***

It was 6pm on Sunday night when Tina finally let herself into the apartment. It had been a magically weekend with Bette and she was so grateful for her father for making it possible and her parents for understanding. But most of all she was grateful to Bette who had made a teenage dream a young adult reality. It had great – they had been for a run together, played some tennis – Bette was good at that like she was at everything else, Bette had cooked fantastic meals, they had watched movies together and they had shared the most wonderful sex. Tina just didn’t think that life got any better than it was right now. Her first stop was the kitchen to put her washing into the machine, then to see if there was anything to eat and finally she headed into the living room to see if her parents were around. Kate was sitting on the sofa surrounded by law books – that didn’t hint they had shared the sort of weekend that Tina and Bette. Emma was typing away furiously at her laptop – that was usually the sign that she was writing a speech.
Tina half wondered if she should just go to her room until they came out of lawyer-mode. She turned to leave the room thinking she hadn’t been spotted
“Where do you think you are going young lady ?”
Emma’s voice made Tina turn round sharply
“I saw that you were both busy – I was going to go to my room “
“Sit “ Emma ordered
Tina’s heart jumped – shit – what was she going to get into trouble for ? They could hardly yell at her for sleeping with Bette – it was what they all knew they were going to do.
Tina sat down – Kate looked over her glasses at her daughter. She didn’t know if she would see something different about her daughter. Tina looked worried but that was because of Emma and her tone. Other than that she looked like she needed a good night sleep but other than that she looked the same happy and sweet little girl that she was most of the time.
“How was your weekend ?”
“Fine thank you – how was yours ?” Tina said
“We didn’t spend the weekend with a girlfriend for the first time”
Oh God – please make this not be a damn inquisition
“What do want to know ?” Tina said – she wasn’t going to fall into a typical trap of her mothers which was asking her about one thing and Tina giving away details of something else that her mother hadn’t known about.
“What did you get up to ?”
Tina wasn’t sure whether she should brave this out but – she played it cagily.
“We played tennis in the Park  – she’s good at that like she is at everything else. Bette cooked fantastic meals – and taught me a couple of them. I will be cooking in the week by the way so notify the hospitals and make sure your affairs are in order. We even watched the news and we talked about murder cases in New York – that was a grisly conversation- you would have loved it mom”
Emma had defended a number of killers in the past and murder was a subject they seemed to have talked about like they discussed movies and their friends and family.
“You seem tired “ Kate said smiling
“I am “ Tina said and deciding to forget she was 17 and these were her parents
“Bette is a fidget and we are both used to more share of the bed than we got but we will get used to one another”
Kate laughed “Does Bette snore ?”
“No “ Tina said “Are the two of you just teasing me or do you have a bet about what you can get me to admit or are you really interested in your daughter’s sex life ?”
Kate laughed and gestured to Emma
“I would like to say that I was cohered into this “
“You rat “ Emma said “You said”
“It doesn’t matter what we said “ Kate said quickly – Tina really would need years in therapy if she knew the details of Tina and Bette’s sex life they had debated after too many brandies the night before “We just love you and worry – its part of our contract. Emma and I have checked many times in 17 years but its watertight – we have to worry about our only child.”
“Yeah – but that was when you assumed that I would be straight and you would be having to give me advice about condoms and the pill- subjects the two of you are not familiar with. Bette is not some hairy boy who wants to get me into bed so he can boast to his friends and she cannot get me pregnant. We were both virgins so neither of us are carrying any nasty diseases. That makes us as low risk as it possible to get. And I am not telling you anything about who did what to who because the two of you would need therapy if I did”
Tina got up and left the room. She stood for a few seconds and decided to go back in and have the final word. She put her head round the door and waited until they were both looking at her
“Since you both seem un-naturally interested and in case there is money at stake with one another or with Rosie – Bette and I have been lovers for a few weeks”
With that she gave them both a grin and vanished. Kate looked at Emma and they both laughed
“There is something very disturbing about having her run rings around the pair of us with her brain and not having to rely on her brown eyes and blonde hair and the sweetest and most innocent of all smiles. I hope she never decides on a life of crime because she would be very good at it “ Emma said
Kate grinned “She’s an adult now sweetie and apart from what a pain in the ass she was for a year – its not been too bad. New school, great grades, lovely girlfriend and look at her — thriving. This time next year she will be starting to make plans about what to take to college – our baby grew up Emma”
“I know and it makes me feel old. “ Emma sighed “ She looks happy “
“She does and you have to admit – her taste in women is fantastic. Bette’s stunning “
“Yes – do you think she smarter than we were at 17 ?”
“Oh good God yes – she’s way smarter than me – I was never 1st in my year. I was never that low down but 1st – that was a stunning handsome boy called – eh- now what was he called ? “
“Another sign of age “ Emma said
“No it’s a sign of me putting my high school experience out of my head because I couldn’t be who I was. Something that has not happened to Tina thank the Lord”
“Do you think they have a future ?” Emma asked
“You mean beyond school ?”
Emma nodded “I think that’s not going to be an easy conversation. I think they love one another and they are good for each other. I worry what happens when they argue – two only children tend not to be the best combination.”
“They are doing well and I don’t think Bette is a typical anything. I know its early days but they seem very stable “
Emma returned to typing her opening remarks for a case that was starting in a couple of days. It had been good for her and Kate to have two days alone as well and she was feeling pretty good. Emma was so lost in her writing that it took Kate’s voice to break her concentration
“What is it babe ?”
Emma looked up- Tina was back in the room and looking very serious.
“What’s up Tina ?”
Tina looked at her mobile phone as if she didn’t want to believe the message. She looked at her mothers
“Melvin knows about us “