Tina woke up at 8:30 and Bette was still not back – that was the problem with waiting for Bette to come back from her run – she stayed out too long because she could run for so long. Especially as she would be running along the beach. She would be getting so many admiring looks Tina thought as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling. In the end she got out of bed – put on her robe and went into the kitchen in search of caffeine or fruit juice. Tina was standing with the fridge door open drinking straight from the juice carton
“I really wish you would not do that “
Tina spluttered as she was discovered by Emma doing something that she knew she shouldn’t be. Tina wiped her mouth and looked at her mother. Emma looked like she had a hangover. Bette and Tina had been in bed when they had heard Emma and Kate come rolling in at about 1am – it was obvious they were both drunk by how loud they were – and the fact that Kate was singing Bonnie Tyler songs.
“Did you have a good night ?” Tina asked
“We did – I needed it after hearing from Kate what had caused my daughter to act like a spoilt little brat “
Tina winched – okay – so they were going to do this now. With her mother under the influence of a severe hangover.  Tina put the juice back into the fridge
“Don’t do that “ Emma said “ You use up the rest of that juice and get one of the other ones out”
There was probably enough juice left in the carton for herself so Tina found a glass and poured the contents into it. She got a second carton out and poured a glass for her mother – she handed it to her
“How’s mom?” Tina asked
“She’s gone for a swim”
“Bette’s gone running “ Tina explained
“So there is just you and me then “
“Looks that way “ Tina said  – well this was going to get the day off to the worst possible start. Well she would rather have this done and out of the way so she could try and move on. She did feel battered – regardless of how great their love making had been. She still felt fragile – and a conversation with her hung-over mother was only going to make sure that she hit rock bottom. Well as Bette often said  – once you had hit rock bottom – there was only way – and that was upwards.
“Okay mom – lets get this done “
Emma went to the fridge and added several ice cubes to her glass of juice. She walked into the living room – Tina followed her and sat down. A day of boozing was not the best backdrop to a serious conversation  but this was what it was  -just survive it and hope that either Kate or Bette would get back in time to stop the worst of the savaging.
“Do you have anything to say about what happened yesterday ?”
“I was an idiot – you know it  – and so does Kate and so does Bette. I wanted to win more than I wanted anything else. That was all that mattered to me “
“And apparently that is our fault because of how you have been brought up ?”
To say yes would invite a real telling off – but on the other hand – Tina did think that she was the product of her parents
“Yes  “ she heard herself say “Yes – you two had spent days going on about the honour of the Kennard’s and how we couldn’t let this Porter win anything “
Emma was silent for a few seconds “ When I asked you that question what I really hoped was that you would take responsibility – not blaming us “
I knew it  – Tina thought “ Well its true – you two have always told me time and time again that its vital to be a winner – that you have to finish on top”
“You made the decision to lie to Bette about who was the better player – you didn’t want to ask Bette if she could play. You are almost 18 years old Tina – you keep telling us that you are mature enough to sleep with Bette. Well the way you went on yesterday is making me wonder if you are. Maybe when school starts again we are going to have to think about whether we let Bette stay at the weekend . I am not certain that  you are mature”
That was one thing that Tina had not expected “That isn’t fair “ Tina objected
“You reap what you sew – and yesterday was embarrassing for me. Its just as well that Kate found you before I did because yesterday I was bloody furious with you –  I still am. You have not been brought up to be such a brat and that’s what you were yesterday. I sat with Bette for a while having lunch and neither of us knew what to say. I wanted to apologise for you but as you are such an adult you don’t need me to say sorry for you. You really let me down yesterday “
So much for a night’s sleep having calmed her mother down – she was furious.
“ Bette and I have been talking about college – we don’t know what is going to happen”
“You told Kate that you didn’t think you were good enough to go to Yale “
“That’s right “
That phrase had been going round and round Emma’s head. It was something she couldn’t believe her daughter thought
“And Bette has never said that to you ?” Emma asked
“Of course not – until yesterday we hadn’t talked about it – we talked a lot and we still have a lot to discuss about college “
“You want to got to the same college as Bette”
“Yes “
“Why ?”
“Why ?”
“Yes – why ?”
