Is this love
Chapter 10
Tina was preparing some notes for a class in adult literacy that she was going to be doing after Easter. She did enjoy working at the social centre – the people were genuine and it was a real buzz for her to know that she was really helping the lives of people who had not had the opportunities and advantages that she had enjoyed. She got up and made herself another black coffee – Thursday night had been the start of a long weekend of partying with Shane and her other friends. So, Monday’s alarm call had been as painful as it had been unwelcome. She was just swallowing two aspirins when one of the other workers at the centre came into the little side room, she was working in to get some peace and quiet while she tried to concentrate
“How’s the head?”
“Throbbing “Tina admitted smiling “But it is self-inflicted so I can’t expect any sympathy”
“I know but that always makes it worse that you did it to yourself “
“I know – what’s up?”
“I hate to make your headache worse but there is a very well-dressed woman standing at reception and she claims to be your mother.
“Oh God what the hell have I done to deserve a personal visitation?” Tina said
“She’s eh – very smart – she stands out “
“Yeah she will – sorry Pete “
“No problem “
Tina followed him out and walked through to reception – as he had said Emma did look as out of place as it was possible to be. She was wearing a very expensive black suit, with high heels and a briefcase that alone would be enough to get her mugged if she walked down the wrong places in streets only a stone’s throw from the centre.
“Mom – what are you doing here?”
“Hello darling “
Tina winched – her mother could make an insult sound like a compliment and vice versa. Today her seeming greeting held a tone of warning to those in the know – aka her daughter.
“Come on through “Tina said not wanting anyone else to hear whatever was about to go on between them. Emma followed Tina back into the main hall of the centre and past a group of people sitting around in chairs talking. Tina closed the door of her temporary office and looked at her mother
“Where have you been all weekend?” Emma asked coolly
“Me? “
“Yes “
“I have been at home and I have been out “
“Don’t be factious – why didn’t you go to the theatre on Thursday – and why have I rung you all weekend and you haven’t even had your answer phone on and your cell phone seems permanently switched off “
Tina knew she was screwed on all those points
“My landline is broken –the company are coming this afternoon to fix the fault – apparently there is a problem outside the building, I don’t know what is wrong with my mobile and why does it matter why I didn’t go to the theatre?”
Emma frowned
“Anyway – how do you know that I didn’t go to the theatre?”
“You just admitted it “
“The first thing you said when you walked through that door was why didn’t you go to the theatre on Thursday ?”
“So why didn’t you ?”
“And I want to know how you know and also why the hell are you making a federal case about it ?”
“I know someone who was at the show on Thursday and he had tickets two rows behind you and you were not there “
Tina considered the statement and shrugged “No I wasn’t there “
“Why?”
Tina considered lying to her mother but she knew it was pointless
“I ran into Shane and I wanted to hang out with her “
Tina could see that even as she spoke that there were waves of disapproval flooding towards her from her mother
“Really Tina – you might have tried to attend “
“I didn’t know that it mattered one way or the other “
“It mattered “Emma said crossly
“And you came all the way down here just to tell me off?” There were times when she just didn’t have the energy to fight with her mother but despite her hangover, she was determined to hold her own today.
“I was concerned that something had happened to you – it was impossible to get hold of you all weekend – regardless of the dirty looks you are trying to inflict on me you are my daughter and I do worry about you and looking around your place of work does not make me any happier about your choices “
Emma was good at laying guilt on Tina and that barb had hit home. Tina sighed
“Mom – please let’s not go down that route all over again – I really don’t want to fight with you. It’s my life and this is something that I am enjoying doing at the moment – I make a difference – a real difference to real people “
“It’s just “
“I know – it’s such a waste of my expensive education “Tina cut in – she’d heard this routine from her mother countless times and today just felt like an old rehash of the usual rounds of her mother’s disappointments with her.
“You make two steps forward by getting rid of that ghastly girlfriend and you come out of therapy – isn’t it time to find a proper job?”
“This is a proper job “
“That is something that you and I will never agree on “Emma said looking around “Who are those people out there by the way?”
“It’s a meeting of a local community group who are trying to come up with initiatives to cut street crime “
Emma wasn’t that impressed
“I know you like crime as its good for your business “Tina said sarcastically “But these people have been mugged and beaten up so many times and they just want to do whatever they can to protect their neighbourhood and themselves “
“Your caring for the under-dog is very admirable “
“You would rather I kept white collar criminals out of jail like you do?”
