Sitting on the subway Tina put her bag on her lap which allowed Bette to take hold of Tina’s hand without anyone seeing them.
“I get the impression you are a good player “ Bette said
“I am – like anything you want to be good at you have to work at it and I did. It was something that I started in my second year – I shared a house with a couple of Brits and two Italians and a Czech girls – they were all soccer crazy and we had some land out the back and they would go outside – a couple with their boyfriends who were also soccer crazy and it just became something we did. I got good pretty quickly – and that was when I got dragged along to the soccer team and I played for them for three years”
Bette listened and nodded – she thought it was good that Tina had an outlet for her frustrations and her mother certainly fitted into that category.
“Well the next time you play I want to come along and watch – I want to see my girl in action”
“I will invite you along “
“Here is our stop – come on “
They were soon walking along towards Bette’s building.
“Have you heard from Kate in the last couple of days ?” Bette asked
“No – why ?”
“Well I popped in to see my folks last night on the way to work”
“Is that the first time you have seen them since we started again ?”
“Yeah – and I really should go and see them more often “
“I am surprised you don’t see them more often – I know how close you were “
Bette exhaled “I blamed them and I shouldn’t have. They have suffered enough – we all have. If you and I are putting things back together again I should make more of an effort with my folks. You cannot be angry forever and it doesn’t do anyone any good in the long run”
“Was that aimed at me and my folks ?”
“No – that was about me  – I have made them suffer long enough and its not fair. I will make the effort to see them more often  – I do love them and I do miss them “
“So why the question about Kate ?”
Bette squeezed Tina’s hand “I got the feeling from a couple of less than cryptic comments from Rosie that they have been talking “
“Oh God help us “ Tina commented
“That was what I thought “ Bette agreed “ Anyway – as I was leaving and mom was handing me food to get me through the night “
“Handy “
“Yeah – anyway – as I was leaving mom said – and I quote her here “ I just want you and Tina to know that whatever the two of you decide to do — we are right behind you and we want you both to be happy “
Tina smiled “ That could mean her and Melvin “
“After the grief I have given dad he  never comments on my relationships. No – I think she meant her and Kate “
“Well what they can both do is work on Emma – that will help”
“Remember what we agreed “ Bette said “This is about you and I. I know the Emma thing is always hanging over our heads like the bloody sword of Damocles but at the end of the day – this is about us – you and I  – no one else. Not your mother and none of our exes “
Tina looked at Bette – that remark had probably been driven by Bette’s suspicions about which members of  the NY Ellens that Tina had slept with= if she wanted to know she just had to ask..