“How was it ?”
“Hot “

“The weather or the women ?”
“Both darling – both – How has life been in New York ?”
“Wet “
“The weather or the women ?”
James raised an eyebrow “Definitely not the latter “
Helena smiled “Really ?”
He nodded
“She in ?”
“Conference call to London – she shouldn’t been much longer “
“Good – good “
Helena sat down on the edge of James desk “So what have you found out ?”
James glanced at the door into Bette’s office and looked back at Helena
“She’s very happy “
“Really – has she been late at all this week ?”
James laughed and nodded “Interesting you should ask that “
Helena lent closer to James
“The blonde ?”
“Yes “
“Has she slept with her ?”
“Oh yes “
“Is she talking about it ?”
“She’s been late every day this week and she’s been taking long lunches and finishing early “
Helena knew that Bette was a compulsive workalcholic so if Bette was skipping work there had to be a reason – and that reason was clearly her new woman
“Have you meet her ?”
“Tina -her name is Tina “
“I know – have you met her ?”
“No – they aren’t at the going out stage just yet “
Helena grinned – so Bette was in lust – that could only be a good thing for her.
The door opened and Bette emerged
“Get that contract faxed to London – oh hello Helena “
“Hey there Bette – James and I have been chatting “
Bette raised an eyebrow “I wonder what about – get that contract sorted James”
“Yes Bette “
“You here to see me or James ?”

“Well as James is suddenly busy I better come and talk to you “
“Come in – thank you James “
Helena followed Bette into her office and glanced around looking for any new clue about Bette’s new play
mate – maybe a card or flowers. Disappointed to find nothing Helena flopped herself down on the sofa and looked at Bette who was getting a couple of bottles of flavoured water from the fridge. She joined Helena in the comfortable seating area and threw a bottle into Helena’s lap
“How long were you there with James ?”
“I had just arrived “
Bette looked like she didn’t believe her best friend
“Right “ she replied dryly “How was LA ?”
“Dull – so what have YOU been up to ?”
“You know exactly what I have been doing “
“Really – what have you been doing “
Bette pulled her wallet out and took out 2 $20 notes and waved them at Helena
“If James hasn’t told you about me being late most mornings this week you can have these”
Helena wavered – she might lie to 95% of the world to get those two crisp notes but she did have some scruples – she laughed
“Put them away and buy something nice for the woman who has put that goofy smile on your face “
Bette shook her head good naturedly and put her cash away
“So what has he told you ?”
“That you and Tina have slept together and that for once this gallery is not your priority”
“There is a confidentiality clause in his contract “ Bette remarked slipping her wallet into her jeans
“ Lets cut to the chase – I want to know all about Tina and more importantly why I am only hearing about you and her now “
Bette smiled “I’ve been busy – far too busy to worry about time differences “
Helena laughed “ Rusty or did it come back to you quickly ?”
“It came back to me fine “ Bette replied
“And ?”
“What ?”
“Bloody hell Porter – its like pulling teeth – are you going to tell me about Tina or not ?”
Bette gave Helena the biggest and goofiest of her smiles
“She’s wonderful “ Bette said simply “Just wonderful “
“Now when I last spoke to you – the two of you were still skirting around one another. I assume that one of you made a move ?”
“I was having lunch with her and the opportunity just presented itself – I asked her out and she said yes “
“Where did you take her ?”
Bette’s smile was sweet – embarrassment and pride at the same time
“We didn’t get to the restaurant “
Helena’s eyebrows shot up in sheer surprise
“You two fucked on the first date ?”
Bette smiled “She just showed up at my place looking fantastic – it took us about 20 minutes before I took her upstairs “
Helena was shocked – Bette Porter DID NOT do things like that
“You old devil “
“She’s fabulous “ Bette said smiling “I am just so into her “
“Sounds like you are very much into her “
Bette ignored the double meaning “ We get on well and we are having a great time “
“When are you seeing her again ?”
“Tonight “
“Taking her out ?”
“No – we are staying in “
“Got any plans to venture into the big city in the near future ?”
“Depends – I could do with a run but its not that polite to leave her in bed while I go running”
“Take her with you “
“I might – or we could just go for a walk “
“Have you two actually done anything other than the obvious ?”
“We have watched movies and cooked and talked “ Bette said
This was a very welcome surprise for Helena – she was delighted that Bette seemed so happy.
“Its been a long time Bette “
“Not that long – the way you and James have been going on it makes it seem like I haven’t had sex this millennium “
“That’s not what I meant – I know its only been a few months since you last had sex – this isn’t just sex is it ?”
Bette just hated Helena’s ability to know her better than anyone else. She raised one eyebrow – usually one of her best defence mechanisms and one of her best attack weapons as well
“Want to explain that ?”
“You have been all dewy eyed about her since you met her when you were thwarting your mother’s best laid plans. You have been making excuses to see her – this is the first woman you have been “ Helena paused
“Yes “ Bette challenged her
“This is the first woman you have chased since Emily “
“Tina is nothing like Emily – she is not a fucking lunatic “
Helena knew that mentioning Emily was a sensitive spot to touch with Bette but she cared deeply for her friend and she didn’t want her to get hurt. Bette kept women at arms length for a number of reasons and the way her heart had been broken was most certainly one of them.
