ONE AND ONLY

CHAPTER 77

“Its obvious that they are just having a good time “Kate said to Emma as they let themselves into their apartment “Its good that Melvin has taken the time to just be with Bette and Tina  – so what if he takes them to some tourist place – its right up their street. They are 17 years old and that sort of thing is bound to appeal to them. All I know is that they are not going to need feeding  – the food is expensive but there is a lot of it”
“Why couldn’t he have just taken them for a burger or something – that place seemed over the top “
Kate smiled “ Don’t be such a grump Emma  – remember we are taking them on holiday”
Emma grinned as she threw her bag down on the sofa and went to pour two glasses of scotch
“Yes  – that will go down very well with them “
“When are you going to tell them ?”
“Well if they come home I will be telling them tonight “
“I am sure they can be talked into having another night sleeping here” Kate took her jacket off and sat down and exhaled  – the thought of going away for a holiday was a really good one. It had been a long time since they had all been away as a family  and it would be nice to have Bette along as Tina’s girlfriend  – they could amuse themselves while she actually spent some rare time alone with Emma.
Emma handed Kate a glass of scotch and sat down beside her
“Do you have any idea how long its been since we have been away as a family ?”
Emma shook her head “ No “
“Well its was over a year ago – the three of us went away the weekend before Thanksgiving – that is ridiculous. What is the point in having the money and success that we have if we do not celebrate the fact ? We should go away more often. I have been far too caught up in work and I have let you get away with being a workaholic “
“And you haven’t worked just as many hours as me ?” Emma replied
Kate held up her hands “I know that I have   – so I am mad with myself as well as you. If we are looking for reasons why Tina went astray then how many long hours you and I have put into the firm cannot have helped things”
Emma nodded “I know – I know – but at least we are going to do something about it and I swear I will start taking my family away more often – how about another week away somewhere before the end of the year ?”
Kate grinned “I am not sure why you are suddenly wanting to take holidays but I approve  – I would love to go away more often – how about the odd romantic weekend for just the two of us ?”
Emma smiled “ Romantic weekend for two eh ?”
“Yeah – Tina can stay here with Bette or spending the weekend with Melvin and Rosemary or go and stay with her father “
“I am sure I know which option I would enjoy if I was her – I am sure she hasn’t said it but I know she is really thrilled with how cool we are being about our daughter having a sex life “
Emma sipped her scotch “It does feel odd and I know she is 17 but she’s a mature 17. I know I wouldn’t be as tolerant if Bette was Bill “
“Yes – I think you and I would have huge issues with her being straight –  we would hardly be able to advise her about boys but this feels more comfortable for you and I to deal with – and she has wonderful taste in girls”
“She does  – it just feels right that we accept Bette and Tina as a couple. I know what its like to be so awash with how new and amazing sex is – she’s never going to be so lost in wonder at a relationship again. By the time she dates someone new she will have her innocent shattered and she will be older and wiser – I just want her to enjoy her happiness “
“Would we feel this way if she hadn’t finished 4th in her year ?”
Emma raised her eyebrow “I know I a pushy parent but I would like to think that her finishing 4th is not the only reason we accept Bette “
“Its been a huge relief though – I am sure she now has wider options about what colleges will take her in next year “
“It depends on what Bette’s plans are and the state of their relationship “ Kate said “It must have crossed your mind that if their relationship is as strong as it is now – then – they are going to want to go to the same place”
“Bette wants to go to Yale I gather from Rosemary. Do you think Tina can get the grades to go to Yale?” Emma asked her wife. She was sure that Tina could do anything she set her mind to – but she had to admit that she did need Bette for extra motivation at the moment.
“Do you know if they have talked about it ?” Kate asked
Emma shook her head “I don’t and I am not sure how to approach the matter. Maybe we should just play it by ear – see if we get an opportunity when we are all away”
She was just about to say more when the front door slammed and she heard laughter – obviously Bette and Tina had really enjoyed their afternoon with Bette’s father  – well that was good. Melvin had suffered from being excluded from the three women renewing their friendship – and he’d almost been the last person to find out about their daughter’s relationship.  Emma lent back in her seat and waited from Bette and Tina to come into the room.
