“Yeah, I knew her. She was always nice to me but, I was a reminder of Daddy’s life before her and I think that she felt kind of weird because daddy left mommy for her.”

“Was Bette close to her? You know like really close?” Alice was now on the question band wagon.

“They were close but at arms length. Her mother never just put her on her lap and played with her. She kind of patted her on the head if you know what I mean. She was kind of emotionally cold but, don’t get me wrong, she loved Bette and Bette never had to question that. Her mother made sure she had the best of everything. If money could buy it, it was Bette’s. She wasn’t spoiled with things, she was spoiled with education and a finer style of life than my mother could give me. Sometimes it made me really mad but I loved Bette. Always have. I just never lived up to her standards. She learned that from her mother. Her mother didn’t come from money, she worked very had to achieve her artistic accolades. She was a beautiful woman. She was a fine woman and she looked very good on daddy’s arm. He loved her, kind of like she loved Bette. She was very proud of Bette and her accomplishments. I think if you knew more about her mother, you would understand her more.”

The women were riveted. Bette rarely discussed her family and seldom mentioned her mother. This was insight that her friends were never privy to.

“Damn. just when you think you know someone, their past shows up and you learn a whole lot more.” Alice was making mental notes.

“Girls, don’t you ever tell her we talked like this. She keeps all of this very close to the vest if you know what I mean.”

Alice makes the “lips are zipped” motion with her hand.

“Never had the conversation.” Shane concurred.

“I will never mention it Kit. Thanks so much for sharing with us. Bette never really talked about her relationship with her mother.” Tina found this all very enlightening though and hopes that this knowledge will help her with her relationship with Bette.