“I hope she is nothing like Emily – tell me about her “
Bette was on the defensive and Helena knew that – she hoped that talking about her new woman might encourage Bette to open up a little
“She’s great “ Bette said
“Pretty ?”
“Yes – beautiful “
“Blonde you said the other day “
“Yes “
“Natural blonde ?”
“Of course “ Bette said as if saying that Tina was not a natural blonde was an insult. Helena sighed – mentioning Emily had been a mistake – one that she shouldn’t have made
“Bette – if Tina is right for you I am utterly delighted. You have too good and too kind a heart to be picking up and discarding women all over the place “
“You seem to thrive on doing just that “
“I am me though – a pole cat in expensive shoes “
Bette smiled – Helena was not as bad as she liked to paint herself.
“Are you still pretending that you are some heartless baddie ?”
“Naturally darling and I know that my secret is safe with you”
Bette raised an eyebrow and sipped her water
“So – when do I get to meet this woman ?”
Bette shrugged
Helena was surprised at Bette’s reaction “ Something you are not telling me about her Porter ?”
“No “
“Bette – what’s the problem ?”
Bette blew her cheeks out “ You know that it all started when my mom and her mom started to try and set us up “
“Yes “
“It was funny at the time and it still is “ she sighed “ Its just that she doesn’t want to tell her mom that we are together “
“And you do ?”
Bette rubbed her forehead “I really like her Helena “
“Yes “
“I think – I hope that it could become serious “
“How serious are you about her ? “
“If she ended it tonight I would be very upset “
Helena knew that there was a lot in the semantics of a conversation with Bette. She rarely used the wrong words when getting her point across
“Upset or very upset ?”
“Very upset “
“Devastated ?”
“Very upset “
So Bette would be very upset if Tina ended their relationship but wouldn’t admit to being devastated .
“How deeply are you into her ?” Helena questioned
“She’s wonderful and I am crazy for her “
Helena thought that maybe Bette had been too influenced by her father – Melvin could be very precise in his speech. Helena decided to cut through to the crux of the matter
“Are you falling in love with Tina ?”
“No – of course I am not “
Helena idly wondered when Bette had last sounded so insincere
“Look – just take it easy. Have fun with her – don’t fall into the trap of getting carried away. “
“I don’t want to scare her off “
“And do you want to tell your parents ?”
“I can see that in the future I would like them to know “
“And she doesn’t ?”
Bette nodded
“Just enjoy yourselves – have fun, have as much sex as possible – enjoy being a lesbian – enjoy the sensations of finding out about a new woman. You seem to be on each other’s wave length by the way you have talked about her – enjoy that and don’t worry about where its going”
“I know that I am going over the top “
Helena smiled kindly “Just take it easy with her – enjoy her – let her enjoy you. You are a fantastic person Bette – you should enjoy being with her and relish all those things that make the start of a new relationship really exciting “
The intercom on Bette’s desk buzzed – she got up and pressed a button
“Yes James “
“I have just seen your mom come into the front of the building -she’s on her way up. Just as well you haven’t got Tina in there “
“Thank you James “
Bette looked at Helena
“My mom is on her way up “
“I would make a comment about it being just as well that you are not messing around with your new woman but I would hate to steal James best lines “
Bette shook her head – it would have made her life so much easier if she had told her mom and NOT told Helena and James because together and separate they were not going to stop teasing her.
Bette went outside to where James sat in reception – Helena followed her and she started to look around the latest pieces in the gallery as Bette signed some forms and contracts that James handed her. The main door opened and Rosemary walked in – she was wearing a brown trouser suit, brown boots and a warm overcoat
“Bette “
“Hello mom “
Bette went across and greeted her mom with a hug
“Hey there Rosemary “
“Helena – oh its so nice to see you “
“Its always wonderful to see you Rosemary “
Helena and Rosemary hugged “ You look as good as always “
“Thank you dear “ Rosemary looked round
“Hello James – how is my bossy daughter ?”
“She’s been a pussy cat this week for some reason “ James replied. Bette looked at him and raised one warning eyebrow . He grinned back at her – there would be hell to pay but she was hardly like to maul him with these two witnesses in attendance.
“What brings you from the library Rosemary ?”
“Well “ she pulled some tickets from her pocket “I am selling tickets for a fund raiser for the library – it’s a gala dinner . So I am really lucky that I have caught you as well as James and Bette”
Helena grinned “My cheque book is always available for you Rosemary “
She opened her bag and pulled out her chequebook
“How much are the tickets ?”
“$100 each “
Helena wrote a cheque and handed it to Rosemary. The older woman looked at the amount
“Helena !”
“I had a successful trip to LA which made me appreciate my adopted city all the more.”
“Ten tickets ! “
“Just give me a couple of tickets and I will see if I can drag Peggy along – the rest is a donation to the cause “
“Helena you are just wonderful – thank you darling “
Rosemary hugged Helena again before looking at her daughter
“You don’t want your best friend to show you up do you Bette ?”
Bette smiled “I don’t have a cat in hells chance of getting out of this do I ?”
“No you do not – you enjoyed the gala last year “
“Yes I did “ Bette conceded
“You never know – you might meet a nice girl “
James and Helena exchanged looks that read “ she already has “
Bette shook her head
“You could sell snow to the Inuit’s mother – who else have you fleeced with that sweet little routine of yours ?”