Some kind of wonderful

Chapter 22

Matthew sat down in the café and picked up the menu and regarded it with interest. Since Bette had made the comment she had about using the downstairs of his restaurant for a café during the day he had done a lot of thinking about the idea. It was a really good idea and he could see how that area would generate enough footfall to make a café a viable option. He wouldn’t be able to run it – he would be tied up with the restaurant  – he wasn’t giving up a very well paid job to make tuna sandwiches and brew coffee though – he would need a manager – one that he could trust and he could work with – which was why he was now considering offering his daughter the option of working with him.
He didn’t know if she would go for it and he didn’t want to say anything to Tina until he was sure of what he was offering her in terms of a deal. He wondered if a quiet word with Bette was a good idea –  it had been her idea initially and there was no way Tina would make a decision without discussing things with her girlfriend. Matthew removed the notebook he always kept with him for ideas about the restaurant and now the café and wrote a couple of lines
“Matt”
He looked up
“Kate – hello – thanks for meeting me “
“I was going to call you when you rang me – is that the menu ? I am starving “
He handed her the menu and smiled
“Order what you want – its on me “
Kate removed her jacket and smiled “Yes – I gather you are being Mr Smug since you won that huge corporate liability case “
“One of the biggest of my career “ he said grinning “ Huge publicity and lots of kudos for the firm”
“And you are giving it all up at Christmas”
“I am”
“No more practising law “
“I might do the odd case now and again – I am thinking about offering my services to a needy LGBT group or two – discrimination needs fighting now as much as it did in 70’s and 80’s “
“True – let me know if you need any help if you do go in to bat for any LGBT causes”
“I will thanks “
He waited until they had both ordered sandwiches and coffee before speaking again
“What is the likelihood of Emma softening her stance on Tina and Bette”
Kate had guessed that Matthew wanted to talk about his daughter – which was fine by her because she wanted to talk about Tina and Bette as well. She sighed
“Not very “
He shook his head “I hesitate to criticise her – she is a remarkable woman in so many ways and I doubt if anyone gave the firm of Truman, Black and Kennard an earthly chance of surviving – let alone becoming the monster that it has become”
“Its okay Matt – you and I have known one another 25 years – we  share a really wonderful daughter – you don’t have to treat me with kid gloves – go on – say it”
Matthew smiled ruefully
“You sure ?”
Kate nodded
“Positive ?” he asked again
“You can say what you like about Emma to me “
Matt did know Kate well and he loved her dearly – she had been the one who had insisted that Tina have contact with her father when Emma had been determined that she didn’t need a father figure in her life. He smiled
“What power trip is she on ? Does she really and honestly think that Tina is going to give up on Bette just to prove that Emma was right to insist they went their separate ways four years ago ?”
Kate exhaled “ I don’t know what she is trying to prove or what she thinks she will achieve by the way she is going on. What she is doing to guaranteeing that she has a terrible relationship with her only child “
Matthew shook her head “Can you not reel her in Kate ?”
Kate laughed – it was a hollow and slightly bitter laugh “ Reel in that fucking megalomaniac that I married ? She listens to no-one “
“She always listened to you “
Kate shook her head “ Since the Bette thing blew up –  she doesn’t “
“Really “?”
“Really – I know she’s pig headed – she always has been and she will always will be. But – this – I cannot explain why she is being the way she is – she doesn’t want Tina to be with Bette – she says that you should never go back in relationships – second chances with the same person never work and all it does is break your heart and screw up your life “
“She thinks Bette is going to break Tina’s heart ?”
Kate nodded
“Do you ?” Matthew asked
“To be honest – and I don’t want you to think that I am defending her because I am not  -she is murder to live with and I could happily strangle her most days. She is being stubborn to the point where she is not going to relent. But yes I do see that if anyone on this planet is going to break Tina’s heart it’s Bette. “ she held her hand up “Hear me out- I say that because Bette has always had Tina’s heart and I don’t think four years of college changed a thing – the minute they saw one another again all of this was going to happen. They were going to fall into bed and want to be together. I don’t think Emma sees that Bette can break Tina’s heart because she’s the one who owns Tina’s heart. Emma sees it in terms of – you cannot go back and its all going to end badly and when – not if you note – when Bette dumps Tina she is going to do this and that and fuck knows what else to her”
Matthew looked appalled – Kate wanted him to know just how entrenched Emma was. Emma’s stubbornness was a joke among their friends – only Kate knew how deep Emma was digging this particular hole.
“This isn’t going to end well “
“I know  -your name is mud by the way “
Matthew raised an eyebrow “ What the hell have I done ? Oh – let me  guess – the apartment ?”
Kate nodded “ I would keep out of The Empress’s way if I was you”
“The Empress ?”
Kate laughed “ One of her many nicknames around the office – I hear things. The Evil Empress is another one. The mood I am I might run a contest for the person who tells me the best one – I could do with a laugh “
Matt was worried  – Kate had always been a great influence on Emma – she toned down the worst of Emma’s bursts of fury.
“How bad is it – honestly Kate ?”
Kate shook her head “I don’t want to lose Tina but I can see her slipping away from me” her voice broke “ And I really don’t know how much of Emma’s rants I can deal with.”
He took her hand and squeezed it  “I don’t know what to say – but I will tell you that there is no way you will lose Tina   – she loves you too much – she also loves Emma – even though at the moment she doesn’t much like her or understand why she is being the way she is “
“Tell me something “
“Anything “
“What do you think of their relationship at the moment. I never see them together and when I see Tina it’s when she sneaks into the office – I don’t remember when I last saw her at home”
“She’s sleeping either at our place or at Bette’s “
She nodded “I am glad she is safe and I am glad that she has a father she can turn to- tell me about their relationship “
“Well at the moment  Tina is working as an evidence clerk for the NYPD “
“I knew she was working for the NYPD – how’s it going ?”
