“She doesn’t know I was a lesbian icon “

“Maybe you should take her to a few clubs so she gets the message that you are one catch that half the lesbians in the city have been trying to land since you arrived in LA 8 years ago “

“I don’t know “

“Bette – walk into a club with her and she will see just what an utter goddess you are “

“Utter goddess I WAS – past tense “ Bette said

“Just because you took yourself out of the battleground doesn’t mean you aren’t the Lesbian Major General”

Bette laughed and sipped her coffee

“I am not sure I want her to know how many prisoners I took”

“Why ? she knows that you love her and she knows that you are utterly exclusive to her and her alone. I would think that it might be just the ego boost that she needs to find out that you are still regarded as a lesbian pin up even though its over 2 years since you stepped into a club. You know that we get asked at least three times a night where you are and whether you are ever going to come out and play again “

“Get away with you “

“Bette – you took yourself out of the game but it doesn’t mean that when several lesbians gather together they do not discuss the finer points of your play “

“God I had forgotten how full of nonsense you are “

Alice shook her head. Bette had totally reinvented herself in the last 24 months and she didn’t always grasp that other people – other lesbians hadn’t got the memo telling them all of her change in life style and attitude. She thought back to how hedonistic Bette had been – the wild party girl who never stayed in when there was a crowd of lesbians she could trawl. She had been the ultimate good time girl – how times had changed and now Bette was in danger of becoming as dull as ditchwater.

Bette’s only desire had been to reinvent herself – Alice wondered if Bette had told Tina why there had been such a change in persona.

Tina had been deep in thought when Tom had phoned - would she meet him for lunch ?

Tina wasn’t in the mood but Tom had asked her as a favour and reluctantly she had agreed. It was a chance to see her son when she wasn’t expected to see him for another 24 hours. She had got dressed and headed out in her car.

Tom had picked a café close to their old home - it was one they had often frequented when they had been married so it was odd to arrive seperately. Tom was sitting outside in the garden part of the café with Matthew on his knees.

“Hey its momma “

“Hey momma “

Tina grinned and sat down – she ruffled Matthew’s hair

“Hello gorgeous – how are you ?”

“I thought he might be coming down with your cold because he had a sneezing fit first thing but he’s fine now. How are you ? are you any better ?”

“I am feeling much better thanks “

“That’s good – can I get you a coffee ?”

“Herbal tea might be better “

“I’ll get it – you want to hold him ?”

“Silly question “

Tom handed Matthew to Tina and went inside the café. When he returned he smiled at how alike mother and son where. He handed Tina a tea and sat facing her

“Did Bette tell you that we discussed Helena ?”

“Yes – thanks for being on my side “

“Its more about being in the right isn’t it ? You know that Helena and I hate one another “

“I managed to ignore that for a long time “

“You did – I am sorry Tina. I just wanted to see you so I could tell you to your face that she’s never going to get me to join one of her evil schemes “

“Thanks again “ Tina said nodding “It crossed my mind “

“Just because you are my soon to be ex wife doesn’t mean that I don’t have feelings for you “

“I hope we can stay friends “

“I was wondering what you were planning to do about her “

“Helena ? – god only knows “

“I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of letting her fire you “

“Bette says that “

“Bette is smart “

“Bette doesn’t answer to anyone – neither do you “

Tom shook his head

“Does she know how utterly stubborn you are ?”

“I think I’ve hidden it up to now “ Tina replied smiling

“Is she as stubborn as you ?”

“Its never really been an issue “

“And if it does ?”

“I don’t know – Bette’s pretty easy going but she’s a successful business woman – she didn’t get to be that by being a pushover “

“And you didn’t get to be the Head of Development at a very successful studio by letting Peabody walk all over you. What happened between the two of you Tina ? you used to be one of the few people who stood up to her “

Tina shrugged “ She got more power crazed”

“And you stopped going toe to toe with her ?”

“I guess it started when I was pregnant – you know that I was ill for most of the day from three months to eight months. I was tired all the time and I didn’t want to go on the sick or exploit the fact that I was pregnant “

“Its not exploiting the fact “ Tom shook him head “I did forget how stubborn you are – just how pig-headed you can be “

“Natural skill “Tina replied “I just wanted a quiet life. She fired Geoff Falcon while I was pregnant and he was someone who wasn’t afraid to yell at her and almost beat her by the strength of his personality “

“She’s out of control “ Tom shook his head “ You cannot run a business the way that she does “

“She gets results “

“At what cost ?”

Tina chuckled “This sounds like an argument that you and I had several dozen times when we were together “

“Yes – usually because she had done something utterly reprehensible and you were defending her “

“I was wondering earlier if she has a point about me lying to her about Bette “

Tom had seen this so many times before – Tina could be too passive for her own good and this was going to be one such occasion. He no longer had to step as gently as he did previously

“Tina for God sake – you cannot think like that – you have to see that you cannot live your life just rolling over for that silly mare. She has no point what so ever - she is throwing a pathetic little tantrum because she cannot get what she gets into her stupid head that she wants “

Tina was silent – Tom hadn’t spoken to her like that in some time. She cuddled Matthew close and handed him

a box of juice that was sitting on the table. He eagerly accepted it and drank

“I knew that she was really keen on Bette “

“What happened first – you and Bette or Helena going all gooey eyed over her ?”

“Bette and I were together when Helena saw her for the first time at her gym. She started chasing her in her usual subtle as a gold brick wrapped in concrete kind of way”

“What did Bette do ?”

“Helena wanted B to take her on as a client – Bette was polite but firm. I think she would have been ruder but

she knew that eventually I would tell Helena and the three of us would have to build some sort of relationship”

“That looks unlikely to happen “

“I know – I am not going to roll over and just let Helena do whatever she wants “

“What Helena wants is Bette right ?”

“Yes “

“well I thought that the whole point of a loving relationship was that it was a mutual thing – you were a couple

because you both wanted it – did Helena have measles the day that lesson was being taught ?. Bette didn’t

sound very interested in Helena to me “

Tina smiled “She isn’t “

“Do you believe her ?”

“Yes – she’s never done anything that hasn’t been deeply caring and loving. “

Tom wondered idly if the great Bette Porter had any character flaws – well if she had it was unlikely that Tina would share them with him.

“Sounds like Helena is being more delusional than usual”

“I just resent losing a great job because Helena thinks that I have got what is rightfully hers “

“Yeah –that must suck “

“I have some savings and if I make some cutbacks I will be fine for a few months “

“It will be worth it for the peace of mind that you will get from not having to see that devious piece of dog dirt every day “

Tina looked at her husband