“I am yes – nothing you want here – quick while I have my debit card out “
“No thank you darling – it’s a kind offer but no “
Bette walked over to the counter and waited in the short queue to be served. While she was waiting, she saw her mother take out her mobile and move a few metres further out of Bette’s range – now who could she be calling Bette wondered
“Emma “
“Rosemary – good morning “
“Hi there – how are you “
“Very well – just getting on with some work while the office is quiet “
“About Thursday night “Emma began as she turned and kept an eye on Bette who was just about to get served at the counter
“Thursday! You have news? I have been trying to get hold of Tina but she isn’t answering her phone “
“She didn’t show up “Rosemary said
“What! “
“She was a no show – Bette was there and had a very good time but there was a free seat beside her “
“Oh no – – hell – my freaking daughter cannot do the slightest thing “
“Did you give her the ticket ?”
“Of course – I went to her apartment and she was lazing around in her pyjamas “
Rosemary pursed her lips – that didn’t sound like something that Bette ever did
“Might something has happened? “
“Only if you count on Tina to be unreliable – damn that girl. I am sorry Rosemary “
“Well you paid for the tickets – Bette tells me the show is a sell-out “
“it is – I had to pay extra to get them from an intern at my place and I owe him a favour or two for his co-operation. On damn my bloody daughter “
“Emma- is this such a good idea?”
“Yes – of course “
“We are not having much luck getting them together “
“Well its bound to take a few attempts – Bette is a busy woman and Tina is well – let’s just say Tina has her moments “
“Are you sure they will get on well? “Rosemary was beginning to have her doubts
“Rosemary – I know Tina and having met your daughter I am sure that they will be very well suited to one another “
“Well “Rosemary sounded doubtful. Emma was silently cursing her daughter. She was becoming more and more unreliable and unpredictable – things that she had never been before her mother had died.
“Rosemary – you have said yourself that Bette is a good and kind person – that’s just the sort of woman that Tina needs and Tina is sweet and very pretty “
Rosemary inhaled deeply – she really was beginning to have doubts about all of this. If this all blew up and Bette got hurt, she would be the one that was to blame by getting involved in this conspiracy.
　
Bette paid for her shirts and turned around – Rosemary was still on the phone, Bette walked towards her mother carefully watching her face. The one thing about Bette’s mom was that she was as readable as the books she surrounded herself with day in and day out. Bette heard her mom say
“Well we can meet in the week and talk about what we are going to try next “
Hastily Rosemary closed her phone and looked at Bette
“Are you all ready for that coffee darling?”
“Sure “Bette said – there was definitely something going on and Bette thought that she was the bait – and that made her feel really uncomfortable
++
Emma stared at her mobile for a few minutes – she was really disappointed and angry at Tina. What the hell was she going to do next? The more she thought about it the more she wanted Tina to have a lucky break and meet Bette. She had no doubt that Bette was a fantastic woman and god she was hot – that was what Tina needed. She thought about it for several minutes before being forced to abandon her plans for getting Tina and Bette together and get back to this case – if she didn’t do her job her client was going to have 20 years to curse Emma Kennard’s preoccupation with her daughter’s future.
++
Bette was looking forward to her evening – she was having dinner with Helena in a fancy restaurant close to Central Park. After dinner they would probably go and have a few cocktails and maybe end up in a club. It had been a long and hard week and she was still puzzled by what had happened or hadn’t happened on Thursday night.
Bette pulled open the door to the restaurant and walked in – the heat hit her and she smiled – this had to be one of her favourite places in New York. It was going to be a good evening. She was just waiting for the concierge when she looked across to the bar which was just a few feet from the reception desk.
Oh God – this was just not happening. Emma Kennard was sitting at the bar sipping a glass of wine and looking at her mobile phone. Bette cursed – this was just not funny – this was not funny and she was not going to be played. The concierge came across
“Good evening madam -do you have a reservation?”
Bette looked at Emma – she was dressed up in a pretty red cocktail dress and high heels as she sat at the bar. She wasn’t going to be bait for her mother’s friend. She took the decision in an instant
“Yes – I would like to cancel it – my friend cannot make it tonight “
Bette left the restaurant barely three minutes after she entered. She pulled he mobile from her pocket and dialled Helena’s number -the phone rang and rang. Damn – Helena would be on her way to the restaurant – Bette was going to have to stand and wait and ambush her oldest friend. She pulled her coat tightly around her and started to pace up and down on the sidewalk. She really hoped that Helena was not going to be her usual fashionably ten minutes later because it was cold and Bette was not happy.
Helena showed up 8 minutes later – Bette saw her stepping out of the yellow cab and pay the driver and reward him with one of her best smiles
“Thank the lord for that “
Bette said approaching her. Helena looked in astonishment
“Bette – you look freezing “