“Not for a long while – she’s only 30 and she’s been very dedicated to her gallery. Its right that she’s now got the time to devote to finding a play mate “
“I think Tina is more than a playmate “
“So do I – honey – Bette is beyond happy as you say. Yes we will do everything that we can to support them and if Emma hurts Bette you know that I will not be happy “
“If Emma hurts either of them I will be furious . I am going to tell her what I think “
“Rosemary “ Melvin started
“No Melvin – how can a mother – a woman who claims to adore Tina really think that Bette is TOO good for Tina. That appalled me “
Melvin didn’t often lose his cool with his wife but he was frantically trying to stop his wife interfering and making it two mothers trying to dictate Bette and Tina’s relationship.
“ROSEMARY PORTER – no and I mean this – leave the whole situation alone. We never fought Bette’s battles from when she was about 8 onwards – we never had to and I promise you something – if we try and fight her battles we will lose our daughter and neither of us want that. They look very happy and they have got that way without any of us trying to tell them what to do. I tell you something as a betting man – Bette would need to give herself a huge handicap and she would still have enough for Emma 99 times out of 100. Don’t have so little faith in our baby girl Rosemary “
Is this love
Chapter 54

Bette looked at Tina – they had just arrived outside her parents apartment . She was looking forward to Sunday lunch with her folks. It was a real tradition in her family and she had been dreaming about how fantastic it would be to sit around with her parents and with Tina and enjoy good food and just casual friendly conversation. She couldn’t remember the last time she had wanted to share this family event with a girlfriend –it was probably because she hadn’t had a girlfriend who she had wanted to share this experience with. But, as in so many other things Tina was different – she wanted to share so much with the blonde.
“Do I look okay ?” Tina asked
“Fine – fantastic in face “
“You might be remarkably biased “
“Oh I don’t deny it – everyone should have someone in their corner who is on their side regardless of anything else “
“Well we can be one another’s “ Tina lent across and kissed Bette “I won’t let you down “
“You don’t know how to “ Bette replied before knocking on the door and taking Tina by the hand. Tina felt nervous – the last time they had all been together had been the grand unveiling of their relationship. This was different – this was them getting into things that were just going to become normal – having Sunday lunch with Bette’s family. Tina was looking forward to it as well – it would be nice to see Bette so relaxed and Rosemary Porter’s cooking was every bit as good as Bette and Helena had told her.
The door opened and Melvin stood there. He was wearing light grey trousers, a white shirt and black cardigan – he looked very casual and at ease
“Bette, Tina – its great to see you both – come in “
Bette hugged her father –when their embrace ended Melvin looked at the blonde
“Am I allowed to hug the other girl who fooled their parents ?”
“Of course “
Tina beamed – this was one of the things she was anxious about. She had never really been close to a man before – there had been no male role models when she had been growing up and although she worked with men at the centre she wasn’t particularly close to any of them. So she wasn’t sure how to react to Bette’s dad. Melvin gave her a friendly but brief hug and immediately started talking
“Rosemary is so thrilled with the flowers – they arrived ten minutes ago and she has been in a state ever since – thank you Tina “
“My pleasure “ Tina beamed – Bette’s hand squeezed her to give her own gratitude at the blonde’s generosity.
“So the least you can do dad is crack open the drinks “ Bette said “Where is mom ?”
“There was a earlier crisis when she discovered that a fruit pie was not in the freezer”
Bette laughed “Is that the one you and I ate a month ago when she was out ?”
“Yes – but don’t say anything – I have persuaded her that we had it a couple of weeks ago. She doesn’t really believe me but I think we are safe for now. I went and got fruit for crumble “
“Please tell me you didn’t suggest shop bought pie “ Bette said laughing
“Well yes I did “
“Dad ! “
Bette looked at Tina “Lesson 1 – while mom will eat shop pie when she is at dinner she will not – under any circumstances allow such an item to be served at a table she has responsibility for . So all pie mom puts on our table is always home made pie and should be given the respect and indeed reverence that it deserves “
“Point noted “ Tina replied
“Come on through girls – would you like a drink ?”
“We would love one “ Bette looked at Tina “You too babe ?”
“Thank you “
Melvin was just finding out what both women wanted to drink when Rosemary burst in – she was wearing a pink dress and a white apron that had flour dust on it and signs that as Melvin said she had been preparing fruit.
“Darlings “ she was beaming to see her daughter and her new partner.
“Hey mom – I hear there has been a pie crisis – you should have rung – we could have bought one over “
This was clearly a comment designed to needle her mom – Rosemary raised a single eyebrow at Bette who grinned at managing to incur her mom’s annoyance.
