—–

For Tina lunch with Bette, Peggy and her mother was very surreal. Peggy had been trying to control her natural over the top extrovertism but it was inevitable that her personality did emerge after a couple of glasses of wine. Peggy insisted on taking them all to South Gate a very nice restaurant next to Central Park. When Tina had asked Bette why she had rolled her eyes at Peggy’s announcement that she had secured them a table for four she had explained that one of the things the restaurant was most famous for was cocktails. After a few sticky moments Tina just surrendered to the inevitable and ordered a cocktail – if you cannot beat them – join them she decided. The best way to deal with a lunch with Peggy was just to give in and enjoy yourself and listen to her telling stories. Mary looked slightly bemused but she relaxed after ten minutes or so and was so totally under Peggy’s spell – which was the way most people got in the presence of such a larger than life woman. Peggy also wanted to talk business – she had plans for the scripts that Tina had assessed for her and she also wanted to discuss what items she needed Bette to acquire for her. So after lunch -which lasted two hours Tina took her mother to Central Station to see her onto her train home while Bette ordered more coffee for herself and started making notes about what Peggy wanted.

When Bette arrived home Angie was watching TV while Tina was in the kitchen.
“Hello pumpkin “Bette said kissing her daughter’s hair
As always Angie jumped up and hugged her mother “Hello “
“How was school sweetheart?”
“It was boring “
“I am sorry to hear that – any reason?”
“It just was “
Well you couldn’t really argue with that logic – as always Angie showed what a philosopher most six year olds were.
“Hello Sheba “Bette stroked the cat who was fast asleep “Boy can that cat sleep”
“When do we get our new cat mommy?”
“I don’t know – we could wait until after Christmas and rescue a cat that gets abandoned – actually that reminds me “
“What?”
“We need to take Sheba to the vets to get her sorted
“Why – what is wrong with her?”
Bette paused – well she had run into that when experience told her she should have thought for several minutes before she spoke – how to explain to Angie that Sheba needed to be neutered – it was remiss of them not to have had her “fixed “before now – it was a matter of time before she came into season and female cats in season were notorious.
Luckily for Bette Tina came into the room
“Hello there “
Bette grinned “Hey gorgeous – how is my future wife?”
“I think I have sobered up “
Angie looked at her mother “Are you drunk mommy?”
“I did have a few drinks at lunchtime and I might have been a little giggly all afternoon”
Angie thought this was hilarious and started to laugh “Silly mommy “
“Bad Peggy more like “Bette remarked putting her daughter down after giving her a big hug. Angie flopped back onto the sofa and picked up the remote control.
“Do you need a hand with dinner?”
“It’s all under control “
“Excellent – I will go and get changed “Bette lent forward and kissed Tina on her lips. The blonde took hold of Bette’s lapel and pulled her closer
“Kiss me again “
Bette obeyed and gave Tina a longer and more meaningful kiss
“Better?”
“It will do for now “
“Let me know when that one runs out”
“You bet”
Bette went through to their bedroom and cast off her clothes. After taking a quick shower she emerged into their bedroom to find Tina lying on their bed. Bette raised an eyebrow at her
“Who is in charge of the cooking with you in here? Angie or Sheba “
“The casserole is on a timer – there is nothing to worry about “
“So you came in to chat?”
“And to just look at you getting changed “
Bette grinned and walked across to her wardrobe and picked out a pair of grey trousers. She put on fresh undies and slipped into the trousers
“How did your mom enjoy lunch with Peggy?”
“I think it will take a few days before it all sinks in – you know what Peggy is like “
“She is going to come round tomorrow at lunchtime and take us both out – she has business to talk with both of us “
“I think the thing my mother has most problem with is how we can be so friendly with my ex-girlfriend’s mother”
“And what did you say?”
Bette got up and opened a drawer looking for a sweater. Tina was watching her with keen interest. Bette liked the thrill of knowing that her lover could still desire her as much as she clearly did. Of course it might all be down to the cocktails. Bette picked a black sweater out and looked at Tina who was just watching her
“Something you like?”
Tina sighed “You really are my future wife aren’t you?”
