^^

Bette was lying on the sofa at home – she was very tired and all day she had been thinking about the possible fall out from this insane relationship between Helena and Emma. She still couldn’t believe which one of them was being the most stupid. What the hell did Helena see in Emma – okay so she was a beautiful woman but she was closer to her daughter’s age rather than her own. She was also worried how Tina would take it – Tina was protective of her one surviving parent – this was not going to go down well. She was lying half dozing when the front door slammed shut
“Bette ! “
“In here babe “
Tina walked in and saw Bette lying on the sofa “Bad day ?”
“Not good – you ?”
“Surprising “ Tina said “I am not sure if having a scotch is a good idea or not – what do you think ?”
“If you are in the vicinity of the drinks tray you could pour me one “
Tina smiled – yes – this was Bette in uber grizzly bear mood. Tina did as Bette wanted and sat down facing her lover
“Did you hear any good gossip today ?” Tina said raising one eyebrow
Bette sat up -Tina knew
“Yes “
“And you didn’t take it well ?”
Bette’s expression gave away her reply
“My mother and Helena Peabody “ Tina said
“Yes – I am sorry Tina – I told her that she was fucking nuts but she’s so damn arrogant “
“My mother likes the arrogance apparently “
“She does ?”
“I could say that it takes one to know one “
Bette looked at Tina “ I am sorry babe “
“Why ?”

“What ? Why ? I feel responsible because Helena is “
Tina smiled “ I don’t think anyone has been able to be responsible for H Peabody for a very long time “
“You must be shocked “
“I am – but hey – if she is happy and she is very happy “
“WHAT !! “
“I have never seen her so happy since Kate died – she’s got that look in her face – its great”
“YOU THINK ITS GREAT ?”
“Yeah – of course “ she looked at Bette “Mom said that Helena described you as grumpy – grumpy would have been an improvement wouldn’t it ?”
“I don’t feel that good“
“Why would you think that I had a problem with it ?”
Bette swung round and looked directly at Tina
“You are kidding “
“No – they are both adults and they are hurting no one “
“But you know what Helena is like “
“I do and so does my mother “
“It won’t last a week “
“That’s what my mother says “
“Doesn’t that bother you ?”
Tina sipped her scotch – Bette’s scotch was even smoother than her mother’s – just delicious
“No “
“Really ?”
“it’s a surprise but I don’t see the problem “
“You don’t see the problem ?” Bette almost yelled
Tina looked at her and gave her the sort of look she had learnt from her mother.
Was this the hangover anchoring Bette in this bad mood or was it something else
“Why do you have a problem with it ?”
“Helena and your mother – the age difference – the fucking fact that Helena is a pole cat”
“Helena has never hidden the fact that she is a player – you hate the phrase but I don’t think it bothers her – she is shameless about what she is “
“And that doesn’t bother you ?” Bette almost yelled
“Bette -my mother had to watch my other mom dying piece by piece- getting thinner and losing her confidence and her sparkle until finally she was so drugged up that there were few times when she knew who Emma or I were. It was horrible for me and it took me until I met you before the black cloud started to lift. What sort of daughter would I be if I wasn’t glad to see the look on her face. She’d been in bed with Helena this afternoon “
“God ! “
“Bette – what’s wrong with that – are you saying that my mother is not an attractive woman who is sexually appealing ?”
Bette opened her mouth but saw the look on Tina’s face and closed her mouth again. There were so many ways in which this fling could have one casualty and that was her. She looked at the glass in her hand and took a sip. That was good – hair of the dog. If she had been thinking straight she wouldn’t have waited until now to have one.
“I would like to press the witness for an answer and remind her that a refusal to answer could be used against her at a later hearing “ Tina said secretly amused by Bette’s sudden realisation that she was putting her foot right in it.
“I eh – well of course Emma is a beautiful woman “ Bette began “And she is a wonderful catch for the right woman – who eh would treat her the way that you would want her to be. All I was eh saying is that Helena has a reputation of getting what she wants and leaving the scene of the crime “
“They spent the afternoon together and when I left my mother at the bar she was heading back to Helena – presumably for round 3 “
“And that doesn’t bother you ?”
“I don’t want to think about what they do or do not do in bed – that’s their business. Look Bette – its really sweet that you would want to protect my mother. I think that says so much about what an honourable woman you are and if I hadn’t seen her I would probably be concerned but I saw the look on her face and she was happy Bette. For the first time in as long as I can remember – my mother was genuinely happy – not happy because she had won a case or because for a few brief minutes she wasn’t hurting over Kate. She was well fucked – and yes that is gross because the person who has done that is your best friend Helena but she was happy Bette – don’t worry about her – she’s having a brief fling – she won’t go into a black mood when its over – she will with luck realise that she does have so much to offer the right woman and the next time she goes on a date she might feel better about things “
Bette felt ashamed – Tina was clearly perfectly fine about the fling. In contrast she had been fairly bitchy to Helena. Bette got up and joined Tina on the sofa
“You are something else “ Bette said
“Am I ?”
“Yes “
Tina pulled Bette close so she could rest her head against Tina’s
“Hangover still bad ?”
“Yes – what about yours ?”
“Hell “ Tina confirmed
“What do you want to do ?” Bette asked hopefully
“I think we should eat something that won’t upset our stomachs and then go to bed early”
“That sounds nice “
“Come on then – lets go and see what’s in the fridge “
Tina got up and looked down at Bette
“There was something that my mother suggested “ Tina said preparing a scenario that she knew would probably freak Bette out
“What ?”
“How would it be if we went on a double date ?”
The look on Bette’s face was totally priceless allowing Tina to escape into the kitchen chuckling to herself