“That will do Bette “
“Well it would have been no bother “
“Bette “
“In fact there are some good deals – 2 pies for $5 – frozen of course “
“Elizabeth “ Rosemary’s tone was strict
“Sorry mom “
Tina chuckled – it was totally funny to see Bette called “Elizabeth “
“Tina – thank you for the flowers – that was such a marvellously sweet thing for you to do – they are just lovely “
“Well – I guess you will be sick of feeding me “
“Not at all – it’s a delight to have you in our home “
“Thank you “
“Tina and I have a couple of little gifts for you both “ Bette said handing her parents the two parcels
“Bette “ Rosemary hugged Bette and then Tina before she opened the present to find it was the latest Patricia Cornwall
“Thank you Bette “
“Better get in your good books after the pie comments “
“Well don’t make them again “ Rosemary said “ Lunch will be 15 minutes – is that okay Tina ?”
“That is fine thank you “
“Why don’t you sit down Rosemary – sherry ?”
“Yes – I think I will –I will just check on a couple of things “
“Do you need a hand ?” Bette asked
“No thank you darling – its all under control “
“So what have you two been up to this weekend ? “
Rosemary asked when they were all sitting around with a drink in their hands
“We went to see a movie and we had dinner and played pool “ Bette explained
Rosemary smiled – that sounded like the sort of evening that Bette enjoyed but rarely had with her past girlfriends
“What did you see ?”
“The View were doing a Q&A to celebrate the re-release of The Usual Suspects with some unseen footage – Bryan Singer and Gabriel Byrne were on stage – it was a great night “
Tina explained
“Have we seen that film Melvin ?”
“Yes – neither of us understood it “
Bette smirked – her dad was more of a sports fan or a fan of really old movies.
“I had forgotten what a brilliant movie it is “ Bette said “I was glad that Tina got tickets “
“Are you a big movie fan ?” Rosemary asked- she was aware that she knew precious little about this young woman who so obviously was going to be sharing her daughter’s life.
“Yes – its one of my biggest passions “
“Apart from me obviously “ Bette said smiling with assurance
“Well that goes without saying “ Tina replied dryly
“I still like you saying it though “ Bette said
Tina laughed and sipped her wine. Melvin was unwrapping his gift
“Cigars “
“The best illegal ones I could obtain “ Bette replied
“Where do you get them ?” Tina asked
“I have an artist friend who is Cuban- he has sources and gets them to me “
“And they are just fantastic cigars “
“Which he smokes outside on the balcony when there are other people in the house”
Rosemary put in
“I know – I wasn’t about to light up now – it’s an acquired smell and I only smoke about one a week “ Melvin defended himself.
“Have you seen your mother since the two of you came out as it were ?” Rosemary asked Tina.
Bette knew that Tina wouldn’t want to lie to Rosemary but equally she wouldn’t be likely to feel comfortable discussing her relationship with her mother so openly. Tina sighed
“I had a drink with her a couple of days ago – it didn’t go well “ Tina said with a flash of honesty “I don’t have the easiest relationship with her – well I guess she doesn’t have the best relationship with me “
Rosemary looked at Melvin “That’s a shame Tina “
“I am sure that we can win her round “ Bette said
“Well if anyone is capable of that its you darling “
At that moment Tina hated her mother – why the hell could she not be as supportive as it was so obvious that Melvin and Rosemary were going to be with them ? why the hell did she not just support her the way that these parents did with their daughter. The only rain clouds on her personal horizon were those created by her own mother – that seemed to make those clouds that extra shade of dark.
—
“That was a lovely meal Rosemary – thank you so much “
“Its always good to have another person to feed and you obviously enjoyed it “ Rosemary replied to Tina
“Can we help clear away ?” Bette asked
“Of course not – you are our guests – Melvin will do it “
“Its amazing that at work I am barely allowed to wash out the coffee machine but at home and I the hired kitchen hand “ Melvin replied with an easy going tone “Which one of you is going to help me ?“
“I will “ Tina said “I want to “
“Thank you Tina – come on – grab those plates “
“In that case mom and I will finish our coffee “ Bette said
Left alone Bette looked at her mom – there was only one question
“Do you like her mom ?”
Rosemary nodded “I think she is delightful Bette – and more importantly – you obviously adore her. I think she is just wonderful – she is smart and pretty and she seems amazingly down to earth “
“She is “
“Makes a difference to your usual women “ she added
“She is “
“I know you move in the sort of circles that mean you meet mainly artists and models and media type people – they were rarely right for you “
“I know that – Tina’s just different “ Bette said “Fantastically and wonderfully different “
“What happened with her mom ?”
Bette sighed “The same as it always is with her – Thursday was a real crash down after the high of telling you “
“She is the reason you kept it all secret for so long ?”
“Yeah – I know she is your friend and everything mom but she is heading for a fall out with me. All I heard on Thursday was that I shouldn’t interfere – I shouldn’t do this – I should leave things well enough because its really Tina’s battle with Emma “ Bette paused “I am sorry mom but it is my battle. She’s my woman and that means the absolute world to me. Would you let anyone bad mouthed dad ?”