“Its going well – she is working with a couple of women and she gets on well with anyone – you know that. Well she is working 8am until 3pm at the NYPD HQ – then she comes over to the apartment and she starts decorating the place. The apartment is at the top of the building and it was just one huge room when I signed the lease. So I got two sets of builders in  – one to do up the two apartments. The second one I will use as an office – anyway -put some walls in – so there are rooms now and  they built a kitchen and some units and put a bathroom and toilet in. Its basic but its functional and Tina loves it . They have put a strong door on so she’s safe in the apartment – no one will be able to get in from downstairs. So she is now painting walls after work
“Tina has never painted in her life “
“That is obvious – luckily Bette has and she is making sure pots of emulsion don’t end up on the floor or on someone’s head. So when the walls are done she will get some furniture “
“Is daddy buying that ?”
“No I am not – that is her other dad – he took her shopping and bought her a bed, a sofa and some chairs. Someone at work gave her a wardrobe and some drawers – Bette has stripped them down and is vanishing them – they will look as good as new. Tina went to a DIY store and bought some blanket boxes – flat-pack things”
“Tina and screwdrivers ?” Kate said smiling
“I gather that was as close as they have come to fulfilling Emma’s wish. Bette wanted to put them up because of course she can do everything – Tina wouldn’t let her and the more Bette wanted to help – the less Tina wanted to let her”
“Her mother’s daughter in SO many ways “ Kate said smiling
“Well yes  – so Bette went off to do something else in the apartment which stopped Tina telling her to get the hell out of HER place “
“What happened to the blanket boxes ?”
“Well “ Matthew grinned “They look like blanket boxes but there are gaps where she hasn’t screwed the pieces together properly and the lid doesn’t close properly”
“But she did them herself “
“She did – and she said sorry to Bette for yelling “
“Ah there – see – that’s were she ISN’T her mother’s daughter “
“That “ Matthew said “ Is where she is your daughter  – the peace maker “
“So – tell me what they are like as a couple “
Their sandwiches arrived and they waited for a few minutes. Matthew removed the cucumber from his chicken salad sandwich and took a sip of his coffee. He looked at Kate
“I will tell you one thing – Emma is going to have to climb down or do something to save face because they are very happy together and I cannot see that changing. Bette is devoted to her  – the way she looks at her” He laughed “I can remember the first time I met Bette. The four of us were going for a walk in Central Park and all I had heard for weeks was Bette this and Bette that – Tina was crazy about her. And they showed up and wow – I’m a gay man but I could see that Bette is a very beautiful young woman. And Tina was hooked then and they fitted – Bette is gentle and easy going  – Tina is more outgoing and loud – they FIT. And that was when they were innocent and 17 years old and barely just discovered sex. Now “ he sighed “ Now its not a game anymore – Tina worships Bette – she would do anything for Bette and from what I see – Bette feels the same way. They have had their hearts broken by being forced to live apart and even though they both made the best of it and did well – well now they are both in New York. But Tina would follow Bette to the ends of the earth and beyond. They have only been together for two months but I can tell you Kate – its serious “
Kate nodded “For what its worth – I agree with you – Tina never stopped missing Bette. I cannot make Emma see that”
“All Emma is doing is making this hard. Tina hates that she has to dodge around to see you and I know from Bette that she is determined not to stop seeing you. I have to tell you something else “
“Go on “
“What you need to factor in is how Bette feels “
Kate took a bite of her sandwich “ I’m listening “
“Well quiet and considered Bette LOATHES Emma “
“I don’t blame her “ Kate said “If someone had stopped me seeing Emma I would have hated them. “ she sipped her coffee “What Emma doesn’t see – or maybe she does but doesn’t want to admit as much is that Tina is with someone who Emma dismissed as being someone that Tina would forget about within weeks. Tina won’t forgive or forget that. I know something was said between Bette and Emma on the last night that Bette and Tina saw one other. I don’t know what but Emma said at the time that Bette was acting like some silly child and she would get over it”
“Well she hasn’t “ Matthew said “ At the moment Emma really shouldn’t do anything as dumb as make Tina pick between her and Bette”
Kate rubbed her face “ That would be the last straw and its pointless. Why SHOULD Tina either have Bette or Emma in her life. She loves Bette – I know that and that’s great. Bette is a lovely girl. Between you and I Matt I am more amazed that Bette wants anything to do with Tina as she comes with this hostile mother”
“Bette would wrestle a black bear for Tina “ he said dryly “And I wouldn’t like to be the bear either”
“For a woman who I know is very intelligent Emma cannot see that Tina is an adult now and she is going to make her own decisions. Emma is trying to control who she is seeing, where she is living and what she does with her career – she’s made some snobby remarks about her daughter being better than being a mere clerk”
“Ouch “ Matt said “I better keep out of her way because I have an idea for something that Tina might like to consider if she cannot find a job “
“What Emma forgets is that there are 100’s of graduates out there and they do not find a job any easier than non-graduates. We are in the middle of a  recession – the economy is struggling to grow at any sort of pace  – graduates – even ones from Ivy League Universities do not get handed $40,000 a year jobs.” Kate looked at Matt
“What do you have in mind ?”
“Can you keep a secret ?”
“Yes “
“Not a word to Emma orM Tina – I am still thinking about it “
“Go on “ Kate smiled – they really had picked the best dad for the child
“When Bette saw the building for the first time I said that I would use the 2nd floor as the main part of the restaurant – its bigger and then in a few years time if the restaurant takes off I can go split level “
“Right – sounds sensible “