“Because I want to be with Bette”
Emma had promised Kate that she wouldn’t interfere but she did want to say a few things to Tina and with both Bette and Kate out of the way – this would be her only chance
“I am not saying that you are wrong “ Emma began
But you are – Tina thought resenting the hell out of this discussion
“I am just saying that I want you to have an open mind. Do not rule anything out. No one knows what is going to happen in the future but what I will say to you is that there is a long time between now and next September. Have an open mind- see how you are do with your studies when you are a senior and start looking at colleges and see which ones you like”
“Bette wants to go to Yale “
“Yale is great – so are all the Ivy League colleges. What matters is finding one that suits you – and what suits you might not suit Bette. Don’t look at me like that Tina” Emma said
“You know that I am right. Do not rule anything out – have an open mind”
“I want to be with Bette”
Emma sighed – okay so she might have been like a bull in a china shop just there. She sipped her juice – god she had one hell of a hangover. She thought for a few minutes
“I am going to say something – do not flip when I say this – just hear me out”
Tina looked mutinous but didn’t speak.
“If you really and truly believe in what you have with Bette – then – nothing is going to stop you two finding a way of getting together. Some time apart might not be the worst thing in the world. I know it sounds something that would freak you out now but if you and Bette need to go to different colleges – well that might not be such a bad thing. If its meant to be – you will get back to one another “
Emma realised that Tina wasn’t ready to hear that – she looked like she was going to start crying. She was fighting tears and obviously wasn’t going to give her mother the satisfaction of seeing her cry…; well that is what it looked like to Emma. And when Tina was being defiant by fighting tears she showed how she was her mother’s daughter by staring back at Emma. Emma sighed
“I am not trying to hurt you babe – I want you to be happy and I was upset and disappointed in you yesterday. When Kate told me that you don’t think you are good enough for Bette – that upset me – that still upsets me. You are a remarkable young woman – you are not second to anyone “
“I am always second to Bette “
“No you are not – is this just because of tennis ?”
“Of course not – its everything. She gets hit on more than me,, she is so beautiful. She is calm when I am a hot headed idiot as you have told me, she is 1st in the school – she is brilliant at everything “
Emma raised an eyebrow – she had been thinking at lot about this in the shower when she had been trying to drown her hangover
“You finished 4th in your year after only a few weeks – that is a more remarkable achievement than Bette finishing 1st – I think you are more than capable of being first next year. There is no reason you cannot go to any college you want “ she drank more of her juice. She put the glass down carefully on the coffee table and looked at her daughter
“And as for everything else – well running – when the hell did you last go for a run ? We have been here six days and she’s been out running five days out of six. I don’t think for a second that Bette is better than you – I do  think she works harder than you though. She is a great runner because she does it everyday. You two are different personalities – Bette is intense. God I never met anyone of her age who was so intense – she is like Melvin in that way. But she works bloody hard – maybe too hard but it is how she is. If you want to beat Bette my advice to you is simple – work harder. You should stop feeling sorry for yourself and stop throwing tantrums and you should start applying your considerable talents and skills at beating Bette. “
Emma stood up – maybe she should have gone for a swim as well. She looked at Tina
“You have had it too easy for too long. When you didn’t like your last school we took you away from it . I think we did the right thing because this school is obviously better for you but you have to take a long hard look at yourself. Here is a fact of life Tina – there will always be people who are better than you at things – you will never get out of bed if you keep thinking about them and worrying. Bette doesn’t worry about other people- he just worries about doing her own thing. You cannot be Bette – just like I cannot be Kate and I have never tried. A relationship is not about becoming the same as the other person, if you cannot deal with Bette being pretty and being naturally sporty – well then that is just another example that you haven’t really grown up. I meant what I said earlier Tina – please do not give me more ammunition to stop you and Bette sleeping together. The new term is getting close – I am going to be watching you closely – do not let me down. Your mother says that we should let you make your own decisions – well right here and now – you don’t seem mature enough to decide what you are having for breakfast. Kate and I are going shopping today – the two of you have the apartment to yourselves  – take the time to talk to Bette and do some very deep thinking but you are very close to having a lot of privileges taken away from you and I know that you don’t want that “