****

Tina hesitated to open her parents apartment with her own key. She had vowed that she would only knock at the door like any other visitor but that had been before finding out her parents had split up. She took a deep breathe and opened the door and went inside.
She found Emma in the kitchen making coffee – she was still wearing her grey silk pyjamas and a black robe.
“Morning mother “
Emma swung round – she looked terrible and Tina felt her heart break for her
“Hello Tina – coffee ?”
“Please – have you had any breakfast ?”
“Cereal at about 4am. I didn’t sleep too well”
“Neither did I “
Emma nodded “Not easy is it ?”
“No – the midnight visit from Kate didn’t help matters “
Emma looked surprised “ Midnight ?”
“Yes  – I was asleep – Bette answered my mobile”
If Emma disapproved of the mention of Bette’s name she was wise enough not to make any comments
“What did Kate tell you ?”
Emma poured Tina a coffee and sat down at the kitchen table. Tina sat down beside her and picked up the coffee to warm her hands
“That she had met someone and I would really like her”
Emma didn’t look at Tina straight away – she looked down at the table
“And what did you say ?”
“I was in a state of shock as I didn’t know what the hell had been going on. I didn’t take well to hearing all about Alex – who incidentally drove mom to my apartment – that really went down well – as did the bloody seven hours I waited for her to get back to me”
Emma looked at Tina
“That wasn’t supposed to happen “
“So I gather from Kate – but it did and the more I think about it the more fucking pissed off I am with her”
It was obvious to Tina that her mother hadn’t expected Kate to be criticised by Tina and in the way that she had. As Tina told Bette afterwards that realisation that Emma still expected to be seen as the bad guy had really broken Tina up.
“She was supposed to come over almost straight away. I wanted us to tell you together – with your dad  and Bette there to be your support”
“Why didn’t you do it like that ? I don’t know if it would have been easier but I wouldn’t have had to fill in the blanks from my imagination”
Emma was silent
“Mom “
She looked up “I don’t know Tina – Kate said she wanted to tell you herself – to explain how she felt”
“Well I had to wait seven damn hours to hear how she felt and I could have done without being told how much I would like Alex. Do you know who this woman is ?”
“She’ collects art. She was born in London but emigrated to Montreal with her family when she was 10. She went back to England to study at Cambridge University where she got a First in Art History”
“What the hell mother ?”
“When I found out what was happening I had a private agency that I use all the time for work investigate her. I had all the proof I needed before I caught her packing her bags on Tuesday which was when she finally told me “
Tina was stunned – Emma had known all about the affair and hadn’t said anything
“How” she began
“How did I know or how did I keep it to myself ?”
Tina nodded – Emma seemed totally in control of her emotions but Tina knew that she wasn’t – she was a mess but had found something in that vast store of discipline of hers to stay in control while she told her daughter what she wanted to know.
Emma sighed “ I know I am not easy to live with – I have heard it often enough from you and Kate. Last summer we had a huge fight -not just a row but a stand up throwing things fight. After that – even though we both said sorry and made amends – but after that she changed – she didn’t want to know me. It creeps up on you – the realisation that your marriage is over because she doesn’t love you any more. She couldn’t bear to have me touch her – that’s not easy when you share a bed. I don’t know how long I have known for sure that there was someone else – maybe for months – but I wouldn’t face it”
Tina could feel her own tears starting – she rubbed her eyes and hoped that Emma couldn’t see her tears.
