“That’s why I am asking – as you say – I am gay so I knew what Tina was feeling and going through and what prejudices she would face. You two are straight – how did you both feel?”
Rosemary scratched her nose “I was just glad that she was interested in something other than books. Bette – and looking at her over there it’s hard to believe – was shy and introverted. She loved her own company and didn’t like other kids. So, when she sat down with me one night and told me that she was having feelings for other girls it was actually a relief. I never had any problems with her being gay – I know that she has had her heart broken but that happens when your child grows up and becomes an adult”
“What about Melvin – that must have been one heck of a conversation – who told him that his little girl was a dyke?”
“As you know Melvin is not homophobic “Rosemary said frowning – how dare Emma insinuate that he was
“I didn’t say that he was – but when we were at college the two of us were always arguing “
“You used to goad him “Rosemary reminded her
“I did – he was a good opponent “Emma smiled “God we spend some late nights arguing over bottles of wine and reefers “
Rosemary smiled and looked at Peggy “You should see some of the photographs of the three of us “
“I would like to “
“How did Melvin take Bette being gay?” Emma asked Rosemary
“Bette told him herself and he surprised me – I know that he has always dreamt of being a grandparent – he would love a grandson – but Bette told him and it did take him a while. For several days he didn’t say anything about it but I pointed out that all that mattered was that Bette was happy and when she had come to terms with her sexuality she was.” Rosemary looked across at Bette and Tina who were holding each other as a slow song played
“Look at those two – she’s totally at peace with herself and with everything around her. There is no way in hell that Bette would be that happy with a man. She just is a lesbian and I am delighted that she was confident enough in us and herself to tell us when she was young. I couldn’t be happier for her and for Tina “Rosemary spoke with quiet authority
“Well said darling “Peggy said “Oh thank your young man “she accepted the champagne from the waiter and winked at him and then watched him as he walked away
“Peggy – behave “Rosemary said
Peggy laughed “I was just window shopping “
“What about you Peggy? How did you take Helena being gay?”
Peggy poured the champagne into the three glasses and put the bottle into the ice bucket in front of her. She picked up her glass and drank thoughtfully
“My daughter was very messed up after her father died – she went into a tail spin – one that I know she didn’t really come out of until she met Bette a few years later. She was into a lot of things that would have ultimately destroyed her. She was also hanging around with a rich crowd of kids who were very bad for her – I have no idea if she was sleeping with any of the boys or girls but it wasn’t until college that she came out. At first, I was very skeptical – I thought it was another fad. But she gradually started to calm down and the one thing that didn’t go away was her lesbianism. It is was it is “Peggy smiled “I did have some experiences with women when I was at college but I grew out of it and I did think that Helena would do the same but its who she is. She is very happy and like Rosemary with Bette I cannot imagine her being straight. It’s important to just accept your children as they are. Helena is who she is – she’s a snob and even for my daughter she has an obsession for shoes that is un-healthy. But she is also kind and generous and – and this is the most important thing for me in life and in business – she has a really good heart. I see that in my daughter and I see that in Bette and in Tina – I am delighted that Bette and Tina are Helena’s friends “Peggy looked at Emma. She was still trying to fathom out the highly paid lawyer – she seemed to resent so much. She did wonder if it was all about still being in mourning for her wife. “Let me turn the question round – how did you feel about your daughter being gay? Isn’t there the reverse thing that Rosemary and I went through – we didn’t know what our daughters would have to deal with – you knew the prejudice and the problems that she would face”