IS THIS LOVE

CHAPTER 79

Emma sat down and yawned – it was after 4pm and she was wondering if Helena was going to show up. She had said that she would but Emma was having doubts – maybe it would lead to a lot of difficult questions and she wasn’t ready yet for news of her relationship with the younger woman to become common knowledge. She was surprised that Helena hadn’t ended it yet and so far she showed no signs of wanting to – they did seem to just click despite of – or maybe because of the amount of disapproval they faced
“You or Tina might have warned me that this picnic is just an excuse for monster eating “
Emma looked up to see Bette standing with a giant roll on a plate
“What is it now ?”
“Its roast pork “
“Good ?”
“Awesome – but I can feel my waist expanding as I stuff myself – don’t ask me how many of these I have had “
“Okay I won’t – would you like to sit down “
“Thanks – you may need a crane to get me up again “
“I am sure I can find some hunky interns – or fit women if it comes to that “
“The hunky boys would be fine “
Emma smiled “You really are not a player are you – I wasn’t trying to imply anything “
“I know you weren’t and no – no I am not a player – hate the term “
“Even though your best friend likes to boast about what a player she is ?”
“Helena and I are different in a lot of ways “
“Do you think Helena will ever settle down – not with me – I am just curious. She is a lot more deep than I expected – she’s very intelligent “
Bette considered the question
“Helena and I are different in one big way – how romantic I am compared to her. It comes to the fore really easily with me – in the past I have got carried away and wanted to give a woman the moon and the stars when she wasn’t worth it. I can see now with Tina that she is worth my love and romance and all the stuff I have dreamt about doing. In the past women haven’t been worthy of my love – Tina is – Tina is the woman for me. With Helena – she has been with women in the past that she should have romanced and opened herself up. But she didn’t and she lost them. Helena is an amazing woman but in so many ways she has barriers that make mine look like a barrier made of lego. She lost her father at a very impressionable age – and she did go wild with a very bad crowd of spoilt rich kids”
“Did I hear that you once saved her life ?”
Bette blushed “Yes – I did “
“Drugs ?”
“She had taken some stuff that was much purer than she was used to. I found her and called an ambulance “
“That’s some bond “
Bette held up her hands “I wasn’t going to leave her or anyone else. Afterwards she wanted to give me money and buy me a car and all that “
“Right “
Bette pushed the sandwich aside and looked across the park – it was good to see that there were so many people still there and obviously not there out of obligation – they were there because they were enjoying themselves. She snapped herself back to Emma and looked at her
“I told Helena that the way she could repay me was not to take such shit again. She was shocked that I couldn’t be bought I guess – it did pull her up short. She asked me if I would help her and I did. For a term we shared an apartment and it worked – she got her grades right up, she really shook off the crowd of hangers on and she started working out and running. She turned herself round – not me. “
“You helped “
“I did but she wanted it – she wanted to be someone other than the spoilt druggie rich girl. I am hugely proud of her – being a Peabody isn’t easy. It also helped that she discovered her sexuality and she loved being the hottest lesbian on campus “
“There must have been a serious competition for that title with you and Helena around”
“I was a geek – – yes I was a fairly good looking geek but a geek is always a geek”
Emma looked at Bette who couldn’t have looked LESS like a geek with her beautiful smile and gorgeous long dark hair
“One of the reasons I didn’t think that you and Tina would work was because Tina was always a movie geek and a day dreamer “
“I know she is – I love that about her. We do have really geeky conversations about all sorts of things. Helena is not and never has been a geek. But she is more than a Peabody – she is very intelligent – she would have made an excellent lawyer – she loves arguing “
“I have noticed “
Bette laughed “But then again you have made a career out of it “
“We have some fantastic conversations – I know that it is mainly physical – I know that its not going to last but I do think that even when it ends I would hope that we can stay friends and have lunch together now and again and have some great arguments- I am enjoying it”
“Can I ask you something ?”
“Of course “
“Would you like it to be more than just a fling – could you see it lasting ?”
“I can see it lasting but then I am not thinking that – I am expecting it to end soon “
“Is it going to ?”
“No – I asked her today and she is enjoying herself and so I am. I know what it looks like and “
“Emma “ Bette interrupted – Emma looked at Bette
“Don’t be so defensive – I know I acted like an idiot at first and I was shamed by Tina’s reaction but you two haven’t done anything wrong “
“Your mother doesn’t approve – neither does Peggy “
“My mother is far too nice not to be polite if she ran into the pair of you and well Peggy is unpredictable. She doesn’t show it but she worships Helena and she does want her to settle down “
“But not with a woman closer to Peggy’s age rather than Helena’s ?”
“Helena didn’t expect Peggy to take her coming out as well as she did. Helena thought that what Peggy was expecting of her was a handsome well heeled husband and a couple of kids to carry on the Peabody name. Peggy would expect a Helena’s husband to be to take the Peabody name as part of the deal”
“Yes – I know families like that “
“Look – it was a shock – it was the biggest shock of the year – but people will get over it”
Emma sighed “I like Helena more than I thought I would Bette “
“Are you in love with her ?”
“No – but “
“You can see it happening ?”
Emma nodded “I don’t want to get hurt Bette but it is starting to occur to me that something is there “
Bette played for time by having some of her sandwich – she regarded Emma
“Like any other relationship you just have to go with the flow. I can see that your maturity and confidence are things that Helena isn’t used to and you will give her a run for her money – just please be careful – I don’t want either of you to get hurt”
“I don’t want either of us to get hurt either Bette”
Bette returned to her sandwich
“Where is my daughter by the way ?”
“I came looking for food – she was talking to a couple of women who had been giving me the eye – I took myself out of their way which sadly meant I had to leave Tina “
“You get a lot of it don’t you ?”
“Being hit on ?”
“Yes – I was watching the two of you earlier on – I could see that Jane Michaels virtually throwing herself at you “
“The red haired one with the implants ?”
“Yes – that’s the one “
“Yes – she did look like she was on heat “
“Keep an eye on her – she’s ambitious and she has tried in the past to seduce Tina.”
“Lovely “
“Tina knows that Jane is only interested in her because of Tina’s surname”
“I don’t imagine coming onto the boss’s daughter’s girlfriend is a smart career move”
“I never said she was smart – I said she was ambitious”
“Well I trust Tina “
“I can see that “
“And she trusts me “
“I am not saying that she shouldn’t – she has been cheated on in the past “
“I know -she told me – and I have been cheated on as well. Too many times for it not to be some crazy character flaw about me. I wouldn’t cheat on your daughter – I know that she is the one for me and she feels the same “
“Good – has it been six months yet ?”
“Soon “
“Got something planned ?”
“I have an idea or two “
“I image that you do”
Bette stood up “I better go and see who is hitting onto Tina – I have to say I have never seen so many dykes short of some Friday night – your firm is awash with them”
“I know “
“Deliberate policy ?”
“No but I guess when the word got around that the chief partner of the firm was a dyke and we were one of the first firms to give benefits to same sex couples and there is a very strict anti discrimination policy- I guess it became a self fulfilling prophecy “
“I approve – I think its great “
“I know Helena has dated a couple of women from the firm “
“Would it bother you if it got out that you and H are an item ?”
“I don’t know – I was thinking about it – I asked her along – now I am not sure how I would react “
“Go with the flow and short of making out with her on the bouncy castle I think your secret is safe with Tina and I “