“God  – I am sorry Bette – I just caught up talking to Kit “

“Discretely I hope – we promised Peggy that we would not be insensitive “

“I know that –  its okay – we started talking about arrangements for Christmas and New Year.. It was a side issue that we started talking about politics and what I could be doing for the next few months “

“Good “

“Is Ella asleep ?”

“She is –  I have sorted out dinner as well –  is stir fry okay for you ?”

“Yes – that would be great “

“Why don’t you go and see Ella and get changed and then we can maybe eat in front of the TV – I have got some wine in the fridge “

“Lovely “

“Just practising for how I am going to take care of my wife and family when I am no longer the President “

“You will always be wonderful “ Tina kisses me and goes off to see our daughter. I go in the kitchen and finish chopping the ingredients for the stir-fry – that will take all of 5-10 minutes to cook when we are ready. I take a beer from the fridge and go and lounge in front of the TV  by lying on the sofa. When Tina comes through she is wearing jeans and a pink tee-shirt and her feet are bare. She smiles

“You look very chilled “

“That’s because I am – can I get you a drink ?”

“Its okay – I fancy a beer – do you want another one ?”

“Yes please “

Tina comes back with two beers and sits down on the sofa putting my legs over her legs so we are nicely entwined

“This is really nice “ Tina says

“Its is “

“What are you watching ?”

“Some ancient episode of House that we have seen before – I just wanted to see Hugh Laurie sneering – he does it so much better than me “

I channel hope through a few channels to the sound track of comments

“Seen that 20 times “

“I cannot stand that woman “

“Quick – move on”

“This dross !! “

So I reach the news and I pause on that  – the ads are on – the ads are always on.

“Is there nothing on Comedy Central ?” Tina asks

“I will look in a minute –  I just want to see what the headlines are “

“Why –  the govt hasn’t done anything for days – or has Patricia the Stripper come out of hiding at last ?”

“I don’t think she has “

The news comes on and BINGO  – right on time – the yellow ticker tape headline – “Arrest in Holly Lancaster Murder Case “

“Holy shit Bette “

The scene is from a helicopter – hovering over a massive house – the sort of house that makes Holly’s mansion look like a condo.

“Lorraine Melfi “ I tell Tina

“Who the fuck is that ?”

“Wife of James Melfi “

“And to repeat my earlier question – who the fuck is that ?”

She looks at me “And how the fuck do you know about this ?”

“Well I am not sure if you know but I am the President “

“I had heard a rumour “

“CJ got a tip off from the LA Governor “

“So who is this woman and why has she been arrested ?”

“She is the wife of a mob boss “

“Holy smoke “

“It seems that Holly was not only screwing the republican governor but also the wife of a mob boss “

Tina looks at me and then back at the screen

“So when she kept talking about the big names that she was sleeping with and she was going to name names “

That’s one of the  things that I most love about my wife- she is razor sharp. She got that connection way quicker than I did.

“Yes “

“She was not only not talking about you “

“No “

“But she was signing her own death warrant “

“Exactly “