Bette put the butterfly clip in her earring and regarded herself in the full length mirror -figure hugging black cords and a red and white stripped shirt might not be the most conventional wear for the birthday party of a two year old but Bette had dressed with Hanna’s mother in mind. She had just come home to get changed and supervise the boys getting ready. She had spent the whole day with Zak, Tina and the birthday girl Hannah after taking the older kids to school. The party was due to start at 4:30 with several of Hannah’s friends from play group being there. At Hannah’s request the grown ups would be Bette, Helena, Dana, Jodie, Alice, Lara, Shane and Tina - plus her father and his lover. That gave a definite advantage to Team Sappho a fact that Bette was amused by and felt might come in handy if he continued his usual act of acting like a baby .

“Mommy - have GOT to wear this ?”

Bette looked at Josh who was wearing his second best pair of jeans - in his hand was the blue shirt Bette had paid out for him.

“What would you prefer wearing ? “

“My LA Galaxy shirt “

“Sorry Josh - its in the washing machine “ Bette smiled smug at her forethought at knowing that he would want to wear a soccer shirt and taking steps to take that item out of action.

“Its only a party “ he sniffed

“So when its your birthday you don’t want a party ?”

“I didn’t mean that “

“Hannah is only two Josh - it’s a big deal that its her party “

“Can we play soccer on my birthday ?”

“Sure - or maybe we could go to a game “

“Really ?”

“Sure - but I will only think about it if you put that shirt on “

“Gee mom - you can be mean “

“it’s the only way to cope with three sons “

Bette bent down and helped him put on the shirt and button it up

“See - you look so cool Josh “ she kissed him and he hugged her

“That’s my boy “ she told him as she carried him into Danny’s room to see how he was getting on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next door Tina was hot and sweaty and with only twenty minutes until the party goers started arriving sure that she was never going to find the time to get ready. She was just removing a batch of sausage rolls from the oven when the door opened and she heard the very welcoming voice of Shane

“Is this the right place for the birthday party ?”

“Hey Shane “

“You look stressed “

“I am - I would be hysterical if it hadn’t been for Bette “

“Practicing her famed relaxation methods on you has she ?”

“No - the company I hired the bouncy castle for that Hannah wants more than a party went

bust - I know Shane - I have heard all the jokes - do NOT crack another one. Anyway - I rang

another company and they delivered one - it didn’t inflate - Hannah was crying, Zak was crying - I felt like killing someone “

“And Bette came to the rescue ?”

“She is making a habit of it - yes - she totally slaughtered the owner of the dodgy bouncy castle - made him come and take it away - then she drove 40km to personally select another one from a different company and they came straight out and Hannah is SO happy with the new one “

“The one she wanted had mermaids and dolphins on didn’t it ?”

“It did - but you should see the new one “ Tina gestured for Shane to go into the garden and check it out. She returned a few minutes later

“Tina - that one is twice the size “

“It is - Hannah is so excited about it - and when Becky saw it - well you know she has been saying that she had NO intention of going onto a silly, kids bouncy castle ? Well even Ms Cool was impressed enough to say that she was going to have a go - so they have been leaping around on it. They are getting changed under the alleged adult supervision of Ms Fairbanks “

“Would that be the same Ms Fairbanks who loves fun fairs even though she is as sick as a dog ?”

“One and indeed the same - she was more excited than Hannah - we will have to let her have a go “

“Well it such a huge one we might all have to try it out “

“I texted Jodie and she is just longing to play on it . Not sure if she will be able to persuade Helena - that would be funny “

“Helena is not as square as she sometimes looks -you and Bette had a go on it yet ?”

“I haven’t had the time and Bette IS too cool for it “

“Bet you could persuade her “

“She fixed the mess - if Bette doesn’t want to have a go on it I am not going to make her “

“It’s going well ? “ Shane asked knowing the answer - since Tina had come back from the log cabin holiday she had visible become a happier and content person. Everything that Shane had been told from the others just confirmed that Tina had found a love and contentment with Bette that was totally new for her.

Tina beamed - it said more than a thousand words - she was happy in her new relationship.

Shane nodded - Tina didn’t have to articulate any further.