Bette nodded “I wasn’t aware that was open to debate “
Tina lay back further on the bed and watched Bette who was smiling at her
“You really and truly will be my wife in 10 days’ time and we will spend the rest of our lives together – fuck I don’t know where I got to be this blessed”
Bette sat down on the bed and took Tina’s hand and kissed it
“We are blessed that we found our way back to one another but we work hard at what we have and it’s not been plain sailing and we both know that we have to be committed to making our marriage the success we deserve it to be. We are doing great”
Bette lent forward and kissed Tina on the lips. They kissed for several minutes before Tina stopped kissing Bette’s lips and pulled her body and took one of Bette’s breasts in her mouth and kissed and sucked at it
“Oh God “Bette muttered – this was good and unexpected. Almost without being aware of it they had slipped into a sexual routine. Yes, the routine was more regular than it had been before they split up but still it had become routine. Tina pulled Bette onto the bed and took hold of her so she couldn’t free herself – not that Bette was trying to get free – she was enjoying it too much. It didn’t take long before Tina had succeeded into getting Bette’s nipples to their full length by sucking on them. Bette was getting aroused and knew that by the way that Tina was going at her that she was well up for it
“Tina – babe – we can’t do this “
“I want you – I want to fuck you “
“I want you to fuck me but we are going to get discovered by Angie – Tina “
Tina stopped sucking at Bette’s breasts and looked up at her “I hate your common sense “
Bette sighed and touch the blonde’s face ““I want you but we cannot do it at this moment “Tonight for sure “
Tina rubbed her face – Bette was right – of course she was right. Tina took the sweater that had come out of Bette’s hand during them fooling around and handed it to her
“Are you mad with me?” Bette asked pulling the sweater on
“Yes and no – yes I hate it when you don’t want to make out as much as I do – but no – logic tells me that you are right – – that we do not have the time or the privacy to fuck one another right now”
“She will be in bed in a couple of hours and then we will be alone for the rest of the night. I know it’s not spontaneous or romantic “
“No its not “
“But it’s what our life is – it’s one of the costs of having a daughter – she comes first and she demands our attention even when she is watching whatever drivel she is watching”
Tina nodded and got up and stood and looked at Bette as she put on a warm pair of socks
“I can remember when you would never have worn thick hiking socks like that – hardly keeping up with the famed Bette Porter reputation for being a lothario “
“Even Lotharios need to keep their feet warm “Bette replied smiling “Do you want to go and have dinner with our daughter?”
“What I actually want to do is stay here and lick your clit until you scream my name and then I lick you dry which you would never get because I would be fucking you with my fingers – but having dinner with Angie is okay as well “
They went into the living room- Angie hadn’t noticed their absence – she was watching the TV and laughing. Tina drifted into the kitchen – after a few minutes of sitting with Angie Bette got up and followed Tina into the kitchen – she was looking out of the window.
Bette came up behind her and slipped her hands onto her waist and kissed her neck
“I do want you babe”
“I know – and maybe I am still a little drunk “
““You need to cut back on the cocktails with Peggy “
“It was just polite to drink with her – it would have been rude for her to drink alone “
“That would never put Peggy off – she was in great form “
“Yes she was – let’s hope she comes through with some work for me – I am fed up with just tinkering around with scripts. I want to get my teeth into some proper work”
“It wouldn’t be easy with your parents around all the time – they take up a lot of time”
Tina turned and faced Bette
“I am not sure how you are going to take this “
“Take what?”
“Today when we were going back to the station she asked me how we would feel if they moved closer to us “
“How close is close?” Bette asked
“To the city “
“Not into our spare room?” Bette queried
“No – but they have started to talk about seeing if they could find anywhere after Christmas maybe – what do you think?”
“It would save a fortune on train fares and gas “
“But would you mind?”
“I think the question is more how you feel?”
Tina sighed “If I was pregnant it would really be good to have them around. And they would love to spend more time with Angie – I don’t know “
Bette scratched her face and kissed Tina on the brow “I think it’s something that we would all have to talk about – what sort of place could they afford?”
“They don’t know – they are just discussing this in principle “
“I am all in favor of debates like that but they need to actually be talking about the practical stuff. Like where would they live and they would need to find jobs that paid better than the jobs they have now”
“I know there is that but before they talk about practical stuff they want to be sure than you and I are okay about it “
“I think “Bette said kissing Tina again “It’s been a crazy day and all I want is to eat because I am starving and after that hunger has been satisfied “she exhaled “Then I want to satisfy a much baser hunger than one for food. “
“You don’t want them here “Tina said
“That is not what I said “Bette replied
“Just tell me up front Bette”
Bette knew that Tina was still under the influence of too many cocktails. She wasn’t going to raise to any bait that Tina was throwing out.
“I am going to watch TV with my daughter – shout if you need a hand with dinner”