Emma was quiet for a few minutes “Well – I have never told you this before and I told Helena the other night and she told me that I should tell you. The fact is that I did make it my business to find out how you were doing at the community centre and you did great work and everyone loved you.”
This was a day of surprises for Tina – she was really surprised at that revelation
“Mom “
Emma stroked her face “Helping less fortunate people is such a kind thing – the sort of thing that Kate would do and did do. Maybe I was an idiot about it because it was something that she always wanted me to do and I never did. I would like you to liaise between my firm and the centre where you worked. I would like to send a couple of interns there and see what they can do – it will be good experience for them”
This was something that Tina had really wanted her mom to do for so long but here she was suggesting it for herself
“Mom – I just don’t know what to say “
“Don’t say anything – let actions speak louder than words. And in case you don’t know it – I think Bette is the most wonderful girlfriend for you. She is everything that I would hope for in a partner for you – she is smart and kind and when I look at her looking at you – I can see that she adores you. You have found your life partner Tina “
Tina was slowly beginning to recover her emotions “Thank you – I know that Bette is the one for me. I love her and she’s just amazing. She is supportive and she makes me laugh and “ Tina sighed “I can be myself when I am with her”
Emma nodded – that was beginning to sound like how she felt about Helena
“It makes you look back at your past relationships and you can put your finger on all the things that Bette is that the others were not. That was how I felt when Kate and I started to get serious – that the rest of my dating history made sense – I could see the gaps that Kate filled in “
Tina nodded – that made sense to her. “Bette – Bette completes me. She is so many of the things that I am not and I am things that she isn’t. We don’t fight “
Emma laughed and reached for her sandwiches
“Helena and I fight – we yell at one another “
Tina looked at her mom “That turns you both on – not in the physical sense – but it probably does that as well. But you both enjoy the argument and the thrill of the disagreement “
Emma nodded “Yes – that’s probably true “
Tina kissed her mom “I love you too mom “
“Go eat your sandwich then I might let you have cake “
“Yes mommy “ Tina said in a silly voice. She went back to her chair and took a drink of her coffee.
“I take it that you and H are doing well “
“Yes “ Emma nodded “We have decided that we have hidden away for too long. We want people to know that we are a couple “
“Really ?”
“Yes “
“So can I ask who or what has held you both back up to now ?”
“Fear “ Emma admitted “I have been so scared of people laughing at me about having a young partner – cougar – that’s the expression isn’t it ?”
“Yes “
“Cougar – and old fool – that was what I was expecting to hear “
“From who ?” Tina challenged “No one at the firm has the spherical objects big enough to say that to your face and who gives a monkeys what they say about you behind your back. Its sexism – if one of the men turned up with a younger woman their friends would be slapping them on the back. Why is it different for you ? you are as rich and successful as them – why should you not have a hot younger woman in your bed ?”
Emma smiled “Thank you darling “
“Well – why should you have to keep defending who you are – at least you never cheated on your wife which is more than Black and Truman can say “
“You have listened to too much gossip about the firm “
“Is it true ?”
“Yes “
“Point made “ Tina said laughing “Look mom – you are not doing anything wrong”
“If anyone has the right to tell me that I am being a fool its you Tina”
“You are not being a fool. I think Helena is beautiful – she’s the second sexiest 30 year old lesbian in New York City in fact “
“And the hottest might be one Ms Porter would it ?”
“Of course “
Emma smiled – the change in Tina’s self confidence was amazing. And so much of it had come from Bette – her belief in Tina and how she showed her just how special she was.
“I don’t know who I thought I would date after your mom – for a long time I was certain that it was going to be no one because no woman could come close to Kate. Kate saw things clearer than me when she knew she was dying. She knew I wouldn’t date anyone unless she ordered me to do it almost “
“No one is going to think that Helena is Kate #2 “
Emma sighed “Helena has never tried to be. There are ways and times that she does remind me of Kate but its not very often– the way she gets me to do what she knows is best for me is so unlike your mom. Kate was subtle “
“Helena doesn’t strike me as subtle “
“She isn’t – Helena doesn’t dress things up. She tells me it neat – I respect that”
“That’s a good basis for a relationship” Tina said “So who are you coming out to next – now that you are a hit with Rosemary and Melvin “
“We are trying to come up with a dinner party list”
“Are Bette and I invited ?”
“No”
Tina smiled “And why is that ?”
“Because if you are there then you become a part of the story . It becomes how is Emma’s daughter reacting to her mom with her own partner’s best friend. We know that’s surreal – we cannot do anything about that but what we can do is face up to people as a couple – that way we might be taken seriously and not as a freak show”