Some kind of wonderful

Chapter 48

Tina hadn’t waited around once they had arrived back in New York. She had emailed Kate with a venue and day/ time for a meeting. Kate had emailed back a couple of hours later agreeing which was why on Tuesday lunchtime Tina wasn’t reading about running a café from the books she had borrowed from the library but heading across town to a well known lesbian bar that served a pretty good lunchtime menu. She arrived five minutes before 1pm. The bar was light and had a nice atmosphere – Tina had been in there a couple of times with Bette and had liked the place. She bought herself a beer and went to sit at a table and read the menu. She had been to the gym that morning so she felt she more than deserved a nice protein dominated lunch  – and a few beers. Ideally she would be waiting for Bette but this meeting with Kate had to be done – she needed to mend some fences with her. Kate still hadn’t turned up by 1:15 and Tina was getting annoyed – she checked her phone again – no message. Well there was no way in hell she was going to text her mother first – she found her current favourite game on her smart-phone and started to play losing all awareness of time.
“Hello darling “
Tina looked up  – Kate had finally arrived. She was wearing what looked like a new black woollen overcoat – well maybe it was just one that Tina hadn’t seen before
“Hello mother “ Tina cancelled her game and looked at her clock – it was 1:40pm.
“Its good to see you “
“You could have seen me 40 minutes ago if you had arrived on time – I have been here for three quarters of an hour “
“Are you sure we didn’t say 1:30 ?”
Tina frown – no she hadn’t fucking well said 1:30  – she had written 1:00 and she had underlined it and highlighted the text in bold.
“No I didn’t “ Tina said “I am going to order some food “
“Let me buy it for you -please sweetheart “
Tina nodded “Okay – thank you – I will have a burger with extra onion rings and fries “
“That sounds nice – I will have the same  – what are you drinking ?”
“Just a beer thanks “
Kate went to the bar and placed her order — she came back with two bottles of beer. Before she sat down she removed her overcoat – she was wearing jeans and a thick red sweater. She folded her coat and sat down with the coat on her knees.
“So how have you been – I have missed you ”
“I have been fine – and as for missing me – I have been in the same places as I always am – you have my number and my address”
“I was worried that your mother had turned you against me “
Bette’s last text to Tina had been “ please try and stay calm “ – and it had been the last thing she had said to her before she had gone to college. Tina had vowed that she wasn’t going to lose her temper – but the remark really hit a sensitive spot.
“Why would you think that ?” Tina said trying to be calm
Kate smiled “Well you know”
“No I don’t – tell me”
“Because she thinks she is the one who has been hard done to “
~“And she isn’t ? “ Tina said softly
“Its complicated “ she replied
“I am listening “ Tina said crossing her arms “In fact I have been ready to listen for a long time but all I have heard is your silence – some might say that silence could be seen as you feeling guilty “
“I do not feel guilty “
Tina again thought of the “ please stay calm “ text.
“Okay – so tell me how you see it “ Tina said
“You are angry “ Kate said rightly
“I am upset because I have had to comfort my mom while you have been having fun with “ she stopped and silently counted to 10 “ your girlfriend “
Kate didn’t speak for a few seconds – she didn’t like the look in Tina’s eye. She knew her daughter could be volatile and being late was the sort of thing that really annoyed her.
“I did what I had to do for my own happiness “ she said after a silence “ I hope you can understand that “
“I can understand that without a problem”  Tina replied “ What I cannot get my head around is why you – you of all people – my really sweet and kind mom turned horrid.”
“I have not become horrid” Kate objected
“So what do you call sleeping with someone for over six months before leaving your wife and what else was the way you  told me and “ Tina took a deep breath “ And what else is accusing Emma of turning me against you. This is not your finest hour mother”
“I have done nothing I am ashamed of “ Kate said defensively
“So you are proud of ignoring me for seven hours and turning up after midnight to tell me that you had found someone else when I had no idea what the hell was going on ?”
“I didn’t know you were trying to contact me – I didn’t know Emma was going to come and see you “
“And why wouldn’t she ? – she wanted me to know what was happening with my parents”
“You are on her side “ Kate accused
“I am on no-one’s side “ Tina said “I feel for Emma and we have started to talk and mend our relationship . She is suffering and I wish that there was something I could do to make it better for her”
Their meals were delivered- Tina was hungry and felt that food might calm her down. She started eating her fries-  delicious.
“And for the record – stop sending her messages accusing her of turning me against you. She hasn’t done anything of the kind and I resent the implication that I can be turned against either of you. I am not asking you to stop mom – I am telling you to”
Kate looked guilty which was at least something in her favour – what Tina had hated was her mother trying to brave things out – she was better than that.
“I was very upset by the texts you sent “
“It was only a couple of days after I had found out and I was in pieces. I had been drinking too much – Bette confiscated the phone before you really got a piece of my mind. But you are right – I was in the wrong and I am sorry. That does not make it okay for you to take out your anger or frustration at me out on Emma. She doesn’t need it and I really want you  to stop. She is suffering – and you rubbing her nose in it is just nasty”
Kate nodded “If its what you want “
“Its what is right mom “
“Divorces are never easy you know – for everyone . I hope she is going to be sensible”
“And I hope you are not going to challenge the pre-nup agreement “ Tina replied.  She had never seen her mother go pale in the face before – but she did now
“She shouldn’t have told you about that “