IS THIS LOVE

CHAPTER 75

Bette was sipping a herbal tea while looking over her emails. She had vowed to spend several days de-toxing her body from all the abuse she had inflicted on it at Peggy’s party. Really what had she expected – Peggy’s parties always ended with hangovers all round. She was that sort of hostess and she counted the success of her party by the body count afterwards. Bette cradled the hot cup and lost herself in her work. She was startled when the door opened and her mother appeared
“Bette ! “
“Hello mother “
“I just came to see how you were doing “
“Better than yesterday “
“That’s why I didn’t come and see you yesterday”
“Would you like something to drink “
James came in carrying a cup and handed it to James
“Thank you James “
“Always a pleasure Mrs Porter “
Rosemary smiled and sat down and looked at Bette “You look like you have been to one of Peggy’s parties “
“So do you — how’s the Bartender of the Year ?” Bette asked
“Had to come home yesterday because he threw up in court “
Bette chuckled – that was almost funny
“Good old dad “
“Silly fool – I warned him what would happen “
“No mother – what you said was “ come on big boy lets see you shake me a cocktail”
Rosemary looked at her daughter in surprise for a couple of minutes and smiled
“You could have been hearing things “
“I could have but I wasn’t “
“Sure ?”
“Yes mother — my hangover was bad enough – at least I didn’t have blue teeth like you and I wasn’t doing tequila slammers like others “
“And still you have a hangover ?”
“Whisky – I drank too much of Peggy’s excellent 20 year old whisky and then there was the champagne and the wine “
“Never mix the grape and grain “
“Thank you – how is dad now ?”
“He’s a lot better “
“That’s good – I was wondering if he wanted a night out with his daughter – it might be good for both of us “
“Can you drag yourself from Tina ?”
“We do spend nights apart “
“When ?”
“When what ?”
“When did you last spend a night apart from her – no that I think it’s a bad thing – I just love that girl “
“I love her too “
“So you should – you two are settling in nicely as a couple aren’t you ?”
“Yes “ Bette sighed “ I don’t think I will ever get tired of her – its never felt like that before”
“That’s the key isn’t it – she’s is on your level and you love that “
Bette nodded “She still amazes me “
“That tends not to go away – your father still amazes me “
“Is this about his bar tending skills ? “
Rosemary laughed and sipped whatever drink James had prepared for her . Bette sipped her tea and looked at her mother for a few minutes – did she know the HOT gossip ?
“Heard any gossip ?” Bette asked
Rosemary raised an eyebrow “Gossip ?”
Bette knew that gossip was one of her mother’s weak spots – she just couldn’t resist gossip
“Yeah “
“Anyone I know ?”
“Yes “
“Is it juicy ?”
“A whole crate of oranges are not as juicy – in fact a ship load of oranges are not as juicy “
Bette chuckled as her mother’s eyes twinkled “Are you allowed to tell ?”
“I don’t think there is an embargo on it – in fact the people involved went out of their way to tell Tina and I “
Rosemary put her cup on Bette’s desk and regarded her daughter
“So tell me “
Bette lent back – it would be interesting to see how her mother would react
“Emma Kennard and Helena Peabody “
Bette watched her mother as she took in the news. Several minutes went by before Rosemary spoke
“Is that a joke ?”
“That’s what I said “
“Its NOT a joke ?”
“No – your best buddy is being fucked by my best friend – if you will excuse my language “
“Fucking hell “
Bette was shocked now – her mother NEVER said things like that – Bette was the Porter master of the f-word.
“I probably thought that “
“Really – who told you ?”
“Helena told me yesterday morning and Emma told Tina last night “
“Helena and Emma – that’s crazy “
“That is my view “
“How’s Tina taken it ?”
“Tina is amused by it – she thinks that it will be good for her mother to have some fun. They both know what Helena is like and that they are not going to compete with Tina and I as Lesbian couple of the year “
Rosemary shook her head
“it’s a lot to take in “
“I know – I think its weird and I told Helena what I thought of her “
“You rarely criticise Helena “
“I do when she is acting badly. I know she has probably done so much worse but this isn’t some stranger. It makes a difference when it’s the mother of the woman you love. “
“I didn’t think you were fond of Emma ?”
“I wasn’t but she’s really made an effort and regardless of our differences in the past she and I have one very special thing in common – our love for Tina. I used to think that she didn’t love Tina and I was so angry about that – but she does – she is proud of her and she is a good person. We got off to a bad start but we are getting on well. The last thing I want is for this to mess things up – Tina is everything to me “
“But Tina is okay with this ?”
“She’s amused by it – she caught me out last night when she said that maybe the four of us could go on a double date “
Rosemary didn’t smile – Bette raised an eyebrow
“What do you think ?”
“Well they have both lost their marbles – what are they thinking of ?”
“As gross as this sounds it could be sexual chemistry “
Rosemary snorted “You and Tina have chemistry – you two crackle when you are together – there is no way that Helena and Emma have chemistry “
“Unless its nitro-glycerine “ Bette said smiling at her own remark
Rosemary obviously wasn’t that happy about it – she was frowning
“You don’t approve ?”
“As much as you by the look on your face”
“I don’t understand it “ Bette admitted “Helena can get any woman she wants and Emma is not without charms – she would be able to get a woman pretty easy.”