“Why don’t you tell me what needs doing - I know that Helena was just about to set off with Jodie so they won’t be long - go and have a shower and don’t worry. We will cope “

Tina put a tray of garlic bread in the oven and threw the oven glove down

“Thanks - there are 122 sausage rolls there Shane - make sure there are over a hundred when I get back - I don’t expect 121 - but any less than 101 and I will be cross with you “

“You cast a slur on my character “ Shane replied grinning as her hand quickly picked up a

piping hot sausage roll and popped it into her mouth “ Shit that’s hot “

“Well they have just come out of a hot oven “ Tina slapped Shane across the head and went upstairs to get changed - she could hear screams of laughter coming from Madison’s room but she didn’t have time to find out the reason - she needed a shower and to get ready for all the party goers who would be arriving soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Bette arrived with her three sons in tow - all looking smart but casual and all carrying their own little gift for Hannah they were greeted at the door by Becky and Shane. Bette grinned as Zak and Josh launched themselves at Shane

“Where is Tina and the birthday girl ?”
“The birthday girl just spilt a large glass of orange juice on her party frock so mommy is negotiating what she will wear instead “ Becky explained
“Fancy that “ Bette gave Josh a look

“Come on in “ Becky said “ Mom won’t be long “

Everyone stepped inside - Becky put her arm on Bette’s arm. She waited until the others went through before turning her attention to Tina’s daughter

“What is it sweetie ?”

“You won’t let daddy spoil things will you ?”

“Why would he spoil his daughter’s party ?” Bette replied lightly

Becky shrugged “ I like that mom is so happy now - so does Madi and Hannah “

“I like you mommy being happy as well “

Bette waited for Rebecca to give further voice to her concerns but it was obvious that she couldn’t .Bette rested her hand on Rebecca’s hair

“I won’t let anything spoil Hannah’ s party or hurt Tina “

“That’s alright then “

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There were already four of Hannah’s friends there who were leaping around the bouncy castle when Bette walked out into the garden

“I have to say Porter that you have some interesting connections - only you could get the biggest bouncy castle in the state at five hours notice “ Alice announced handing Bette a beer.

“Thanks Alice - I shall take that as a compliment “ she replied as she watched Josh remove his shoes and launch himself onto the bouncy castle. “Dan - make sure your brother is alright “

Bette grinned as Dan helped pull off his trainers and holding hands they both jumped onto the castle - Zak giggling as he hit the soft surface.

“Well well - here’s your woman “ Alice commented turning around. It was fun to observe how Tina and Bette both lit up when they were in each other’s company. Tina was wearing a flowery summer dress and her long blonde hair was hung loose. Jodie had observed that since Tina had met Bette she had started wearing more dresses and letting her hair hang down -two things that they all knew met very firmly with Bette’s approval.

“Hey there “ Bette smiled at her lover. Tina returned the smile

“Hey yourself “

Tina took Bette’s hand and they looked at each other for a long few minutes as the noise grew round them as more children arrived and the bouncy castle gained more small children.

“Kiss for Gods sake -that amount of sexual tension is indecent at a 2 year old’s party “

Alice declared. Tina broke her gaze at Bette and looked at Alice

“You know a lot of people have thoughts like that but they don’t necessarily voice them “

“Alice is special “ Bette commented resting her hand on Tina’s back

“Hey that’s what my mom says about me “ Alice said grinning

Bette and Tina both sniggered at Alice missing the inference .

“That’s because you are special “ Tina agreed

“Very special “ Bette managed to keep a straight face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside Ollie parked in front of his old house and looked at it ruefully.

“I really don’t know if this is a good idea Paul “
“How many times have we gone through this - Tina is in love - you have to deal with that “

“Its not that she is in love - its who she is in love with “

Paul opened the car door and regarded his lover

“She can’t be that bad “

“She is “

Paul slammed the door reflecting that despite his lover being 6ft plus he was still a drama queen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Helena was standing beside Shane when the patio door slide open and the two men stepped outside. Tina and Bette had their backs to the door

“This will be fun “ Shane commented “ The jealous ex husband arrives “

“If he upsets Tina there is nothing on earth that can stop Bette wiping the floor with him - you know how much Bette loves her “

“I know - might have words with Paul - he’s a nice bloke “

“How bloody was it ? “ Helena asked

“Ghastly - Tina was at the lowest possible ebb because her health was poor after Hannah was born and was very depressed. I know that he had to leave her but his timing was so shit. I liked him before that but he was a rat to her “
“Does Bette know this ? “ Helena asked.

Shane winched as she realised that Hannah -number one birthday girl was being held by Bette. And Tina had her hand gently resting on Bette’s ass.

