Helena finally said goodbye to the last of her guests around 1am. Bette and Tina had left just before midnight helping a very drunk Rosemary out of the room. Peggy had just left after hugging her daughter and telling her how much she loved her and how proud she was of her. Helena had thanked and tipped the waitresses and bar staff who had worked very hard and they had left about ten minutes ago. Helena was just sitting surrounded by lots of presents sipping a glass of champagne surveying the remnants of a good party. She was just staring into the bubbles when she heard a voice
“You throw one hell of a party Peabody “
Helena looked up and smiled at Emma
“Its in my genes “ Helena replied
“Obviously “
Emma sat down and Helena picked up the champagne and poured some into a glass and handed it to Emma
“Thank you “
“Did you enjoy yourself ?” Helena asked
“Yes – I wasn’t sure how tonight would go but Bette was very gracious and so were here parents. I had forgotten how hilarious Rosemary is when she is well oiled”
Helena chuckled “She doesn’t do it very often – she’s not the drinker that Melvin is but you are right – she’s a scream. You seemed to be having a good laugh “
“She was telling me a few things “
“I bet she was – did she notice that her daughter and Tina managed to sneak off to do dirty things ?”
Emma laughed “No – she didn’t – then again neither did I “
“That might have been when Phyllis was chatting you up “
Emma shook her head “That was unexpected “
“You were half enjoying it and half squirming “
“I was – I didn’t give her any come on “
“Its okay – there has been a lot of flirting going on – Tina was angry with Bette so she decided to pick a random woman to make Bette jealous “
“Who was the random woman ?”
“My ex Dylan – it was rather entertaining to see Dylan think that she was in with a chance but she was being played”
“Did my daughter get what she wanted ?”
“Oh totally “
“They look insanely happy “
“They are – I never saw a couple – gay or straight who looked as happy or as well suited as the two of them “
“You don’t see any trouble on the horizon for them ?”
“Only of one of them implodes – which Bette does have form for “
“I hope not – Tina really is content “
“She is”
“But what about you and I Helena – I have missed you and I really am sorry about what happened “
Helena looked at Emma and touched her face
“I have missed you too babe “
Emma held her breath – Helena moved closer and they kissed
“Oh God Helena “
Emma moved to extend the kiss but Helena shook her head
“We need to talk and we need to make sure that we are on the same page about this relationship. I do not want to hurt you and I do not want to get hurt by you”
Emma sighed “I know “
“This started as fun for both of us – neither of us thought that it would become serious. I didn’t think that I would feel the things for you that I do. We get on so well – that really shocked me. We have the best time – talking and living the high life – and that’s nothing to do with how fucking mind-blowing the sex is. But – what happened the other week cannot be how things are when something goes wrong “
“I know that – look – can I say what I want to ?”
“Of course “
“I have been a bloody fool . I did lash out in a totally unexpected way and that’s a part of me that I do not like – I am defensive. When you have the reputation that I have – horrible, grumpy old Emma Kennard – when you have that reputation – you tend to start believing it and sometimes it an easy thing to hide behind. If I snarl and show my teeth – no one will try and hurt me. That works fine and dandy at work but its not the way to act towards Tina or the people that I want to get close to. All I wanted to do was show you and probably Peggy that I could pull a rabbit out of the hat the way that she does all the time “
“I don’t want you to compete with my mother “
“I can live with your mom not being 100% in favour of us. If Tina suddenly announced that she was with a woman of my age I would be horrified and Peggy is trying to look out for her only child. What I find unforgivable is the way she has spoke to you – I know that you hate it and that it hurts you. All of that said – I acted like a first class ass-hole. There is no justification and I am sorry. I want to be given the chance to show you that what happened was a one off “
“You knew the providence of the painting didn’t you ?”
This was the crucial question for Helena.
“Yes – I had an intern research the painting – I was ecstatic – I was just so fucking pleased with myself – what did not occur to me and I would fire the ass of anyone in my firm who made this mistake – was that it didn’t occur to me that if my dealer could find the painting then so could a very smart dealer with links to the other Peabody “
“You future daughter in law “
“That one – I was horrified – that was when I realised that I had utterly messed up because Bette was angry – not as angry as Tina. What I should have done was grovel – what I did instead was make it worse “
Emma looked at Helena with tears in her eyes
“But I love you Helena “
Helena swallowed “I love you too – take me home babe “