Bette leant back so the kitten could settle down and as it felt right she closed her eyes.
“Its been a couple of crazy days “ Tina said after a few minutes of silence broken only by purring.
Bette took Tina’s hand “It has – you move in with me and we get two kittens – a red letter day for the Kennard Porters “
“Helena and mom buy three clubs “
“Yeah – what about that !”
“Its been so crazy that we haven’t even stopped to say how weird that is – my mother the part owner of three night clubs – well George Black – her partner is the owner of a restaurant in mid-town that his daughter manages – I suppose that clubs are not that different “
“I think its awesome “ Bette said “It will really give Helena a purpose “
“Mom will not let the venture fail “
“Neither will Helena “ Bette said “She wants to make her own mark on the world and she does want to make Peggy proud”
“Peggy seemed different today “
Bette sighed “Peggy has her faults – but she does want the best for Helena and maybe she can finally see that Emma gives Helena something that other women have not. They are happy – that’s so obvious “
“They did look good together today “ Tina agreed “ Helena really does have a good effect on mom”
“I can see that – I know that it’s a cliché but she looks so much younger “
“She is having regular breaks – mom isn’t the type to take holidays “
“Helena is the type who once she has a holiday then she likes to know when the next holiday is due”
“That won’t do mom any harm “
Bette smiled as Tina took her hand
“How about Winnie and Pooh for the kittens ?”
Bette snorted and opened her eyes and looked at Tina
“Winnie and Pooh ?”
“Why not ?”
“I could think of a thousand reasons why not but which one is which ?”
“Well that one is Pooh “
“Its okay girl – don’t listen to bad Tina “
Tina laughed “Okay – wise woman – give me an alternative “
“I have no idea “
“Well unless you come up with a better idea I am going to call them Winnie and Pooh “
“You cannot call a cat Pooh “
“We can “
Bette sighed a long sigh
“Ben and Jerry ?”
“Boys names “ Tina dismissed
“Sugar and Spice ?”
“That’s not bad – hang on a minute “
Tina got up, retrieved a notebook from the bookshelves and picked up the Siamese who was looking lonely sitting in the basket on her own. Sitting back on the sofa the Siamese settled down on Tina’s lap and looked around at the world.
“So that’s Sugar and Spice and Winnie and Pooh – how about Rock and Roll ? “
Bette chuckled – Tina wasn’t going to let this drop and it was obvious the names were not going to be serious
“I suppose we should name these two before Helena gives her two kittens some grand names. Her last cat was a pedigree cat and it had more names than the phone book poor thing”
“What did it get called ?”
“It had some regal names but mainly everyone called it Snowy “
“Topsy and Turvy “ Bette said
“No – Heckle and Jeckle ?“
The names started to fly back and forward between the couple for over ten minutes. When they both went silent Tina showed the list to Bette
“Veto a couple “
“Those two “ Bette pointed “Which ones do you really like ?”
“Jekyll and Hyde “
“That’s going to give them a complex “ Bette pointed out
Tina threw the notebook on the coffee table which made a noise and woke up the black kitten who scrambled down Bette’s front and rolled onto the sofa and wandered off
“I think we should give them a couple of days to settle in – we need to see if they are Jekyll and Hyde kittens”
“They will be “ Bette said dryly. She finished the last of her wine and looked at Tina
“How do you feel about having two kittens and living with your partner ?”
Tina lent her head on Bette’s shoulder and moved closer
“It makes me so happy that I think I want to cry “
“Babe “
“This feels so right Bette – I love you so much and I loved this house from the first time I saw it. When I used to have bad days at the centre nothing made me happier than just coming here and messing around in the kitchen “
“I think you will find in the early days most of our messing around was done in the bedroom”
Tina laughed “Well – the little of the house I saw in the early days – though you made me breakfast “
“I wanted to keep your interested in me “
“I was hooked “ Tina said “I just was so blown away by how kind you are and how hot as well. The two things don’t always go together “
“They do with me “
“Yes “ Tina touched Bette’s face “They do with you and I am so happy about that – lets go and make some food and see what our two little girls want to do with the rest of the evening”
“We need to find a vet for them “ Bette said picking the black kitten up and regarding her
“And get insurance”
“And name them “
“Told you – Jekyll and Hyde “
“Lets sleep on it “
“We should have your parents and my mom and Helena over on Sunday for lunch and reveal what we are naming our girls “
Bette stroked the black kitten “That would be good – right you and your pal stay here – we are going into the kitchen “
“I think you have less than no chance of being obeyed Bette”
“I know “
Bette put the kitten down and stood up. She looked at Tina
“Guess we are stuck with one another “
“That makes me very happy “ Tina replied “Welcome to the rest of our lives Bette “
==
“You have a nice view from here “
Peggy was looking out of the window in Emma’s office. They were supposed to be meeting for lunch at a wine bar close to the office but Peggy was bored and had decided to pay Emma a surprise call at her place of work. Peggy had never seen the law firm before and wanted to check it out. Emma had been reading some case notes when the message came through from her secretary that Peggy Peabody was waiting to see her. She was too old to be fooled by a move like that and she had come out to greet Peggy and escorted her into her own office.
