THE L WING Chapter 176

Narration of First Lady Tina Kennard-Porter

I leave Bette talking to her father -they both have wrongs to right and they have to do it now. I know how close Bette is to her father and Kit and it hurt that they excluded her from knowledge about Maggie. But equally I see why - even though I have told both of them that it was wrong. My first love and loyalty is to Bette.

I see that Leigh is standing alone in the garden - I grab a couple of bottles of water and a few sandwiches from a huge plate and stroll down to join her.

“You want some company? “ I ask

She turns and nods “Yeah “

I hand her two of the sandwiches and a bottle of water - she looks at me

“I don’t imagine you have eaten much since you arrived “
“No I haven’t “
“In that case - take more “
“No - two is enough “

I sit down under the shade - it’s a bit too warm for me despite the fact that its only spring - I am so going to suffer in the summer -by which time I will be three times the size that I am now. She joins me and eats the first sandwich so quickly that I worry her fingers might have disappeared with it.

“Are you going back to UCLA after this is all over? “
“Not straight away - I could take my exams in the fall. “
“What do you want to do when you graduate?”
“I don’t know - not for sure. My mom installed in me a love and a reverence for words. I have thought about teaching or journalism “

“I was a reporter “
“You won the BBC award for foreign correspondent for your reporting in Afghanistan”

I raise my eyebrows

“Yes - how did you know that? “
“I just do - I read some of your pieces - and - well I guess this is a naff thing to say but I just love your way with words “

“It’s not naff -thank you “
“What was it like living in a war zone? “

“A bit different to my life at the moment “

“Would you tell me about it sometime?”
“Of course “

“Mom used to look at you and Bette on the TV and say how it was obvious that you two loved each other. When you announced that you two were engaged - mom watched the TV all night - just channel hoping - she even taped it “

“Are you any less freaked by it all? “
She takes a long drink of water and smiles

“I think that it’s slowly sinking in - I just wanted to say goodbye “
“I know it’s very easy to think that you are the only person who feels that way but you’re not. Bette has so many questions that she will never get the answer to from her mom “

“Mom knew her you know? “

“Bette’s mom? “
“Yes -I don’t know if she knows that “
“I don’t think she does “

“Should I tell her? “
“Depends what she said about her “
“Mom said that she was strange “
“That’s what I have gathered. Leigh - Bette is as nervous about meeting you as you are about meeting her. Just try not to see her as the President - and yes I know that is easy for me to say “

I sense her behind me

““Hey babe “I look up into her dark eyes and smile at her

“Leigh – I want you to met Bette Porter “

Leigh looks at Bette for a few seconds then she must remember the protocol about nobody sitting when the President is standing - she hurries to her feet

“Sorry “she mutters. Bette smiles

“I am not your President right now - I’m your sister “Immediately Leigh’s eyes fill with tears and she drops her head. Bette looks at me - I gesture for her to comfort her. Bette pauses for a few seconds but quickly reaches across and puts her arms around her half sister.

“Its okay sweetie “Bette whispers

I rub my eyes - it is so typical that Bette does reach out to this scared young girl. Bette hugs her closer and whispers something in her ear - Leigh laughs and nods

When they ease apart Bette strokes Leigh’s face and looks at her

“You are not alone - you will never be alone - you will always have your father’s family”

Leigh nods and Bette wipes some tears from her eyes

“It’s just a lot to take in “
“It is - it is for all of us “

“I think that you two need some time alone - I am going back inside to talk to Melvin”
I get up and look at them

“You two are more alike than either of you see at the moment - spend some time together “

I move back inside and stand and watch them for several minutes before moving off and finding Melvin who is standing looking at the photographs that are on the mantelpiece - all of Maggie and Leigh at various ages.

“She is like Bette “

He turns and smiles at me “She is - where is she? “
“Talking to Bette - they are okay - Bette hugged her - that tells me that she’s accepted her “

“I was worried that she wouldn’t be able to deal with it “
“Every girl puts her father on a pedestal - I do and so does Bette -but she loves you very much “

“I told Bette that I want to make amends with Leigh and with your daughter “
“She told you ? “
“She showed me the sonogram “
“She takes it everywhere “
“Everything is alright ? “

“Everything is fine - I am slowly getting less tired and the doctors are very happy with me “
“When is she due ? “
“Beginning of September - which means I am going to be pregnant all the way through the summer which I am not looking forward to “
“You will get looked after like no other woman ever has “
“I know that - I just want a normal pregnancy Melvin “
“Will she let you ~?”
“You know she won’t “

He indicates for us to sit down and I face him. He still is a very good looking man - the photographs of him when he was younger show that he was a total lady killer . There is a sense of mischief in his eyes that I have always loved about him. He can look scary - I have seen him in action as a leading civil rights lawyer and he scared the life out of me. But suddenly he just breaks into a smile and everything about him changes. I know that history will mark him out to be a remarkable man - he spoke at the funerals of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King - and the father of the first African American President. He would have been a brilliant President but there was too much prejudice at the time - his daughter shattered the glass ceiling.

