Is this love

Chapter 89

One of the things that made Tina happy was how precious spending time with Bette was regardless of how frequently it happened. Tina had cooked for the two of them and now they were on the sofa waiting for their box office movie to start on cable. Tina looked across at Bette. The brunette was wearing light blue cotton pyjamas and a warm pair of socks. Tina smiled – it really meant the world to her that their relationship was so easy. They just got on really well and that meant the world to her – the intensity wasn’t as all consuming as it had been at the start but it was now solidly strong. But this evening Bette hadn’t been as chatty as she usually was. Tina rested her hand on Bette’s calf, causing her to look over and smile
“You okay Bette ?”
“Sure – of course “
“You have been very quiet “
“Have I ?”
“Yes”
“Sorry “
“Anything you would like to talk about ?”
Bette sighed “Yes but the movie is going to start in 10 minutes “
“So – we can always watch it another time – you want a glass of wine ?”
“No thanks – you get one if you want one “
“I don’t want one – I just thought it might chill you out a little “
Bette took Tina’s hand and stroked it. Tina sat quietly – Bette often took her own time to talk about her emotions. Tina had found that the way to deal with that was to be as patient as possible and Bette would gradually open out. In a way she was like a animal emerging from its lair – it took her slow steps to emerge.
“I spent an hour with Peggy this lunchtime “
“Did you show her the photograph of that picture ?”
“Yes “
“And is it the boat that her husband owned ?”
“Yes “
The next question which was leaping from Tina’s tongue was “well – what the hell did she say ?” But Bette wasn’t being quick with her replies so Tina bided her time and waited. Bette was still stroking Tina’s hand
“It rattled her – really it rattled her. I thought that it might – well we both did but I don’t think I expected her to be so shocked or stunned “
“It was a blast from her past “
“It was – she’s never really talked about him – Helena doesn’t talk much about him either. That never really puzzled me until I realised how much you talk about Kate. “
“Everyone is different “
“I guess it hurts sometimes for you to talk about your mom – Helena’s dad died when she was 13-14. You would think that it was easier to talk about “
“Its just how people are. I want to keep mom’s memory alive. I want you to know stories about her. So you know what a fantastic person she was “
“I know that – she brought you up – of course she was an amazing woman “
Tina smiled
“Did you two discuss Helena and mom ?”
Bette blew her cheeks out and gave Tina a wry smile
“She floored me “
“She’s accepted them ?” Tina said in disbelief
“No “ Bette admitted
“Of course she hasn’t – that would be far too much to expect “
Bette guessed that Tina was becoming irritated by Peggy’s constant criticism of Helena and Emma. She was doing her best not to get too involved in the whole thing but it was a horse that had long ago bolted – she was right in the midst of Helena and Emma just because of her relationships with Helena and Tina.
“It is more complicated “
“Why ?”
“I don’t want you to talk about this to anyone else “
Tina nodded
“I didn’t think that Peggy could come up with a reason that they shouldn’t be together – she really pulled the rug out from underneath my feet “
“How – what on earth did she say ?”
“She wants Helena to have kids – to keep on the famous Peabody name”
Tina looked less than impressed at the reply
“And why does Peggy think that just because she wants grandchildren that Helena is going to agree to it ?”
“The name does mean a lot to Helena – I know she doesn’t make a thing about it the way that Peggy does but it has to mean a lot to her. She’s been brought up to believe that her destiny is to follow in the footsteps of her great grandparents, her grandparents and her parents – she’s next in line and part of that obligation is to keep the name going “
“Sounds like upper class bullshit to me “
“it’s the way that Peggy was brought up and its something that she has installed in Helena. There were so many arguments between Peggy and Helena about disgracing the family name. The Peabody billions comes with an obligation “
“Helena and Peggy are not the only Peabodies left on the planet. Helena is not some rare fucking dodo”
“They are who they are Tina. Don’t under estimate how important the whole family name and carrying it on is to Helena “
“So “ Tina frowned “ Helena cannot be with who she wants to be with because they are not going to want kids ?”
“it’s a factor “
“You agree with her ?”
“No – but the Peabody tradition means a lot to Helena “
“Crap “
“It is what it is Tina”
“So you think they should split up just because mommy Peabody wants a grandchild to spoil ?”
“Tina “ Bette sighed – she had expected Tina to take this badly “I don’t think they should split up just because of that reason but Helena does want kids one day. The longer they keep seeing one another – and the deeper they fall in love – the harder its going to be for them to split up “
Tina flushed with anger. Bette kissed her hand and squeezed it
“Tina – we agreed that we should let them have the relationship that they wanted to. I know that we cannot keep out of it totally but we both know that its hard for them “
“All the more reason we should be on their side “
“We have been on their side. They have been to dinner with us – we have been out with them. They have not been out with anyone else. There is no way that they can accuse us of not supporting them “