Tina had never heard the story before and laughed for several minutes

“Did he stay in the town ?”
“He tried but eventually he moved to Raleigh where I am sure some one from his past still shows up and calls him Little “

“We totally ripped into her “

“I am not surprised “

Tina puffed out her cheeks “Its not like to miss a night like this “
“Is she your friend or Bette’s ?”
“Bette’s – they have been friends for a long term. In truth – well – in truth Alice doesn’t like me “

“Why ?”

“She thinks that I am bad for Bette by keeping her away from her “
“Do you agree ? it seems to bother you “

“I would hate for anyone to think that I was bad in any way for Bette – she’s given me nothing but happiness and love and security. I know – logically that she is wrong – that there is nothing wrong with how close and even insular that Bette and I are. But – it still bothers me”

“You want to know what I think ?”
“What ?”

“I learnt a lesson – well I re-learnt a lesson when you and Bette came to stay and I had issues with her. The problem was with me – maybe I wasn’t as cool as I should have been about you being gay “
“Really ? “ That did surprise Tina

“Not in that way – I was hurt that you told your dad and not me. I was hurt because you trusted him and not me “

“Mom – he caught us together in a one bedroom apartment – what was I going to do ? I am sorry if you felt that way – really I am “

“The point is Tina – that it was me feeling hurt – there was no reason to take it out on Bette but I did. I am glad that Bette is so gracious as to give me another chance and to pay for me to fly out here for your party . Maybe you need to learn that if someone doesn’t like you its not always about you . I suspect that Alice is used to being much closer to Bette than she is now. She could be jealous of you or she could resent you – either way its not about you. Try not to let it worry you. You have a very beautiful woman to take care of – that should be your priority “

“It is – the last week has just been insane”

“With those pictures flying around I am not surprised “

Tina laughed and then sighed
“Sometimes I just stand still and think back to go about perfectly normally before Bette came into my life. I thought I was happy but every day was the same and deep down inside me was this emptiness. It was like there was a part of me missing. And I met her and nothing was ever going to be the same again. “

“Are you still feeling that ?”

“What – that I am the luckiest woman in LA – look at her “

Tina turned and watched as Bette dragged James onto the dance floor. Peggy and Elizabeth were clearly egging them on. Bette was laughing

“I mean – there must be 100 – 120 people in here and she’s the most stunning – she’s the one who stops traffic and time almost and she’s mine and she worships me. Mom – how the hell do you ever come to terms with having one of the biggest dreams in your life come true?”

“You thank whatever deity you believe in and you settle down to making the dream a 3-D reality “

**