Just the way you are

Chapter 43

Bette had called into her gym to collect the resumes of the applicants for the position of assistant manager for her other gym. One of her favourite members of staff was moving to New York and it was going to be hard to replace him. Despite herself she had sat down and was reading through the resumes.

“Hey Bette “

Bette looked up - Alice was standing in the doorway - she was holding her gym bag

“Wow - it really is an overcast day in hell - mind you - I have always thought you might start getting love handles “

“Oh ha ha - you are just getting funnier “

“I know “

“So what are you doing in the office on a Saturday?” Alice crossed into the room and sat down

“Tina needs sometime on her own “

“Yes - Shane filled me in with what her bitch of a friend did -what a piece of shit “

“She is that and more again “Bette agreed

“Its rough - you expect your friends to have your back not be sizing it up for where the knife is going to be stuck “

Bette sipped her coffee “Exactly - Alice - she’s had the worst possible friend who is also her boss “

“Why put up with it?”

“Tina’s not got much self confidence - I get the impression that Helena has always just thrown Tina scraps. The ironic thing is that Helena was always telling Tina that she was gay. Shane thinks that maybe Helena was trying to get Tina into bed “

“Well that’s not going to work now “

“No - its one thing to fall out with your friend - it happens. But Helena is her boss and she’s shown in the past that she has form for firing anyone who crosses her. Tina is convinced that it’s just a matter of time “

“There are employment laws “

“If Helena is amoral enough to use blackmail I don’t think she is going to worry about employment laws. The movie business is small enough for Helena to blacken Tina’s name well before she gets anywhere near a tribunal - that’s the key thing. “

“What if she tries to rope the ex husband in?”

“She already has - she rang him “

“How do you know?”

“I was dropping Matthew off because she’s got a cold. The two of us had a chat “

“What’s he like?”

“Amiable but dull. He’s okay and lucky for us he’s not stupid. He knows that Helena wants to use him against Tina. You get what you deserve Alice - she’s been a real bitch to him for ages and this is payback time. He isn’t going to allow her to use him- he’s not a total Muppet “

“Do you like him?”

“I don’t like that he didn’t treat her well but he could have been much worse. He’s stepped out of line but he’s also been decent. He doesn’t want a fight - he wants to get on with his life and he also sees that Tina is happy. At the end of the day he just loves his son “

“So what are you going to do about Helena?”

“I don’t know - I don’t want Tina to get hurt and it’s been a battle to get her confidence back. She’s so much more confident now than she ever was before. The last thing she wants is for this to sap her confidence and send her back to her bad ways “

“You like her slim?” Alice asked

“I love her regardless of what she weighs. She’s lost weight because she is more active and we eat properly and we have a good time. We don’t eat much junk “

“Do you think she will go back to eating lard if she digs her heels in at work with Helena?”

“I worry that she is going to get stressed out if she digs in her heels – that might lead to her eating too much. I am not worried about her putting on a few pounds – she sees it differently of course “

“What do you think she will do?”

“I don’t know - I can see her lost in thought - that’s why I came here this morning - to pick up some food for us, more cat litter and to give her space “

“In a battle of the bank balances are you stronger than Helena?”

“The movie company actually belongs to Helena’s mother - so technically she is just as much an employee as Tina. I would say that I could buy Helena if I needed to but that’s not going to work. I don’t know what to for the best Alice “

“You have to just give her space to make her mind up and be there if and when she needs you”

“Yeah but this is me you are talking to – I have to try and make things right “

“You have a good heart “

Bette had been so busy that she had not spent much time with Alice who was her oldest friend

“What do you think of her?” Bette asked after a few minutes silence

“I would like the chance to get to know her better” Alice replied dryly “ I understand that the two of you are getting used to being together and she has a son but you are cutting yourself off from all your friends – are the two of you joined the hip ? When did you last come out for a meal with us? I know that the scene is not your thing anymore but it won’t hurt to come out to dinner or join us for lunch or anything. “

Bette knew that Alice was right

“It’s been one of those things – we are so wrapped in one another “

“To the exclusion of every one of your friends? I know how much it means to you to have found someone to love – I am happy for you but please don’t cut us out of your life. It’s not healthy for either of you”

“I know that “Bette admitted “Truly I know Alice. She’s got a cold at the moment – but next weekend why don’t we all try and meet up “

“I am not begging Bette but we do all want the chance to get to know her better – she is obviously going to be a massive part of your life. I know what it means to you and I am really not trying to guilt you out but Dana, Shane and me were there when you were so utterly lost – all the nights when one of us had to put you to bed and make sure there were no sharp objects around. We did it because we all love you and we all still do - just because you have Tina and a ready made family doesn’t mean that you should drop us “

Bette rubbed her face “I know and I am ashamed that I haven’t made more time for you all. It was hard because she was coming to terms with everything and we don’t have a babysitter “

“Ask Tom – why should you and Tina have no social life?”

“He has Mattie Friday to Sunday “

“Two nights – leaving him to have five nights out a week and you and Tina cramming everything into Friday and Saturday?”

“We could see about getting a babysitter “

“Has she no friends other than this demon from hell boss?”

“I think she’s got out of the habit of going out – she had a bad pregnancy and after Matthew was born “

“And she started having two burgers as a balanced diet “

Alice joked

“Alice – cut the wise cracks about her weight – she’s had problems and comments like that do not help – overweight people have to develop a strong sense of humour because they are the butt of the jokes often enough – do not say things like that in front of Tina – I am warning you “

“Whose the more thin skinned – you or her ?”

“Her self confidence isn’t that good – she’s been battered down by Tom and Helena for a long time “