“I imagine that Bette knows far more than I do about how he treated Tina “

“Do we have 911 on speed dial ? “ Helena said lightly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey honey “ Ollie said

Tina and Bette turned - Bette placed Hannah on the ground so she could run to her father. He grabbed her and swept her up kissing her all the time

“Happy Birthday my darling “ he said hugging her tight

“Bette - bouncy castle “ she declared after her father had eased away enough for her to speak

“What did you say honey ?”

“Bette got bouncy castle “ she repeated

“You had problems ? “ he spoke to his ex wife

“The company went bankrupt - didn’t know until last thing last night “

“You should have called me “

“I didn’t need to “ Tina replied “ We sorted it out - Bette was wonderful “

Bette tried to look modest but failed - she fixed her attention on the tall man who was Ollie’s lover

“You must be Paul - I’m Bette Porter “

Paul held out his hand and smiled at her “ Paul Carver “

Bette’s eyebrows shot up “ I won’t insult you with the obvious joke “

“Thank you for that - you must be one of the 2% of the people I meet who don’t make the joke “

Bette laughed - she liked this man - pity she found it very hard to be pleasant to his boyfriend. She just couldn’t forgive him for his shockingly heartless treatment of the woman she loved -Bette liked to bear grudges and she held a vast one against him.

“That is some size castle “ Paul commented “Hey Hannah “

“Daddy Paul “ she held out for him to take hold of him.

Tina’s eyebrows shot up “Daddy Paul ?”

“Tina “ Bette rested her hand round Tina’s waist

“Since when has she been calling him that ? “

“Daddy asked me “ Hannah replied - Bette felt Tina tense up

“Can I get anyone a drink - why don’t show you where the food is laid out “

Bette slipped into the role of a diplomat. She knew from the conversation they had shared in bed the last time they had slept together that Tina was on edge about having to be nice to her ex for the sake of her daughters.

“Good idea Bette - come on Ollie - do you want something to eat Hannah ?”

Tina fixed her ex with a very dirty look as Bette walked away with the two men.

“Tina ? “ Helena had watched the interchange and could see that the blonde was annoyed

“The freaking two faced freaking hypocrite “

“Your ex ?”

“He asked Hannah to call his boyfriend - daddy Paul “

“And that bothers you ?”

“Yes Helena - Bette is a better parent to her than Paul “

“Tina -this is not the time for a fight - and does it really matter what they call him - all four of you have responsibilities “

Tina rubbed a tear from her eyes

“Yes it matters because he is trying to spoil my relationship with Bette “

“He can’t spoil your relationship with her - she loves you Tina - she won’t let anything come

between the two of you “

“I won’t let anything come between us either. I have never felt this way before. I just get goose bumps when she looks at me. I get wet so easily with her - sex is fantastic and we have so much fun together. He almost destroyed me Helena and to see him swanning in her with Daddy Paul - I could fucking kill him at times “

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Between them Bette and the other women managed to keep Tina and Ollie apart for most of the party. Tina stayed close to Bette and her daughters - Madison wanted to be with her father but Rebecca was noticeably avoiding him and Hannah was too busy on the bouncing castle to bother about anyone.

Tina had gone into the house to get some more cartons of fruit juice out of the fridge. She

had been on her feet most of the day and had nothing to eat despite all her cooking for the party. All she consumed was a couple of beers and some wine - she seriously craved a brandy. Seeing Ollie was bringing back some bad memories for her -memories that reminded her of how lonely she had been through the last year of their marriage. She placed the cartons on the table and crossed into the living room to pour a brandy -just to take away some of the pain

“Does she know ?” a voice made her jump

Ollie was standing in the doorway

“Fuck Ollie - do you have to creep around like that ?”

“Sorry - I did a course in creeping around “

“Yeah I remember - did your detective training make it easier to cheat on me ?”

“That was uncalled for “

“I don’t think so - you got off lightly “

“I would hardly say that “

“I would “

“So - does Bette know exactly what you are like ?”

“Bette loves me for everything that I am “

“EVERYTHING ?” he said

Tina flushed and slammed the glass down

“You really would love to destroy Bette and me wouldn’t you ?”

“She’s the most arrogant woman I have ever met “

“She isn’t arrogant - she is accomplished “

“So does she know ?”

“Do I know what ?” Bette strolled in carrying a glass of wine.

“I was just asking if you knew everything about Tina “

Bette frowned - he really couldn’t keep his big mouth shut could he ?

“Shut up Ollie “ Tina suddenly felt afraid - he did have the power to harm her.

“I know everything I need to know about Tina - like how loving she is and how happy she makes me “ Bette couldn’t resist a dig between the shoulder blades “and I know that I satisfy her in bed “

“You think that sex is everything ? “