Some kind of wonderful

Chapter 17

After Tina left to meet Bette Kate spent some time finding a vase for the flowers and she looked at the card. After trying to get on with her notes for a few minutes she abandoned her desk and walked along the corridor to Emma’s office. Emma – as the senior partner had the biggest and most impressive looking office in the whole building – the views were of the main bridges and across the river. She was consulting a law book from the huge bookcase that dominated one of the walls of the room.
“Hello “ Emma said – things were strained between them so it was a good bet that Kate had come to see her about work – it was unlikely to be personal.
“Hello “
“Is everything okay ?” Emma asked
“No “
“Is it the Douglas case ?”
“No – its you “
Emma closed the law book
“What have I done now ?”
“Our daughter has just been to see me with some flowers and a card for our wedding anniversary. In the card are two very good theatre tickets “
“Oh – she didn’t come to see me  as I am the big bad wolf I assume “
“She had some  good news “
“She’s seen sense and is job hunting and not wasting time following Bette Porter everywhere ?” Emma asked hopefully
“No – Bette has helped her get a clerical job with the NYPD “
“A clerical job ?” Emma said “ Doing what ?”
“Tina doesn’t really care – all she cares about is  that she has secured a job that will pay her a salary and help her get the hell out from under our roof “
“She can do a hell of a lot better than a simple clerical job “
“She is not assuming this is her life time career – she wants to work and she wants to pay for things – she is delighted “
“I am sorry Kate I do not see why this is good news.  – she should have a graduate job – management trainee or something – she should not be doing something as menial as clerical – what does that even mean ? may I remind you she’s a Ivy League educated graduate  – she is not a secretary “
“Remind me to tell all the clerical staff in here that you consider it to be such a meaningless job” Kate said dryly
“I am not saying it’s a meaningless job – I am saying that Tina can do an awful lot better – you cannot be delighted at this news – why is this good news ?”
Kate counted to ten
“She is delighted because it is a job and she wants to work – she wants to pay her way when she goes out with Bette and she wants to earn some money so she can buy things for her new apartment “
“Her new apartment – tell me she is not moving in with her ?”
“No she is not – for fucks sake Emma – what do you think she is ? She has been seeing Bette for less than a month. But she is determined that she does want her own place and it seems that she has one lined up”
“How ?”
“Daddy’s new restaurant has two apartments above it  – he has promised one of them to his favourite daughter “
“He spoils her way too much – why would she want to live in some grotty apartment ?”
“Firstly – there is no way on this earth that he would let her live anywhere that is grotty – he is about to get his severance package which is going to be in the hundreds of thousands what with shares and bonuses and all that – you think he is going to blink at spending a few thousand doing up a place he will own for his pride and joy ? She is his daughter and he adores her. And secondly – knowing Matt the restaurant will be in a select area of the city – and she will be safe  “
“She has probably been crying on his shoulder about what a monster I am “
“You know what really upsets me Emma ? Its that you resent anyone else doing anything for her . Why could we have not pulled some strings and found her a little job to keep her occupied while she is looking for a proper job ? Why has she had to go to her father for help to get an apartment ?  She wants her freedom  – she is 23 years old – she is not a child but you are treating her like one. Of course she has rebelled – you have to stop being so against her and Bette “
“I don’t think she and Bette should be together –  I am sorry if I want what is best for my daughter – why do you have to take the high ground and make all these assumptions that I don’t love her and I don’t want what is best for her – for your information – I adore her – she is everything to me and I want the best for her – better than some smelly apartment above a restaurant, better than some worthless clerical job and better than having to go back to an ex “ Emma was fed up with being portrayed as the villain of the piece the whole time.
“You and I lived above a bakery for 12 months – I worked as a waitress and I flipped burgers for two summers – you delivered leaflets – – what is wrong with Tina starting the same way ?”
“Because she doesn’t have to – we didn’t have rich parents who would have paid for everything that we wanted “
“I am sorry but your father was a judge – he wasn’t exactly a truck driver – what is this Emma ? Tina is 23 – she is starting out in her working life – working as a clerk for NYPD is pretty decent “ she knew what would touch a raw nerve with Emma “ Tina has promised her dad she will work a as a waitress for him a few times a week “
“He wants her to be a waitress ! “
“I worked as a waitress  – and his place will be a lot higher class than anywhere I every worked “
Emma shook her head  – Kate could tell she was cross
“She has had every chance that we didn’t have – why is she wasting her talents ?”
“Oh for fucks sake Emma – she is 23  -she is finding her feet – she only graduated a couple of months ago”
“She should have joined the firm “
“You are kidding me ? She would have had to be three times better than anyone else because she is your daughter and she is not that interested in the law. Yes part of her degree was in Law but  that was criminal law and she told me she didn’t really enjoy the course. Law just isn’t in her blood like it was with you and I when we were her age. You have to stop trying to make her live her life the way you want it to”
“Why am I the baddie just for wanting the best for her ?”
“There is nothing wrong with wanting the best for her but you have to let her find out what is the best for her – and that includes Bette “
“She shouldn’t have to go back to an ex – there are plenty of women out there who would love to date her. Dating your ex is always a disaster “
Kate had tried so many times to make Emma see how wrong her stance was – but she knew that her wife rarely accepted that she had made an error of judgement. Kate sighed
“She adores Bette – Bette makes her happy and they seem to be settling down into a relationship”
Emma frowned
“Listen to me Emma Kennard – you have got to have a rethink – you have alienated her. Stop trying to dictate how she is living her life – she will make mistakes – of course she will but that is how she will learn life lessons. I think that she and Bette are good for one another and I hope they do find a way to bury the past – we split them up and it’s a good thing she is such a good kid because we could have lost her over it  – and we could lose her over all of this. I mean this Emma  – if I lose her because you think she is one of your interns who you can bully I will never forgive you and you know what that means”