“Thank you – could I offer you a drink ?”
“I think a drink would be splendid – what do you have ?”
“Whatever you want “
“Gin seems to be my drink at the moment”
“Gin it is “ Emma poured Peggy a substantial drink and added a splash of tonic and an ice cube. She poured herself an equally generous scotch and water and returned to sit at her desk.
“Did you allow Helena to get the kittens ?” Peggy asked
“By the time we went back to the shelter they were gone “
“Oh – that’s a shame – Helena loves cats “
“That’s why I went to several other pet shelters in New York this morning and got her two kittens – one is a pure white cat and the other is a tabby “
Peggy smiled “Does she like them ?”
“Thrilled – the last I heard from her she and Bette were arguing about who had the cutest kittens”
Peggy laughed “ Bette and Tina’s kittens are lovely “
“So are Helena’s “
Emma picked up her phone and showed Peggy a photo of the two kittens
“The soon to be most pampered pussy cats in New York “
“There maybe some competition for that “
Peggy looked at the picture and laughed
“I don’t doubt that – its good that Helena is happy “ Peggy said handing the phone back
“It is “
“And you seem responsible for much of her happiness “
Emma considered the comment “ We both get a lot out of our relationship”
Peggy sipped her gin and found that it was very strong – still that was not a huge fault in her mind.
“Helena has always lacked structure – she is ambitious – she loves making money and doing deals but she’s never had something that is totally hers “
“This is as far as I am concerned – she is very excited about the clubs – once I have checked the contracts and we sign for them she is raring to go “
“Was it your idea ?”
“As much as I would like to take credit – no. She had been talking to Bette before they went to the West Indies and Bette had said to her – go buy yourself a ailing business and get it moving with the Peabody touch – Bette suggested bars and gyms and clubs. Helena repeated the conversation to me and Helena seemed to think it was something worth considering “
Peggy approved “Thank you for encouraging her “
“She has a lot of ideas and I think in a less formal organisation she will be fine “
“You think ?”
“Yes – she’s been in your shadow for a long time Peggy – this is her turn to stand or fall by her decisions – it will be good for her. I think not having a safety net is what she needs “
Peggy nodded “Again – thank you “
“Its no more than Bette would do for Tina – encourage her and be a sounding board”
“How do you feel about Tina’s change of direction ?”
“I couldn’t be happier “ Emma said “ I know its something that her other mom would have been happy about as well “
“I think they didn’t tell you what her plans were because they thought you wouldn’t approve of the Film Studies element “
“I had figured that out. I am not the ogre that I have been painted by Tina in the last few months but then – I have been acting like the bad guy so I suppose I cannot blame her for not trusting me. I know Tina’s obsession with movies – she’s been that way since she was 8. She’s a dreamer like her other mom – I am the bad guy pragmatist. If adding Film Studies to her Masters degree is what makes her happy then I am happy for her. When I was a kid I wanted to be a dancer – my ankles were not what they needed to be so I studied and became a lawyer “
Peggy smiled “I wanted to be a dancer for a while “
“Can you dance ?”
“Oh I am shockingly bad darling but my father expected me to follow the family tradition which rather made my career choice for me “
“You were lucky that your father saw that you could lead the family business “
“Some of the biggest old women in the Peabody family have been male and some of the ones with the biggest balls have been women “
Emma laughed “ Sounds right “
Peggy took another drink of her gin “I guess that you are going to be a fixture in my life for a long time by the way that you and Helena are getting on. “
“I hope that I am. I know its weird Peggy – I know that I am closer to your age than I am to Helena’s. I know that we have daughters who are only 3 years apart. I know that everyone is just going to say the same things as you – that its folly and that it cannot work and that there is no way that we can have anything other than the obvious in common. Its all true Peggy but the truth is that Helena and I DO work. Its not all physical but yes that’s a part of it and its awesome. But Helena and I are friends Peggy – – I like her and she likes me. we love going to expensive restaurants and I am not intimidated by her money and she’s not intimidated by mine”
“Seems that you and I do have more in common that I wanted to see “
“Its not easy “ Emma said graciously “I know I am not who you imagined Helena having a steady relationship with “
“I used to hope that Helena and Bette would realise how right they were for one another”
Emma raised an eyebrow “Unlikely “
“Why do you say that ? “
“Because finding a good friend who is gay is also gay is so important to a gay woman. Plus if it had been going to happen it would have happened at college “
“And more importantly – – Helena isn’t Tina “ Peggy said smiling
“No – Bette and Tina have something that is a once in a lifetime deal “
“Before Helena was born I had a miscarriage – a girl so Helena should have had a big sister. I used to think about that a lot after my husband died. Helena was going off the rails at college until this girl came along, saved her life literally and picked her off the floor, made her go running and studying. I have adored Bette ever since so seeing her happy means as much to me as seeing Helena happy. You and your daughter seem to have achieved both feats “
“So are we friends – for Helena’s sake and Bette’s “
Peggy put down her glass, stood up and offered Emma her hand
“We are – welcome to the Peabody family Emma “
Is this love
Chapter 134