing looking out of the window
“James”
James turned and saw Bette with a very cute looking blonde.
“Hey “
“This is Tina Kennard “ Bette explained “ Do you remember that blonde woman who tried to get in here a few weeks ago – -I was on my lunch with Helena “
James looked at Tina “I see the resemblance “
“Yes – that’s my mom I have to admit “ Tina said “Hello James “
“Hi Tina “
“Tina and I are just popping out for a sandwich – do you want anything ?”
“I am having soup at my desk “ James explained
“James would like you to think that is because he is so poorly paid by me that its all he can afford – the truth is I am such a good boss and he has such a weakness for chocolate that he split his trousers last week “
Tina smiled “You look fit enough “
“No –I am not “ James admitted
“I am threatening to take him running “
“But she is such a good boss that she wont subject me to such torture”
“Wimp “ Bette replied
“Bully “ he replied
Bette laughed “ Won’t be a minute Tina. “ “
Bette went into her office and took her jacket and wallet. James followed her in – he closed the door
“So it wasn’t her mom after you ?”
“No – her mom was trying to fix the two of us up “
“Seems to have worked “
“Stop it “ Bette said looking at him
“Come on – the way you are looking at her ! “
“Meaning ?” Bette asked with a smile
“You really have the hots for her don’t you ?”
Bette looked at James – he knew her as well as anyone – he probably needed to as a survival tactic. She could rarely pull the wool over his eyes
“Yes James – I think she is gorgeous “
“Have you asked her on a date ?”
“Its complicated because our mother’s tried to get us together and neither of us want them to know “
“I know you love your mom and she’s a fantastic woman but Tina is so obviously into you and it’s the same for you. Wouldn’t it be fun to get your revenge on your mothers by getting together and really having a good time before you told them yourself that you were a couple and had been for a while ?”
“There are times when you talk sense “
“I’ll take my payment in the form of anything chocolate you care to bring me back “
Is this love
Chapter 13
　
Bette was glad that her two closest friends didn’t work anywhere near her. Helena didn’t work and was probably lunching with someone connected to the Peabody Foundation – a charity organisation set up by her grandfather to give away a portion of the Peabody billions. But at least Helena wouldn’t embarrass her like Alice would – it was a good thing that Alice worked several miles away so they rarely saw one another during the day. Bette didn’t want anything to go wrong during her lunch with Tina and having an audience would be one of the things that put her off her “ game “
They found a fairly secluded table and Bette handed the menu to Tina.
“I sold a piece today for a lot of money so lunch is on me “
“No – you paid for dinner “
“Well I was the one who engineered Monday night’s meeting “ Bette said
“I’ll pay for lunch “ Tina said in a tone that Bette decided was one that it wasn’t worth arguing with
“Okay “ Bette smiled and lent back looking at the blonde. Tina had removed her fleece to reveal a navy blue sweater that Bette thought she looked nice in. Bette sat just quietly taking Tina’s appearance in as the blonde decided what she wanted for lunch. When Tina looked up and in an instant spotted that she was being checked out she raised one eyebrow at Bette. Bette smiled sheepishly. There were times when you just couldn’t get out of being caught . Tina laughed, indicating that she didn’t mind Bette looking at her.
“Okay – what do you want for lunch ?”
“I think I’ll have a tuna on rye and an orange juice -I think I have over dosed on coffee this morning “
“In my book its not possible to drink too much coffee but okay “ Tina got up and walked to the counter. Bette watched her as she chatted to the waiter – she was laughing with him and he was grinning at her. She obviously had her own style of charming the birds out of the trees. Bette liked that – she had dated too many women who were too far up their own asses in terms of just passing the time of day with waiters and taxi drivers. Tina seemed to exude her own quiet charm – Bette liked that very much. When Tina came back she sat down and faced Bette
“You may wonder why I have called you all here tonight “ she said in a very plausible English accent
Bette laughed “Well Miss Marple we have been wondering who shot the vicar “
Tina laughed – out of relief as anything else. There was always those moments at the start of any relationship when you find out quickly if you share the same cultural icons and it was obvious that Bette had seen English murder mysteries at the same time as Tina had.
“I speak of The strange mystery of the colluding mothers “
Bette laughed again “I believe you called yours a devious old trout “
“Oh I have called her worse – I went to see her this morning “
“And ?”
“I will never win any acting awards but I did a passable impression of someone who spent Monday evening
on my own watching couples enjoying the fine surroundings and cuisine of The Paramount while being a lonely little soul “
“Did she buy it ? “
“She was so busy lying through her teeth it didn’t occur to her that I might be fibbing as well. It was good to come out of a meeting with her and know that I had the upper hand “
Bette smiled “As I said on Monday there is a lot of pleasure to be had from carefully lowering the wool over their eyes “
“You did and you were right – I got a lot of satisfaction out of watching her lie while actually knowing everything she said was a fabrication . I am going to have some fun out of this “
“Well count me in “ Bette said
“Great – is there any type of art that you don’t like ?”
“I hope that I am open minded enough to at least take in as much as possible “
Tina nodded “I have been looking on the internet and in the newspapers at the stuff that’s around in New York at the moment “
“I know – it is amazing that one city can happily host such a diversity of stuff “
“There is an exhibition of pop art “
“Yes – next week only I think “
“Are you going ?”
“I have an invitation for “ Bette rubbed her nose “I better check for certain but I think its for Monday “
“I asked my mom if she wanted to go to see it on Tuesday and then we could go somewhere for dinner “
Bette smiled “Interesting – so can I expect a call from my mother ?”
“I think so – well I would be disappointed if you didn’t “
“I am going over there for dinner tonight so I am really pleased that you have tipped me off. Mom was talking about that exhibition the other week – so I do know that she wants to see it “
“What’s your mom like ?” Tina asked
“Mom ? A sweetheart – she’s so lovely. I was wondering if I haven’t brought this match making business on myself “
“Why ?”
Bette smiled “Well I told her that I really wanted to meet a nice lesbian who was just normal “
“You date many abnormal lesbians ?”
“More than I care to admit to “
Tina laughed at Bette’s comment
“Yeah well – been there, done that – in fact I was the one who designed the tee-shirt never mind just owning the freaking thing “
Bette toyed with her hair – she wanted to be open with Tina while not scaring her off
“It a sad inditement of the world I move in that I don’t meet that many – just working women who are gay. I do meet a lot of fucked up artists and even more fucked up models and actresses. I kind of date them hoping that they are normal underneath “
“And they aren’t ?”
“They turn out to have major personality defects – not because they are gay. I don’t buy into that media myth but they would be basket cases regardless of their sexuality “
“My last girlfriend was an actress and I fully agree with what you say – she was crazy – self obsessed to a point that she lost her sense of humour she was so self absorbed “
“Yes – never date anyone – or even speak to anyone without a sense of humour – especially when it comes to themselves “ Bette said
Tina nodded
“So what sort of woman are you looking for ?”
The question was so loaded with the under current that was building between them. Bette could see by the way that Tina was looking at her that she fancied her and she couldn’t deny that she was checking Tina out. Bette considered the question before speaking.
“I dated a woman – a former model who now runs an agency that supplies models for all sorts of events. We went to dinner – a great restaurant with a Michelin star chef. A menu full of everything that you could wish for – wonderful meats and fish, delicate sauces and sky scraper sized pieces of cake for dessert – a really good restaurant “
Tina nodded
“You know what she ordered ? “
Tina shook her head
“A plain salad”
“No ! “
“Yes – I was drooling over the lobster and the steak and there was so much on the menu that you would just want as your last meal on earth
“And she ordered a salad ? “