It was obvious as soon as they walked in that they had spent the whole afternoon laughing and having a great time. They were both carrying dark green and black carrier bags – she recognised them as the bags given out by a huge second hand book shop that had its main shop in Greenwich Village.  Emma looked at Kate and smiled  it was always good to see that Tina had enjoyed herself.
“Hey there “ Tina said stopping when she saw her parents
“Hello there “ Bette said smiling
“I don’t suppose we need to ask how your day has been “
“We have had a real laugh – did you like the photo’s ?” Tina grinned at her mother
“You have some very odd friends “ Emma replied dryly. She had seen the funny side of the photographs that Tina had sent her  – especially when she had found the website of the restaurant and realised it was harmless. Tina laughed again and sat down – Bette sat beside her girlfriend and smiled
“It was such fun “ Tina said “ the food was great and we had a real laugh and I was just drinking my coke and this zombie touched me on the back and I screamed and coke went everywhere“
Kate laughed “ Well it seems that the two of you had a great lunch with your father Bette  – what else did you get up to ?”
“We explored record shops and bookshops – dad loves taking me into book shops. He found out what sort of stuff that Tina reads and they talked about true crime stories and stuff for ages “
“He bought me a couple of great books “ Tina gestured to the carrier “ And I bought a couple of paperbacks – I am looking forward to reading them “
“I hope you thanked him “ Kate said looking at her daughter
“Yes I did – I gave him a massive hug before he went to meet Rosemary – he’s cool”
Emma smiled  – at least that misunderstanding was sorted out. She looked at Kate who grinned
“So when are you planning to find the time to read those books ?” she asked casually
“We were talking about going out tomorrow with a picnic and just sitting under a nice shaded tree in Central Park and relaxing “ Bette explained
Kate nodded at Emma – this was going to be the best time to tell them that there was another option for them. Emma got up and poured herself another scotch – she was hungry and she had been hoping that Bette would have made them a meal – she was getting used to coming home and there being a meal waiting for them but they had their own lives to lead and she was probably going to just have to order a pizza or take them all out for a Chinese or something. Emma sipped her scotch and turned to face her daughter
“Well that would work but its not ideal is it ?”
Tina shrugged “Do you have a better idea ? “
“Well yes “ she looked at Kate and winked “ How about a nice hotel in Miami close to the beach ?”
Tina looked at Bette and back at her mother again
“That would be awesome but I don’t think you are going to let us go to Miami ourselves”
“No because you are both 17 but we have talked about stuff and we need a holiday. Apparently its over a year since I took Kate away – so I have booked a huge suite for the four of us and the two of you can do what you want – within reason. Your parents are fine about this – its my treat for my family and you seem to have become a part of my family Bette – so what do the two of you think ? A nice luxury holiday in Florida ?”
Bette seemed speechless – Tina jumped up and ran to her mother and jumped onto the sofa and hugged her
“Oh mom  oh mom this is just the greatest – thank you – you are the best – this is wonderful – thank you – thank you “
Emma accepted Tina embracing her – she squeezed her “I am glad you approve “
“Approve ? “ Tina  looked at her mom “This is just the greatest – a holiday with my mom’s and Bette  – this is just going to be the best holiday ever – thank you “
“I like my daughter approving of things that I do “ Emma looked at Kate who was grinning. Since Tina had come out as gay things had definitely improved between the two girls in her life. Kate hoped this would continue  but she didn’t think it would take much for either Emma or Tina to start sulking because one of them wasn’t getting their own way – they were a little TOO alike for Kate sometimes who had to act as umpire between the two girls in her life. Tina had been a typical teenager who didn’t take well to Emma having insane expectations of her. But recently Tina had calmed down, brought about by having Bette in her life guiding her with her studies as well as being a willing girlfriend. And as a result Tina had started to fulfil the potential that Emma saw for her daughter . Kate could see that this peace would have a better chance of lasting with Bette around being a good influence on Tina.
