“Not just a salad but a damn plain salad – I was embarrassed. She was the sort who never drink alcohol either or ever had a candy bar “
“That doesn’t sound healthy “
“I run and play squash and try as much as possible to eat the right foods – no fat, lots of healthy foods but that’s so I can have the odd mass produced candy bar or huge plate of Chinese food “
Tina nodded – she did know what Bette meant
“Each to their own and all that but I have had my share of women like that – give me someone normal”
“Anything else in this fantasy woman of yours ?”
Bette smiled “Just someone who is sweet and smart – what about you were you close to the actress ?”
Tina shrugged
“Its complicated “
“Sorry “
“No – not in that way – Jane was and probably still is utterly self obsessed and she didn’t treat me that well. It took me a lot of unhappy weeks – even months before I made up my mind to tell her to stay out of my life. Looking back now – I do wonder why I put up with her for so long. Maybe I just don’t have a good enough self worth “
Bette smiled – oh how much did she want to hug this woman ?
“You seem to be very level headed to me “
“Thank you “
Bette hesitated – she really wanted to ask Tina out on a proper date but something held her back. She knew that this woman was different so the most important thing was getting her trust and finding things out about one another in a natural way. There needed to be nothing forced if Bette was going to succeed in dating Tina Kennard. Tina could feel that Bette was analysing her – normally that was enough to freak her out but this seemed that Bette was not judging her harshly – she was just gently trying to learn more about Tina – and that really thrilled the blonde.
“So “ Bette said after she had caught herself just looking appreciatively at Tina
“Yes ?” Tina smiled
“Eh – -what are we going to do to make our parents suffer ?”
“Well the way I have left it with my mom is that we are going to the exhibition on Tuesday – how about “ Tina thought about it for a few seconds “ How about we miss one another by say five minutes “
Bette laughed “Oh that’s good “
“It will take some preparation “
Bette pulled her jacket across from the spare seat and she removed the little case that she carried around containing her business cards – she took a pen and wrote her personal mobile number on the back of it.
“My mobile number as well as that of the gallery and my email “ she handed the card to Tina
“Thank you – I am hopeless at remembering my number so “ she got her own mobile out and carefully put Bette’s number in and sent Bette a text. Bette looked at her phone and saved Tina’s number and added her name
“Sorted “ Bette said smiling “Thank you “
Tina was normally not that shy about asking women out but Bette was way out of her league. But she would have had to be very stupid not to pick up the signals that the brunette was sending her – Bette was most definitely interested in her. That just gave her confidence the most fantastic boost – she was really determined not to mess this up by being too hasty – something told her that this seduction would require her long game.
“So lets get this clear “Bette said “ You and your mom are going to the exhibition on Tuesday evening “
“Yeah – it will probably be around 6:30 to 7 “
“Tuesday is mom’s half day next week so I might suggest that we go a little earlier than that “
“If you text me on Tuesday “
“I will “ Bette said smiling as their lunch arrived. The waiter put the roast beef sandwich in front of Tina – Bette looked at her and smiled – Tina was not the plain salad sort of woman which was greatly to her credit. “Have you got any other ideas ?”
“One or two – what about you ?”
“I will see what mom says – I have to explain why I wasn’t at The Paramount on Monday “
“Do you think they dare come up with another stunt like the single theatre ticket ?”
“I hope so – the show was fantastic – it must have cost someone a lot of money to get two tickets “
“That will probably have been my mom “ Tina said “She’s resourceful “
“Does she not trust you to find a girlfriend on your own ?”
“Jane – my ex didn’t do much for my self belief. She was constantly putting me down as a way of boosting herself “ Tina sipped her coffee “I am so angry with myself for letting her “
“Why did you ?” Bette asked before she took a bite of her sandwich
“I think it fitted in with my general attitude towards life – I have been down on myself “
“Everyone goes through stages like that “ Bette said “Days when its just hard to get out of bed “
Tina nodded “Except I have had days when I haven’t got out of bed – well its been weeks in truth “
“And now ?”
Tina nodded as she picked her sandwich up
“Things are definitely getting better for me “
Tina’s look left Bette in no doubt that she was referring to Bette coming into her life. Bette grinned
“I am pleased about that and lets make fooling our mom’s our mission for the next few weeks “
“I’ll drink to that “ Tina said raising her coffee cup at Bette
—-
Bette had expected her mother to bring up the subject of Monday and of future gallery trips during dinner. But Melvin had been in an unusually chatty mood and he’d talked at length about a case that had just finished – so that had dominated conversation for over an hour. When dinner finished Bette offered to wash up while her parents relaxed in the sitting room. Bette had been alone for about ten minutes and was just polishing the glasses clean that they had used when her mother came in
“I haven’t broken anything “ Bette said smiling
“I am not checking up on you “ Rosemary objected “ Just want to look in the freezer to see if there is enough mince to make cottage pie tomorrow night “
“Right “ Bette said putting a glass away and rubbing an invisible smudge from another glass before putting that away as well
“Someone at work was saying what a good job they have done of the new restaurant at The Paramount “ Rosemary said
“Yes I am told its very nice “
“I thought you went there on Monday – you were offering to take me with you – something about Helena standing you up and you still not wanting to be seen in public with Alice “
“In the end I had hard day on Monday so I just went home, ordered a Chinese meal and had a hot bath – it was very therapeutic “
Bette looked at her mother and saw the disappointment on her face as another one of her plans bite the dust.
“That’s a shame “
“I will book another table and take you and dad “ Bette suggested
“That would be nice. I was reading about that exhibition of pop art – the one we were talking about a couple of weeks ago “
“Yes – it looks interesting “ Bette said waiting for the oh-so casual suggestion that they might go together.
“Do you have tickets ?”
“It’s a public exhibition – only Monday is an all ticket black tie number “
“And are you going to the Monday night party ?”
“No – I have two tickets but I have to take the agent of an artist to dinner to do some sweet talking so I will have to give that a miss “
“Would you like to see it ?”
“I would “ Bette made eye contact with her mother “Suggest a night you are free”
“I don’t know – eh – say Tuesday ?”
Oh smoothly done mother !!!
Bette made a show of thinking about her mother’s proposal – Tina was right – this was just too delicious
“Tuesday would be fine – what sort of time ?”
“If its not too late you could come back here for dinner or we could eat out “
“Give dad another night out ?”
“He enjoys his nights on his own “
Bette nodded “ Yeah – how about if you meet me from my gallery and we take a cab across town – aim to get there around 6 ?”
“That would be perfect “
　
　
Tina was having a good clean out of her apartment – throwing away old magazines and putting all of Jane’s things in a box to be dumped at the theatre where she was working. She had just finished and was sitting on the sofa sipping a cold beer when her mobile rang – she smiled when the name that came up was “Bette Porter”
“Hello
“Hi Tina – you okay “
“I am fine – you ?”
“Great – look the reception is not great “
“Are you in a car ?”
“A cab – I have been to my parents – I have fixed her to agree that 6pm is a good time to get to the exhibition on Tuesday “
“6 – that’s great – we’ll get there for close to 6:30”
“Tina “
“Yeah “
“Do you want to have lunch with me on Monday or Tuesday ?”
“I would to “
“Just to eh- fix our arrangements – you know “
“Yeah – I agree – good idea – it could be complicated if we don’t get our plans spot on “
Bette knew that she didn’t need to see Tina to sort out Tuesday evening but she did want an excuse to see her again and it was definitely the case that Tina wanted to see her as well and that really made Bette happy