THE L WING

CHAPTER 304

NARRATION OF PRESIDENT BETTE KENNARD PORTER

I am a little anxious about how I going to be greeted by Tina when I walk into the apartment at 6pm.  That is an hour later than I told her but 6pm is really early by my usual standards.  Its hard to assess how Tina is going to be – she could still be angry with me or she could just be feeling fed up because she’s getting body blows from all sides at the moment.

She’s in the bathroom just putting Ella’s pyjamas on after a bath.

“Hey there  – hey pumpkin “

“Momma “

“Do you need a hand ?”

“Can you check on the beef ? – its should be out in the next 20 minutes or so – see if its ready, I might have had the temperature too high “

“No problem “ I move closer and kiss Ella “You look good honey “

Then I look up at Tina “You too “

“I don’t feel it “

“You want a drink ?”

“There is a bottle of wine in the fridge “

“Okay – won’t be long “

I go and get changed, then check on the beef – testing it and deciding to give it another ten minutes – then I pour a glass of wine for Tina and go and look for her. She is just bringing Ella through.

“I will take her and you sit down and enjoy your wine “

“Do you not want one ?”

“I will get one later – I had a scotch with Peggy “

“Peggy drinking early — there is a surprise “

“She is stressed by the wedding among other things – hello darling – have you been out today eh  ? That should make you sleep. Did you know that you are going on holiday in two days – yes – sun and sand and the sea – oh you are just going to love the sea “

I play with Ella until she starts to yawn more than she is laughing at my efforts to amuse her. I take her through to her nursery and sit and sing to her until she falls into a light sleep. I do like  this point of the day – it’s a real time to marvel at the wonders of being a parent – she’s changing and growing all the time and if you do not take every minute in – you miss things. I do not want to miss anything about her development. Its also a great time to take in the grown up things that have happened – today has given me a lot to think about. A lot of names to think about – people that I know or have heard of  – will they add anything to the team or will they be negative influences ? I think Alice will go quietly – Shane will not . Then there is the whole business with Helena – Tina needs the best adviser possible  – who will fit the bill ? I do need to talk to her about that. But it might be a case of treading on egg shells tonight. There is also the question of whether we take Ella away for the whole two weeks – that’s going to be delicate – and its something that we will need to agree on.