“I couldn’t face it because I didn’t think I was strong enough to face what I had driven Kate to. I found out by accident about her affair. We have the same phones and one morning when I wasn’t going in until after her she left her phone on this table”
Emma touched the table where the phone had been – Tina sniffed more tears back
“I picked it up thinking it was mine to check some stocks. “ Emma sniffed “ You would think that the wife of a top lawyer would be a hell of a lot more careful than to have a phone full of soppy text messages.” She laughed a bitter laugh “I see it all the time in cases I work – at first the cheater is so careful  – different phone, deletes all messages but they all get careless – human nature I guess. Kate has worked the same sort of cases as me – you would think she had learnt her lesson – she didn’t – maybe no one does. You never think you are going to get caught “
Tina – who had slept with girls behind their official girlfriends back once or twice didn’t really want to agree or disagree out loud. Emma didn’t react to Tina’s silence
“So I made a note of the number and the name –  and I put the phone back. Kate came haring back about five minutes later” she looked at Tina
“Why would she need to come back if she didn’t have something to hide on her phone. She could just call you and tell you what had happened “ Tina filled in
Emma smiled “Spoken like the daughter of four lawyers . Anyway  – I knew – well I knew for sure I guess is closer to the truth. I don’t think I was shocked – well I wasn’t . I was hurt and devastated but I wasn’t shocked. From then I have just been waiting. Waiting to find out if it was just an affair or whether it was serious . I knew the answer but even an old cynic like me gets surprised now and again. I had my fears confirmed on Tuesday – she loves her – Alex understands Kate in a way that I do not and she wants her to live with her “
“Fuck “ Tina said shaking her head “This is just awful mom “
“I am sorry for how you found out. I did think that the best thing was if we both told you but I was told that she would tell you herself because she could tell you things that she couldn’t say in front of me”
“She just told me that she was unhappy with you and that she didn’t love you and that Alex did love her and I would really like her when I met her”
“What did you say to that ?”
“I was reeling  – Bette stepped in and said that it was a lot for me to take in and that any discussion about Alex should be postponed”
“It was tactless “ Emma said “ But I guess she is besotted “
What hurt Tina more than anything was how Emma seemed to have lost all the fight in her. This was not the combative mother she knew so well – or thought she did.
“What will you do ? “ Tina asked.
Emma sipped her coffee “ Take some time off – maybe go away – take stock. I will find a divorce lawyer and leave it to them. There is something that we never told you – mainly because we didn’t want to worry you”
“What ?”
“We have a contract signed and sealed in my safe at work. Kate gets 40% of everything that I have and am worth”
“WHAT  – NO FUCKING WAY”
“I wanted her to have security when she stopped working to take care of our daughter”
“NO”
“it’s a legally binding document and at least it stops some truly awful court case. I have been in the middle of a lot of them and really Tina – you don’t want that for any of us. A good lawyer would bring everything up – like you and Bette and what happened four years ago”
Tina was shocked “ No “
“If I was representing Kate I would go out to make me look the biggest bitch and dictator that I could – hell yes I would use you and Bette to make my case”
“No – she wouldn’t do that “
“She probably won’t but she could – if she wanted 50% of everything and she could show that her earnings have suffered because she put her career on hold”
Tina inhaled “ She won’t do that “
Emma shrugged “I hope she doesn’t “
“If she did I wouldn’t never speak to her again”
Emma looked at her daughter and managed a wry smile “You are usually saying that about me”
“You didn’t cheat – did you ?”
“ I might have been a shitty wife but infidelity is not something she could say of me. I am sorry you have been dragged into this. You shouldn’t have had to face what you have in the way you have”
“Seven freaking hours – I was going out of my mind”
“Did she give you an explanation ?”
“No but I found one on my own – she said she didn’t hear the phone”
Emma didn’t speak
“Its pretty bloody obvious what she was doing mom – you know that and so do I and when she dares show her face at my apartment again I am going to tell her what I think of the fact that she put her girlfriend before telling me. That says she doesn’t care who she hurts – that sucks  and I don’t want to met this woman – why the hell would she think that I would ?”
“I don’t know Ti – really I don’t “
“So you are going away ?”
“Yeah – let the dust settle – you and her have a lot to discuss. “
“When are you going away ?”
“Not for a week or two – I have active cases and to be honest I have no desire to finish them but I do owe these people the best representation they can have. I need to brief people”
“Do it away from the office –  it was obvious what the only subject of discussion was”
Emma was silent for a few seconds and nodded “Yes – I can imagine”
Tina swallowed before she spoke “ What do you want me to do ? To stay away or spend time with you “
Emma’s defence cracked for the first time “I haven’t done enough to make any demands on you – you have every reason to hate me “