Chapter 58

“How was New Zealand? “Bette was asking Hayley
“Awesome – it’s just a really beautiful country “
“And how were the women of New Zealand?” Bette asked grinning
“They were okay”
“Oh come on – you go all that way around the world – are you telling me you didn’t get any action?”
“I wasn’t trying to find anyone “ Hayley replied
Tina watched Bette’s face  – Bette could read people very well which meant that she read Hayley well – Tina wondered if she could see that Hayley had a crush on her
“You are away for nearly six months and you don’t get any action – come on you two – back me up here “
“If she got anything she isn’t saying “ Mel said grinning
“She doesn’t have to confess to anything “ Viv smiled at Hayley. Tina was watching the interplay between the women – yes – Hayley had a thing about Bette and the other two were very aware of it. Almost despite herself Tina took Bette’s hand and squeezed it
“How much are you going to confess to Porter?” Hayley shot back at Bette Tina saw Viv and Mel exchange “looks “
Bette picked her beer bottle up and took a long sip. Tina knew her partner too well – Bette had to be able to see Hayley’s less than subtle flirtation. Bette could see it but she was not going to acknowledge it
“I don’t deny getting some action – lots and lots of it – one woman only – my Tina”
“Oh God – you really are devoted to her aren’t you?”
Bette nodded “Yes – I never said I wasn’t and I never hide how I felt about Tina”
“Do we get an account of what happened at the Central Station at noon on the 1st of August? Your emails have been annoyingly vague “Mel teased
“We are private but not secret “Bette said smiling at Tina “Would you say that was fair enough Tina?”
Tina smiled “That seems a reasonable assessment. It’s not easy to be private when you have six parents all want to know what is going on in our relationship and my friends gave us the third degree when we met them “
“We don’t want much  – we don’t want the why and the when  – but Bette is very special to us – and she makes clams looks chatty “ Mel appealed to Tina
Bette shook her head “Because this lot want to know everything and I have been a poor source of gossip for the last couple of years “
Bette saw Mel raise her eyebrow at Viv and Hayley
“For the record Tina knows everything – she knows all about Jesse and Ashley – she knows what happened and she knows that you guys were there for me when I was the main topic of debate on campus “
They all looked at Tina as if they wanted to know her reaction. Tina squeezed Bette’s hand
“I was shocked – of course I was – I was shocked and upset that Bette had been put through what she had. But I know and it hasn’t changed how much I love her or how strong our relationship is “
“That is sweet “Mel said nodding her approval. Tina saw that Hayley didn’t look as thrilled
“Would you like to know what happened at Central Station?” Tina asked smiling
“Yes”
“Please “
Tina looked at Bette who nodded her approval. Tina picked her beer up and took a drink.
“I think she got there first – when I got there I tried to drink a coffee but my hands were shaking so much   – -that’s how nervous I was.  When I got the clock she was there” Tina exhaled remembering that day all over again “She looked amazing – so grown up and I felt like I was 17 again. There was no going back – she looked at me and smiled” Tina looked at the brunette “She looked as hot as hell – a pair of jeans that she had bought years ago when we had been dating at High School and a white blouse – with just enough on display “
“Not as much as you “ Bette objected
“Porter  – you are not telling this story  – go on Tina “ Viv said
Tina chuckled “I looked at her – she looked at me and she gave me one of those huge Porter smiles “
“OH – always fatal “ Mel said
“Always fatal if you are me “ Tina agreed “So she gave me that smile that makes you think you are looking into a thousand suns and she said  – hello babe – it’s good to see you”
Tina stopped talking to take another drink of her beer – the other three were looking at her fascinated
“And – and – what did you say ?” Hayley asked
“I said hello babe it’s awesome to see you “
“Ah!  – first points to Tina there “ Mel said
“I would like to think that my smile broke the ice “ Bette objected laughing
“It did “ Tina said looking at her
“And – tell us more “
“She is not telling you anymore I know the story and you three don’t have to hear anything more . I will give you the short version – – we talked, we ate food, we drank beer and here we are close to Christmas and we are very happy and a couple and everything is great”
“Nothing else!! “ Viv objected
“We are crazy for one another “ Bette said
“We are not interested in anyone else “ Tina replied making her point “Why the hell would I look at anyone else – I have my Bette back – that’s all that matters to us. We are happy -and I want to thank the three of you for taking good care of her when she was suffering from all the crap that Ashley inflicted on her “
“Well we felt sorry for her – such a ugly duckling and so bad at just about everything – and so utterly lacking in charm or personality – we had to take care of her “ Mel said dryly
“I know “ Tina joined in “you just have to feel sorry for her don’t you – all those things going against her “
“I can hear all of you – you do all know  that don’t you ?”