“I keep my clients out of jail – that’s why I am one of the best lawyers in the city – a career that has made sure you have had the best of everything all your life “
“And you can’t see why I want to give something to people who have not had the breaks that you have had “
“It’s very noble but you should be starting to consider your future – you are only working three and a half days a week – what happens if the funding for this place is withdrawn?”
Tina shrugged “I will cross that bridge if and when I come to it “
Emma looked at her watch
“I need to go back to work – I would be very grateful if you would make an attempt to keep in touch with me. You are my daughter and regardless of what you might think of me I love you very very much darling “
On that note Emma gave Tina a beaming smile and swept out. Tina closed her eyes – it really was pointless trying to out argue the woman who in her own words was one of the best lawyers in the city. The woman who was paid to get the last word – Tina thought she did well to do as well as she did in her constant battle with her mother.
__
Bette was supposed to be finalising the details of a loan agreement for a very prestigious piece to be loaned to her gallery for six months. It was going to be one of the highlights of the exhibition she was putting together. Instead she threw the paperwork back in her in tray and opened Google. She typed in Emma Kennard and waited to see what would come up. As she looked at the first page that came up, she pressed the intercom between her office and James
“James”
“Yes Bette “
“Could you get me a coffee and order sandwiches for lunch? “
“Any sandwich in particular?”
“Chicken and anything but sweet-corn “
“No problem “
Bette lent back and started clicking on various entries for one Emma Kennard – the main partner in Kennard, Truman and Black, after several minutes of reading their website and looking at pictures of their staff picnic, she lent back in her chair and sat thinking for five minutes.
__
After work Bette collected a bottle of expensive wine and headed over to her parent’s apartment. She hurried up to their fifth-floor apartment and rang the doorbell.
“Bette “
“Hey dad “
“I didn’t know you were coming over “
“I took a gamble that mom always makes too much and that you wouldn’t turn away your only child who has come here bearing gifts in hope of a good meal “
Melvin laughed
“You know that if your mother had her way you would be here every night for your dinner and take a doggy bag away with you for your lunch “
“I know “
“Come in darling – I am just setting the table – its cottage pie tonight and I am sure there is fruit crumble for desert – mom’s in the kitchen “
Bette walked into the apartment and removed her coat. “Think you could find three glasses for that?”
Bette handed the wine to her father who looked appreciatively at the bottle
“That’s a good bottle of wine “
“I hope it goes well with cottage pie “
“It will go down nicely “
“I’ll leave that with you – I’ll pop into the kitchen and see mom “
“It’s good to see you “
“It’s great to see you dad “Bette said smiling and heading into the kitchen
“Any food going spare for a hungry gallery owner?”
“Bette! “
Rosemary swung round and they embraced
“How are you sweetheart? “
“Fine – just wanted to see my folks and have some good home cooking “
“It’s cottage pie “
“Dad gave me the menu when I handed him the wine that I brought “
“You don’t need to bring us gifts “
“I like to “
“Well thank you darling – it’s good to see you – tell me how the gallery is coming on “
“It’s doing really well – I am sorting out the insurance details for a couple of really spectacular pieces for the summer exhibition. You know what that paper work is like – once they go through, I might get a few days off “
“You planning a holiday?”
“I am planning to spring clean the house – spend a few days shredding papers, changing curtains and stuff like that “
“You should try and get away “
“Too cold “Bette said smiling “Maybe around Easter I might see if Helena fancies going away for the weekend “
“If Helena had her way you would spend a few months on Peggy’s yacht sailing around the Caribbean “
“Unlike my best friend I am not independently wealthy “Bette replied
“I have a mortgage to fund and that would not be possible if I gave into every whim of H Peabody as much as I love her “
“And how was your evening on Saturday?”
Bette tried not to give away that she thought her mother was feeding information about her movements to Emma Kennard. She had been doing a lot of digging and she was pretty sure that she was close to getting to the bottom of the mystery.
“We had a good time”
“Where did you go again?”
“Greens – beside Central Park – it’s a very nice café bar “
Rosemary looked at Bette “I was sure that wasn’t what you said on Saturday – it was a foreign name – Italian possibly?”