“Of course I wouldn’t “
“That’s how I feel about Tina”
“This is very serious for you isn’t it ?”
Bette sighed “Yeah – she’s the one mom and I am not going let anyone hurt her. she lost her mom when she was only 23 –she’s been so hurt and afraid since. She’s lost her way and her mom hasn’t been there like I know that you would have been there for me. As far as I am concerned that ends here and now – she isn’t alone any more and she is going to have to get used to someone being there to support her and stick up for her “
“Does she know this ?”
“Yeah – mom – I haven’t hidden from her how stupidly protective I get – she isn’t some helpless sap who needs me to do everything and make every decision. She’s strong – I just don’t think that she realises how tough she is just yet”
“Well if she has been so low for so long its bound to take some time for her to get back how she used to feel “
“Her mom – I don’t know if she is trying this because she thinks what Tina needs is tough love but its not working. “
Rosemary tugged at her hair for a few seconds
“Has it never occurred to you darling that Emma might not know any better – she’s doing all she can. It might be hopelessly misguided but its all she knows how to. I met Emma Kennard when she started at college – we were both 18 and both fairly innocent. Even then she didn’t exactly shine at parties. Maybe its why the three of us got alone – your father didn’t drink because of how strictly he had been brought up and well Emma was just
Slightly gawky and awkward. It was obvious how intelligent she was and that she was very ambitious but she struggled to make friends easily “
Bette nodded “Yeah – I have thought that maybe she’s still missing Kate as much as Tina is – but mom – Tina – Tina is my responsibility –not Emma.”
“That is very sweet of you and I know that I have had my say but the most important thing to do is not to do any damage – then see what you can do to help. I would have said that Tina is getting more sure of herself because of you darling – I am very proud of you “
Bette beamed “That’s the thing mom – Emma never says that to her – she wants her mom’s approval “
“All children – regardless of their age want their parents approval “ Rosemary pointed out
“I know – mom – I can’t bite my tongue much longer “
“I understand – I think “ Rosemary said picking her words carefully “that Emma would be horrified if she knew what she was doing to her daughter. You may not think highly of her Bette but Emma worships Tina “
“Its about time she damn well showed it “ Bette replied
In the kitchen Melvin’s original plan had been to load up the dishwasher but before he did that he had to remove all the items that Rosemary had used the night before when she had made them a delicious prawn curry.
“It would be quicker to wash them “
“I know – you mind ?”
“Of course not – do you wash or dry ?”
“Well when I am at Bette’s I wash and she puts away and it’s the other way round when we are at my apartment “
Melvin smiled “You wash then – the washing up liquid is under the sink “
Tina busied herself for a few minutes and was soon washing the plates and Melvin was drying them and putting them away.
“This is a really nice apartment “
“We have lived her most of our adult lives – we came here when Bette was 6 . You should have a look at her room if you want to know what she was like “
“What was she like ?” Tina asked
Melvin laughed “Intense “
“She still is “
“Its not a bad thing but she was always much more mature than she really should have been. She was studious and I guess a lot of people though that wasn’t normal for a child. At a parents evening one of her teachers said that he didn’t think she was normal “
Tina smiled “I don’t imagine that went down well “
“Oh it did not – Bette has always lived inside her own head and she’s been able to just let whatever else was happening in the world to just bounce off her. She was shy and she loved her books and music. She never seemed unhappy to me and that to me was all that mattered. I remember her mother trying to make her go out and play with the other kids who lived in the block. After all the kids had come in she was still missing – Rosemary found her sitting under the trees in one of the gardens of the houses further down the road reading a book. It was how she was – some kids are loud – others are quiet – Bette was quiet and well behaved. She must have suffered from being the kid that all other parents held up as an example – the why can’t you be well behaved like Bette thing”
“So it didn’t worry you that she didn’t go through a phase ?”
“The worst she did was have her hair cut really short – it broke Rosemary’s heart for months “
Tina laughed “She told me about that “
Melvin put some plates away and looked at Tina
“I think the thing about Bette is that she is so supremely happy in her own company and I don’t think she feel as at ease with other people. There might be times when she’s not very communicative “
“Helena said that – that sometimes Bette just zones out and its impossible to get through to her “
Melvin nodded “Helena knows Bette better than we do and I think that in his own way James knows her better than she would like to admit. “
“I had figured that out because she likes to say that he’s full of psycho-babble nonsense”
“Is that the polite version of what she says because I have heard her say MUCH worse “
Tina smiled “I didn’t want to swear “
“Its fine – Bette’s just a solitary person “
“Do you think she can have a relationship ?”
“With you ? – Yes – yes I do. You know what she is like – there will be problems but all young couples have problems . its just a matter of how you deal with them. But her mom and I have always thought the same thing – that once she met the right person – she will be very willing to settle down “