“It’s reassuring that Tina sees how you struggle” Mel replied grinning – it was all done with such affection that Tina smiled – it was just good that Bette had a support team when she had been at college and it looked like these three girls would be around in New York – they were going to become a permanent fixture in their lives
“I hate all of you  “ Bette declared but the smile on her face said the opposite – she was delighted that the others seemed to like Tina- that meant everything to her.
“Even me?” Tina said smiling at her partner
“Especially you “Bette replied grinning “Though I might be able to think of a way for you to make it up to me – in the case of the three of you – you are screwed “
“I will put a good word in for all of you”   Tina said winking at Mel and Viv – she didn’t do the same to Hayley. There was something about her that Tina wasn’t comfortable about. Who came onto someone they knew had faced real trauma because of how she dealt with someone coming onto her? Tina was puzzled and had a feeling there was some story behind all of this. Bette had frequently spoken about how she didn’t deal well with being hit on – and here was one of her so-called best friends doing just that. Tina wasn’t going to leap in today but she would talk to Bette when they were alone. The most important thing to do was to show that she and Bette were a couple and there was no point in anyone coming onto either of them because they were exclusive
“Have you found a job yet Tina?” Viv asked
“I am setting up my own business with the help of my father who is opening his own restaurant  – I am setting up a coffee shop in the ground floor space”
“Hey that’s great “ Mel nodded “ There cannot be enough coffee shops in New York – I sometimes have to walk one or two blocks to find my fix”
“If you impress Mel with your coffee you will have truly made a hit “  Viv told her “That’s a great opportunity “
“I owe it to my dad who is backing me and also he’s letting me make my own decisions – it’s going to be a lot of work “
“And getting up early “ Bette said smiling “ Don’t forget the getting up early bit “
“I know “ Tina said dismissing Bette’s comment with a wave of her hand.
“I am very proud of her “ Bette told her friends “ She is just wonderful – I couldn’t be happier “
“I am pretty sure that we can all tell that your happiness is a really good thing to see – we have seen you at some low ebbs – seeing you this high – it’s awesome. Can we trust you to keep her out of trouble now Tina?”
Tina was going to say something flippant in keeping with the general good humour of the whole afternoon. She kissed Bette’s hand and looked around the table
“Keeping Bette happy is my life’s work – she is everything to me. I know to you three I am the one with the crazy mom who split us up but that part of her life and my life is over now – we have been apart and somehow or other we survived. From now on – it’s me and Bette together. We are both very happy to be given this second chance – it’s not one we intend to spoil for the delights of anyone else. From now on you three are going to have to get used to me because I am going nowhere”
“Good for you – well said Tina – we are delighted that you two are together – aren’t we ?”