Bette hadn’t said Greens to her mother but she was curious as to whether she would pick her up on the different name and she had. Bette wasn’t too sure what that proved – but it proved something or other.
“Are you still going to your evening class on a Monday?” Bette asked casually after a few minutes
“Yes – I am really enjoying it “
“And dads at the sports bar watching the Monday night football game?”
“You know that he is – has he missed a Monday night in a decade?”
“No “Bette smiled “Shame “
“What is?”
“I have a table reserved for the newly refurbished restaurant at The Paramount for next Monday “
“I have read about that – it looks really nice “
“Well I have a table booked – pity my best friend has stood me up- she’s going to Chicago for the Peabody Foundation. Just my luck that she actually has something constructive to do when I want her in New York”
“You could take Alice?”
“What – Alice in a public place – that’s not going to happen anytime soon. She’s shown me up in Starbucks before so I am not taking her anywhere more expensive than that “
“So, what will you do?”
“Well I am not going to miss out on it so I am going on my own “
“I am sure you have a little black book of women who would be delighted to be with you “
Bette pulled a face “I am not dating any false women again. From now on I have a new policy on dating “
“And what is that darling?”
“No models, actresses or airheads – I want a woman who has been to college and not just to learn how to type. She can be a teacher or a nurse or a community worker or a journalist –I want a normal woman and preferable one who eats more than half a stick of celery for her whole calorific intake for the week “
“You are sure about that Bette – you do like beautiful women “
“Women to me are all beautiful – I went out this afternoon because James was on the phone and we were out of our favourite coffee – there were some stunners just walking down the street. My life is too closeted and that’s not how you and dad brought me up “
“No, it isn’t – I suppose what matters to you does change. You always seemed happy to have these women on your arm “
Bette lent against the kitchen unit and sighed
“I want something more than just a boost to my ego “
“You want to settle down?”
“It’s a bit early for that “Bette smiled “But I do think that I am at a stage in my life when I can cut back the amount of long days I spend at the gallery. Its time I made some space for someone special – and I have no idea when or where that person is going to happen to me but she’s not going to be one of the airheads that I am used to “
“I will be delighted to welcome her to dinner with us “Rosemary said
“Can I do anything – -sorry – I have been standing here talking “
“No – its fine – everything is under control “
“Let’s go and talk to dad “
“I will be with you in a minute – I just remembered an important phone call I need to make “
“No problem “
Bette walked out of the kitchen and half closed the door behind her. Instead of going through to the sitting room to her father she stood and listened.
“Hello Emma – I am fine – look I will tell you more when I see you but I thought you would need time to set this one up. Bette has a table booked for the newly refurbished restaurant at The Paramount – yes – next Monday. I do my evening class and Melvin goes to the sports bar to have watch the game. No – she’s planning to go on her own – yeah – I will see you on Thursday – bye Emma “
Bette smiled to herself and strolled through to the sitting room to enjoy a glass of wine.
__
Bette arrived at the hotel in good time – she glanced at herself in the glass door before she opened the door – even if she said it herself, she looked mighty fine. She was wearing tailored black trousers, a black cashmere sweater and high heels – the whole outfit was finished off by an expensive long black silk coat. She swept inside and looked around – the Kennard woman she was expecting had not yet arrived. Bette walked across and told the restaurant manager that she had arrived and would be waiting in the bar for her table. The bar was impressive – nicely done out and Bette looked around in appreciation. She ordered herself a drink and sat where she could have a good view of everyone that arrived. Bette had just been checking her mobile when some sixth sense made her look up.
Wow – just wow.
The blonde was looking around – she was tall –probably 5ft 8 with heels. She was wearing tan trousers and a white shirt and carrying a smart hooded jacket. Bette smiled – yes – that could only be one person. The person who was as much a gullible victim in all of this as she was. Bette walked as the blonde walked across and got herself a drink – she sat down at the other end of the room. Bette watched her appreciatively – she was very fit – nice ass and really pretty. After five minutes of watching the blonde Bette got up and walked across
“Hello “
The blonde looked up
“Hello “
“You don’t know me but my mother is Rosemary Porter and your mom is Emma Kennard and they are trying to set us up as a couple – my name is Bette “