Bette greeted her mother with an embrace when Rosemary arrived with Emma. Helena had been dragged away to talk to some important person
“Hello mom – you look great “
“Thank you darling – so do you “
“You look stunning “ Bette told Emma honestly – in a black dress that threw off at least 15 of her years Tina’s mom did look fantastic. Emma’s medium length blonde hair had been curled and for once it was hanging loose around her shoulders. This alone made Bette think how like her daughter the lawyer was.
“See – I was telling her that “ Rosemary said
“Mom is right – that dress is spectacular “
Emma smiled “Thank you Bette – that is very kind of you to say “
“You hear this from me but it’s very scary how like Tina you look “
“From you it’s a compliment “ Emma smiled. She looked anxious – Bette wondered why. It was hardly that this sort of event was unusual for her – she was the head of one of the leading New York law firms – she was used to social events and could probably get out of them what she wanted. So why did she look nervous – was it because of the event or the people?
“Where’s Tina?” Rosemary asked “You look a little lost without her “
“She is talking to Peggy – Helena thinks that Peggy wants to co-op Tina onto the awards panel for the Peabody foundation grants”
“Really -that’s fantastic “ Rosemary said “And she would be so good at it – Peggy is a clever old thing “
“What happened to the job that Rosemary has been telling me that she got for Tina ? “
Bette knew immediately why Emma seemed so different – she was mighty vexed that she was the last to hear about Tina’s good news
“That’s only part time isn’t it Bette ?”
“Yes – and from what Helena has said in the past about the awards committee is that it is only maybe one day a week . Tina could certainly do the job and it would be good for her profile and her resume “Bette said
“Hello mother – you look very beautiful tonight – hello Rosemary – where did Helena disappear to Bette?” Tina walked across smiling broadly
“I was just filling them in with Helena saying that Peggy was probably going to make you an offer “
“She did – I accepted and we are meeting on Friday at lunchtime “
“Rosemary was just filling me in on your new job “ Emma’s voice held a very prominent ring of sarcasm.
“Isn’t it fantastic “ Bette said putting her arm around Tina “We should all be proud of how brilliant you are and it’s about time that people should recognise it”
“I spoke to Jules – that’s the manager of the bookshop and she could not be more delighted to get such a person to work for her. She was singing your praises – she is very impressed at how smart you are and how articulate – she is delighted. “Rosemary said smiling
“That’s great isn’t its mom?” Tina said looking her mother. She knew that she had made an error by not telling her mom but in truth she was less willing to put up with being treated so badly “ And now Peggy has offered me a job – I am so lucky “
“Luck doesn’t come into it “ Bette said “It’s your talent and your personality – we could not be happier for you “
“That’s right “ Rosemary said “And this is a great event to celebrate at “
“I am delighted for you Tina “ Emma said “It would have been nice if you had called me to share the news “ she gave Tina a long look then glanced at Rosemary “Did I see a waitress pass us with a tray of drinks earlier – lets go hunt her down Rosemary “
Left alone Tina took Bette’s hand “Ouch “
“Yeah – she’s not happy with us, is she ?”
“She’s not happy with me “Tina contradicted “Then again I don’t do much that makes her happy with me. I sometimes think that I could have been the worst lawyer or surgeon in the City and my mother would be happier than she is at the moment with me “
“I do see evidence that she is trying with you “
“VERY trying “Tina said dryly “Let’s go and sit down – I want to tell you about what Peggy said”
“Is everything okay?” Helena had been “working “the room – one of her prime functions at a Peabody Foundation event. She had spotted the first course of the meal starting to be served so she was heading back to her seat. The only person sitting at the top table was Emma Kennard – she was sitting alone watching the rest of the event going on around her. Helena sat down “I don’t think we have been formally introduced “
“We were in the store that day “Emma said
“Oh yeah – the height of Bette and Tina’s subterfuge “
Emma smiled “I believe so “
“I don’t think that really counts as I was too busy lying for Bette – hello “
Helena extended her hand and they shook hands
“Hello Helena – it’s nice to meet you “
“Have you met my mother yet?”
“I keep seeing her gliding by “
“She is working the room – it’s not easy to be the hostess for an event like this – she takes it as a personal affront if everyone doesn’t have a really good time”
“I am like that when I host a function for the firm – I have a staff picnic every year and I usually have to take a couple of days off because I am so exhausted”
“You aren’t supposed to enjoy your own parties “
“I rarely do “Emma admitted
“So why are you not enjoying this party? It’s important to get feedback”
“I am just watching Bette and Tina “
Helena looked across – Bette and Tina were standing with Rosemary talking to a couple of people who had received a grant for pre-school reading program – that was a project that Rosemary Porter would be fascinated to hear about.