“I wish you had met Maggie - not the way that she was before her illness but she was a fine teacher - someone who changed lives. Someone who shaped futures - it’s the greatest gift to teach “

“Its also admirable that you have stood up in so many courts and fought against injustice. You have had a remarkable career Melvin “
“Thank you - one that I intent to cut back on so I can spoil my youngest daughter and my future grandchildren - I have done my time at the coal face Tina “

“I respect that Melvin - would you sit and talk to me one day with a tape recorder playing. I would be so honoured to write a biography of you “
“Really ? “
“Yes - you have met people who would take their place at most people’s ideal dinner table guests - Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X - you saw Lee Harvey Oswald being killed by Jack Ruby. I have sat at dinner and listened to you. I know you couldn’t publish some of the stuff you have told us but you could tell a lot of others “
“It has crossed my mind “ he admits

“Melvin - you are the father of the President - I am the First Lady - that alone would get you a brilliant deal but add all those iconic 60’s names - did you ever met Marilyn Monroe ? “
“Yes - yes I did - she was a sweet but confused child - she was childlike “
“So will you think about it ? “
He nods “ Yes - I will give it serious consideration. But my priority at the moment is Leigh “
“She needs a father “

“She does - and I have over 20 years to make up to her “

“Don’t try to hard - just let her ease into having a new family “

He nods “it’s a relief that Bette has accepted her “”
“You really thought that she couldn’t ?”
“She digs her heels in sometimes - she can be so damn stubborn “

“And she doesn’t get that from her father ? “

He laughs “ Yes - yes she gets it from me. And I know its annoying “
“She is not as stubborn as you two always say that she is”
“If it is true then its because of you - you have a remarkably positive influence on her”

“You just have to know how to coax her “

“I would never describe dealing with Bette as coaxing “

I laugh “ Melvin - what was her mom like ? “

“She was brilliant but unpredictable. Looking back at it now I see that she had some sort of personality disorder - it would be called bipolar now and maybe I could have got her more help than I did “
“Did she love Bette ? “

“She struggled to love Bette - she was a harsh woman at times. Bette is who she is now despite her parents “
“You can’t say that - she idolises you. She would not recognise the bad father that you describe “

“She always wanted to please me “
“She still does “ I point out

He nods and yawns “ The last few days have been insane - how’s Shane by the way. I really want to find time to go and see her “
“Shane is being fed by Carmen- if you go to see her you will get some food - correction - you will get a lot of food “

He puts his fingers together and he thinks for a few minutes

“What do you think I should do for Leigh- I really want to invite her to my home- it’s a mess at the moment but I don’t think she should be alone in this house “
“No - you are right there - why don’t you all come back to our place. Leigh could have some space”

“That is very sweet Tina “
“I want a reason to keep Bette away from Washington for a couple of days - she needs a rest “
“Any holidays looming ? “
“I want her to take some time off over Easter “

“Can you make that happen ? “
“I think I can - Bette needs to rest and I know she wants to really share in the pregnancy “
“She seems thrilled that its going to be a girl “
“It rights the wrongs - she needs to love her daughter and give her everything that she didn’t have . Melvin - we want positive male role models for her - you and my dad are going to play a huge part in that. Plus well -our families can take her places that we can’t because of the security issue. Can you imagine what would happen if Bette and I wanted to take her to the park to feed the ducks or take her to the mall to see Santa ? “

He laughs “ Tough - I see that it will be hard for her to have a normal childhood “
“She will have as normal a childhood as we can give her - and all kids need their grandfathers-” I rest my hand on my tummy “ She is lucky that she has three grandparents as well as Kit and Lucy and now Leigh “

He gets up and comes across to hug me

“I don’t often say this but thank you for loving my daughter “

“Well she is beautiful and intelligent - it’s a hard hand I have been dealt “

Melvin leaves me alone and I lie back and take several deep breathes. I am just about to drop off to sleep when my mobile sounds

“Hey there Helena - no we are a funeral of someone close to Bette’s family - yeah - Virginia - I should be back in a couple of days - why ? “ as Helena explains to me the reason she has called I take a notebook out and start taking notes. She is telling me two things - one that is so totally out of left field - so totally insane that I have to ask her to repeat it twice. I write down $1 million and underline the comment a couple of times, She then tells me the second piece of information that leaves me drawing exclamation marks . We agree to meet up as soon as possible and as I am saying goodbye to her Bette comes into the room and sits on the arm of the chair that I am sitting on.

“You okay ? “ she starts playing with my hair
“Fine - what about you ? “
“Okay - where is Leigh ? “
“With her dad - if its okay by you I have invited her to come and stay with us - dad and Kit will be close by - maybe you could get your parents and Lucy over at the weekend - we are all part of the same family after all - they will all have a role to play in the life of our daughter “
“Yes that would be fine “ I nod
“Dad suggested it “

I smile “ Great idea “ I agree

She kisses me gently “You are very sexy Kennard “

“Can’t help it “

My mobile rings again

“Hello -hey Lucy - just talking about you - what you doing at the weekend ? Yeah - can you come down to Virginia - no - with mom and dad and Melvin and Kit - no - just someone I want you to meet - okay - yeah- I’ll ring you tonight - bye “

“What’s this note ?” Bette is looking at my notebook. I make a grab for it but she pulls away with it

“Don’t be so nosey “
“What the hell is $1 million underlined for “
“Porter - mind your own business “

Bette looks at the notebook - she looks up at me

“Out with it “

“Are you ready Bette - your detail are getting itchy “ Kit comes in with her dad

“Yeah - we are ready “ I grab the notebook and head for the door.

Bette gets caught up saying goodbye to Leigh who is coming to the house in a couple of hours - she is staying here to get her head together before joining us for a few days. I put the notebook away wondering just how to tell Bette that I have been offered a million dollars to the charity of my choice to recreate the Demi Moore Vogue image when my pregnancy is more pronounced - some how I don’t imagine she will be thrilled.

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