“What do you think Bette – would you like a holiday with Tina ?”
“It would be awesome- thank you so much “
Kate nodded “We have spoken to your parents and Rosemary has decided that its high time that she and Melvin take a week off and enjoy some rays as well. “
“Dad did seem to be very pleased about something – I wondered if he had something up his sleeve “
“They are going away for a week – so you are stuck with us”
“Thank you so much – we really wanted to see if we could go on holiday “
“Well I am sure you will have a good time and we will make sure that the two of you have as much freedom as we feel safe to give you”
Tina was chatting to Emma who was beaming at the happiness on her daughters face
“I am hungry “ Emma said looking at Kate “ What do you want to do about dinner ?”
“I don’t want to cook “ Kate said “How about we just go out again “
Emma nodded “I think I will go and have a shower and get changed – -I don’t suppose you two are hungry are you ?”
Tina looked at Bette and back at her mom “Well we could manage a little snack”
“I know what your idea of a snack is “ Emma replied “ Okay – go and put a different shirt on as that one has half your lunch on it “
Tina hugged her mother again and looked at Bette “Come on “
Bette stood up and accepted Tina’s hand.
“Thank you again “ Bette said smiling at both of Tina’s parents as they walked out of the room. Kate went across and kissed Emma on the lips
“You made your daughter very happy “
“I made myself happy – it will be good to get away with her and with Bette.. Its important that we get to know Bette and see how they are thinking going into their Senior year”
“And this is a reward for how well they have done since Easter – she’s not the girl she was a few months ago and so much of that is to do with Bette. They would both be miserable if we had tried to suggest that we just take Tina away”
“Lets go and get changed “ Emma said smiling – she had really loved how well Tina had reacted to the news about the holiday “we can tell them about the hotel and the resort and really make them so excited they don’t sleep for a week”
“You are such an old softie “ Kate reminded her wife
“I know – but she’s my daughter and I just love seeing her happy – come on”
Alone in Tina’s room Bette was lying on the bed watching Tina removing her shirt and putting it in her laundry bag. Tina looked at Bette who was smiling at her wearing just a black bra
“Enjoying the view ?” Tina asked
“Yes – very nice indeed – you have great tits   do you know that ?”
“You tell me that a lot”
“Well you do –  really sexy nipples but all in all – a great pair of puppies “
“So full of bullshit “ Tina replied taking a smart blue shirt from her wardrobe and after giving her underarms a blast of deodorant she put the shirt on.
“So  – how fucking cool is it that we are going to be able to go on holiday ?”
“Its brilliant “ Bette beamed “How much supervision do you think your parents are going to insist on ?”
“Well it sounded like we are going to be able to have our own room “
“I picked that up as well – we will be able to fuck to our hearts content “
“Not too loudly “ Bette said “I think waking them up because we are being loud might be one of the ways we cross the line with them- we need to just tread careful. I don’t want to stop your mothers being so much on our side. We have been really lucky that they are on our side – lets keep it that way “
Tina smiled “ You are being too conservative — they approve of us and its less hard work than them trying to keep us apart “
“If they didn’t want us together there is not much we could do apart from whinge a lot. The fact is they like me – they approve of us dating  – I am not going to mess this up. We are very lucky Tina “
Tina fastened up her blouse “Yeah – I guess you are right – would you like to put a different shirt on ?”
“Pick me something out “ Bette said showing no sign of moving
Tina climbed on the bed and straddled Bette
“Yes “ Bette smiled “ You do look pretty good on me “
Tina kissed her on the lips and for several minutes they kissed gently
“I am looking forward to tonight – its going to be good to taste you. As great as today has been  – I do love days when everyone goes to work and we just get to make out and not wear very much “
“Well if we play nice with your parents I am sure they will be happy to leave us in the hotel watching movies – they are bound to have their own plans – lets play into their plans “