Mel looked at Hayley who nodded and smiled but Tina wasn’t fooled. She had seen enough women drooling over Bette – to see one more so close to Bette’s inner circle of friends was something that she was going to be on her guard over now. Hayley’s problem was she had made her feeling so obvious – Tina wasn’t going to under-estimate her though. But maybe she would under-estimate Tina
“Hearing about you two from Bette – hearing about how you two started and everything “ Mel smiled “It was just the most romantic thing I had ever heard – and I read all sorts of lesbian fan fiction. When everyone is dating everyone else and hearts are getting broken like bottles of beer – it was reassuring to have this modern lesbian story that was so romantic “
“I think that makes Emma the Wicked Queen “ Bette said to Tina
“I know it makes her the Wicked Queen – I think she might have abdicated her title to Kate recently” Tina replied to her partner “Thanks Mel – the story took a season or two’s hiatus while we went and did spin-off series or our own but we are together now and it’s up to us how this story continues. I couldn’t have a hotter or lovelier leading lady “
“Corny “Viv told her. Tina shrugged
“I know – but nothing wrong with a bit of William Shatner in the story “
“Emma bought her a massive TV as a housewarming gift  – and because we don’t have a lot of cash we do spend a lot of evenings just snuggled up on the sofa telly watching” Bette explained
“Bette used to spend hours watching TV and movies “ Mel said
“I still do – I just do it with Tina – she is more of a movie geek than me “
“The movies were one of the few places I could escape my complicated love life “  Tina said. Mel went and got more beers and then Tina got the next round of beers. They had been chatting and catching up on stories for about two hours when Mel’s phone went – she went off to answer it and came back grinning
“What are you plotting?” Bette demanded looking at her friend
“A little surprise “
“What is your missus up to?” Bette demanded of Viv
“it’s a nice surprise “Viv assured her, Bette looked at Hayley who shrugged
“Don’t know – this is a Mel secret “
“Out with it Indiana “Bette said
“Has she always been so impatient?”  Mel asked Tina
“Only when surprises are in the offing “Tina replied
Bette shook her head “Just remember I know how to frame you for a crime Indiana – you wouldn’t like jail “
“I think that threat is a crime in itself Bette “Tina pointed out “Hey – what about that – all those years of having four lawyers as parents finally paid off – I remembered some law – does that get me into grad Law School? “
“I wouldn’t even joke about Law School if I was you “Bette warned her “Say it three times and you will wake up and find yourself condemned to a life of law books and subpoenas and all that jazz”
“Think how rich we would be though “
Bette laughed “Did I ever mention just how crazy Tina Kennard is”
“More than once “Viv replied laughing.
Bette looked at Tina and smiled at her – it meant more to her than she could explain to the blonde that Tina was making such an effort to get to know her friends. Bette wondered if Tina had cottoned onto the Hayley situation. Well who was she kindly Bette thought – Tina is as sharp as a razor. Yes she will have seen that Hayley cannot seem to stop herself. Bette hated the situation but also felt that she didn’t want to deal with what was happening. She sucked at dealing with women who had crushes on her – she was hoping against hope that Hayley just got bored and found a girlfriend of her own which would make her crush on Bette go away.
Tina looked at Bette and smiled. Bette mouthed
“Thank you “to her. Tina grinned and lent closer to her and whispered in her ear
“You can thank me later – in bed “
Bette’s grin was spontaneous – and was very easily read by her friends
“Tina is talking to Bette about sex “ Mel said in a matter of fact tone to Viv Bette looked at them
“How the hell did you work that out ?”
“Well  – Tina lent very close to you  – meaning it was something she didn’t want us to hear but mainly because you have gone red in the face and that’s one of the biggest grins I have seen on your face in all the years I have known you “
“Can you not go and study some rocks or something “ Bette countered
Tina was laughing “ Oh priceless – Bette is the Master of body language and subtle tells about people – you just turned the tables on her “
“You can see now what I have to put up with “ Bette said to Tina
“Smart people “ Tina agreed – she looked at Mel
“Thank you for that moment “
“Have I told you  that Tina plays for a dyke soccer team and one of the players who Tina had dated hates me so much she spits at my feet when I am standing cheering Tina on ?”
“Really – why does she do that?” Hayley asked
“She’s crazy “Tina said “And in truth Bette is our lucky mascot – when she shows up we win – mainly because half of them are trying to catch her eye”
“And how do you feel about that?” Viv asked – that sounded like Bette’s idea of hell
“it’s a gag and I am in on the gag. They know we are a couple and it’s just a running joke”
She paused “It’s taken me a few weeks to get used to it – and a couple of the girls having to actually tell me that they are just messing around  – but yes – they always win when I am there – they have this lethal centre forward who scores a lot “
“And that’s not only on the pitch “ Tina said grinning “ I used to dream about Bette coming to watch me play soccer – I play better when she is there “
Mel checked her phone
“Your surprise is here”
“What surprise ?” Bette asked
“Well Viv and I found an apartment a couple of weeks ago and we got chatting to one of the neighbours who was the most dykest dyke either of us had met in our lives “
“She just screamed dyke “ Viv agreed
“And she came over and had a drink with us and she saw a graduation photo I have of the whole gang and she said – I went to school with her “
Bette looked at Tina
Tina shook her head and looked at Mel
“You are kidding us – the dyke of all dykes ?”
“We both liked her so much and we invited her over to say hi”
The door of the bar opened and Bette and Tina both shouted at the same time
“SHANE!! “