“The real question is; why would she accept. Even though you’ve opened the door to a reconciliation for the sake of the baby she’s clearly at a disadvantage and she knows it.”

“What makes you think that?” Tina was curious at this new development. She too had to wonder why Bette would even entertain the idea of attending a function where Helena would be present, unless it was forced on her. Tina did her best to keep them apart knowing Bette could barely stand to be in the same room with Helena especially when Tina was around so why would she accept the invitation. She was also getting pissed that Helena was talking about her as if she were a trophy in her rivalry with Bette.

“Darling, when we met you and Bette weren’t exactly on speaking terms. You were on the verge of getting divorced. Even though she was busy fucking another woman she had to be blind not to notice your pregnancy. I’m sure it was awkward hearing it from me but I did you both a favor when I revealed your secret. Your stubbornness wasn’t getting you anywhere and you obviously still love her. My interference got you two talking again. You can’t say that I didn’t influence your decision to form this new partnership to parent the child, together. She certainly has me to thank for that.”

“So what’s your point Helena. In one breath, you are concerned about her breaking my heart and in the next you are taking credit for getting us together again? Either way we don’t need your help Helena. Bette and I will work things out for ourselves. If we get back together as a couple or if we just share the responsibility of parenting our child to give her a family; the decision is solely ours.”

The truth was that Helena could care less about the outcome of their relationship. The damage would be done, by the time they figured it out. She would have moved on to make her way to ruin someone else’s life, but for now having Bette and Tina at odds did little to advance her personal agenda.

***

She’d first hatched the scheme after Bette Porter had visited the Peabody office in New York to make a case for the CAC grant. The mocha beauty had been so self-assured that Helena would give her the money just based on the long-standing relationship between Bette and Peggy Peabody and their mutual passion for the arts. It was at that time that Helena mentioned they were taking the foundation in a new direction and would be looking at putting more funding into social services. Bette agreed that social services was worthy and even mentioned that her wife Tina was heavily involved in that campaign but Bette’s point of view to urge the Peabody Foundation to continue supporting the arts didn’t waver.