Emma sighed “I don’t know I have to admit that I was disappointed in Tina’s choice”
“WHY?” Peggy was now confused – though that might have been the amount of alcohol she had consumed.
“Because I knew how hard it was – I knew the prejudices that Kate and I both faced. Fuck one of the reasons I set up Kennard, Black and Truman was the hassle that both of us had to deal with when we were trying to make our way in law. I was so determined to create a firm that would not be the cozy little boys club that I came across on a daily basis “
“And you think that it was just prejudice that you faced?” Rosemary said her face slightly red with annoyance “You could hide your “difference “- Melvin did not have that luxury”
Emma blushed – she had been so busy painting herself as the “victim “that she hadn’t taken into account the racial prejudice that she knew that Melvin would have faced coming into the stratified world of law. Peggy had rarely seen Rosemary so annoyed
“I’m sorry “Emma said “I was so up my own ass there that I totally disregarded what Melvin must have gone through. Sorry Rosemary “
Emma touched Rosemary’s arm “I am still the silly ass that I always was at college”
Rosemary was only mildly appeased and she was also fueled by how much alcohol she had consumed
“Really Emma – what the hell is wrong with you? Why the hell are you being so negative about Bette and Tina – I know all about you wanting Tina to be with Helena “
This came as a shock to Emma – she hated that she had been uncovered. She blushed and looked across at Peggy who was watching the two women closely. Emma sighed and drained her champagne
“Can I have another glass of that Peggy?”
“Of course, darling “Peggy topped up the three glasses again and put the bottle between the women as an open invitation for them to help themselves.
“I do not come out of this, well do I? – well no I don’t. I can look back on how I behaved and in short, I have been an idiot. I did want Bette and Tina to get together – I thought it would be good for Tina. Where I really come over as a frightful snob is how quickly I changed my mind and decided that Tina should be with Helena. I really thought the number of times we were thwarted was a sign that they were never going to hit it off. I saw Tina with Helena – as it turned out it was part of their plot. I jumped to assumptions and that made me the ass. You might not believe me – well maybe only the two of you would believe me – but I do want the best for Tina. She is all I have – she is my family. Rosemary – it is startling how like Bette you look and I can see you when I look at Helena. But when I look at Tina, I see my wife “Emma rubbed her eyes to try and stop the tears that she could feel welling up
“And fuck I miss Kate “
Emma dissolved into tears
“Oh Emma “Rosemary stroked her friends’ hair “I am sorry “
“No – I am sorry – I am sorry for how negative I have been about them “
Emma reached for her bag and hunted for a tissue – Rosemary handed her a tissue
“Thank you “she dried her eyes. She reached further into her bag and pulled out a little photograph album – she opened it and showed a picture to Rosemary and Peggy
“That’s Kate and Tina. Kate isn’t Tina’s birth mom – I am. But I can’t look at her sometimes without seeing Kate “
“They do look alike “
“it’s the coloring “Peggy said looking at the picture
“It is uncanny “Rosemary agreed
“It is and they are so alike in personality. Kate was good natured and could talk to anyone – I see that in Tina. I have been watching her tonight and she’s so comfortable with people. Me – I don’t have that easy-going nature – I am demanding and I can be a cow if I don’t get my own way. Sometimes when I argue with Tina it’s like arguing with Kate and God – I miss that woman every single day – every hour of every day. She brought me out of my shell- if it had been up to me, I would just have worked and worked and never socialized. I was looking for something in the kitchen the other night and I found this huge dining set – there must be enough for a dinner party with 30 people and I have never used that damn thing since Kate died. Maybe I am jealous of my own daughter — look at them “