“Those are the two people I was always intending to introduce Bette’s mom to. They run a preschool reading program – they might go hungry “
“Rosemary has always been passionate about books – that’s not changed in over 30 years”
“Tell me something “
“Yes “
“Do you see Rosemary in Bette because I have always thought that she was much more like Melvin?”
Emma looked at Helena “Bette seems to have a knack with people that is more like Rosemary than Melvin – he could be rather stand offish in contrast to Rosemary. I think he was prone to being pompous thinking gay rights were not as important. We used to have some huge fights “
“Bette has a fiery streak “Helena said
“I can see that she is not a woman to tangle with “Emma said dryly
Helena looked at her “She is very passionate about protecting the people she loves. I know that comes from Melvin and with Rosemary as her mother she also supports the underdog. She is the loyalist person I know – I would want her in my corner in any fight and she would be there because of the person she is “
“My daughter is very taken with her “
“Bette is besotted with Tina “Helena said “they are very well suited “
“Tina hasn’t had a lot of luck with women “
“It just changed “Helena said protecting her friend “You have nothing to worry about with Bette – she is gallant and loving and she idolises Tina – they are right for one another “
Emma sighed “Perhaps I am being pessimistic “
“Why are you being so suspicious of Bette – if I can be honest with you it seems odd to me that you would not want Tina to be with someone as beautiful, intelligent, witty and loving as Bette. I would have thought that she would be a dream date for any woman with a gay daughter”
Emma sipped her champagne “You are her best friend, aren’t you?”
“I am – she’s been one of the main stays of my life since University. She is genuine – what you see over there – the confidence and the politeness and the interest in other people – that’s the real Bette Porter”
“With respect – women like Bette do not have long term commitment plans with girls like Tina “
Helena was genuinely taken aback at the comment and realised why Bette was so wary of Tina’s mother
“Women like Bette “she said “are genuine, loyal, kind and very monogamous”
“Helena – I saw so many women like Bette when I was at university and law school – in fact I was that woman. I didn’t settle down for a long time and the woman who I settled down with was a very remarkable woman “
She must have been to put up with you Helena thought coldly.
“You are saying that Tina isn’t remarkable – I would beg to differ. Mother and I think highly of her “
“Would you even consider her for this job of your mother’s if it wasn’t for her involvement in Bette’s life?”
“It’s an irrelevant point “Helena said “The fact is that we did met her through Bette. We Peabody’s did not get where we are today in our businesses or with the Foundation by basing our judgements solely on who our friends are dating. Bette has dated many women – none have even been discussed as people we want in the organisation – Tina is different and when we see talent, we want to harness it”
“Ha – so you admit that she has been wasting her talent?”
“No “Helena did think that but there was no way on this earth she was going to admit as much to Emma Kennard “I think she’s done a great job at a struggling organisation who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford an Ivy League graduate like Tina. Bette and Tina are very well suited and my advice to you is that you need to get used to Bette because she isn’t leaving your daughter’s life any time soon “
“I worry that Tina is going to get hurt – Bette might care for Tina at the moment but you know and I know that they are in very different leagues “
“What I know “Helena said getting seriously cross now “Is that I have known Bette since we were both 18 years old and in that time she has had her heart broken on numerous occasions because she is too old fashioned for her own good and has always been looking for the right woman to idolise. Bette is one of life’s good guys – as are her parents may I add. I have never known Bette as happy as she is with Tina and I can tell you here and now that Bette is with her life partner. You might not like it for whatever reason of inverted snobbery but that is your problem and not Bette and Tina’s “
Any reply from Emma didn’t arrive as Peggy choose that minute to sit down
“My feet are killing me – is there any brandy in this place Helena?”
Helena grinned “If you want me to source some brandy for you – Cognac I assume all you have to do is ask mother “
“Thank you darling – could you find me the best possible brandy that this place owns and get me a bottle? “
“You can have a glass of brandy because you have a speech to make and I have heard your speeches before after one lemonade too many mother – as you tell me – remember the good name of the family “
Helena stood up and as she passed her mother, she kissed her hair.
Peggy smiled and watched until her daughter was out of sight. Only then did she turn her attention to Emma Kennard. She looked at her and smiled
“Peggy Peabody “
“Emma Kennard”
The two women shook hands and regarded one another
“Thank you for attending my event tonight “
“Thank you for inviting me “
“Your daughter is the most delightful young woman “
“She seems to have attracted a fan club that she hasn’t had in the past “
The two women were clearly sizing one another up – Peggy saw the striking resemblance between Tina and her mother in terms of appearance but her gut reaction was that the two women were very different in terms of personality. She had heard from Helena how hostile Emma was to Bette and Tina’s relationship – that was something that she could not understand. Peggy’s secret wish had always been that Bette and Helena would go from friends to lovers. She knew that wasn’t going to happen and even less so now that Bette was as crazy about Tina as she obviously was. Tonight’s conundrum was the Mystery of Emma Kennard…