Chapter 139

The doorbell rang – shattering the peace and enjoyment Tina and Bette were sharing playing with the babies.

“Well T…this is going to be one interesting day. Melvin, Lenore, Alice, Dana, Shane, Kit and Jenny for Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Oh come on Babe…it’ll be fun…well interesting to say the least. Have you told your dad that you’re pregnant?”

“Not yet.”

“Well you better do that first thing…you know it’s going to come up in the discussion over dinner. Don’t piss him off by blind siding him Babe!”

Just then Melvin came into the living room. “Oh my God! Look at my grandchildren. My God they’re getting big.”

Bette got up and walked over and gave Melvin a kiss. “Hi dad. Do you want to hold Taylor?”

Melvin took Taylor from Bette. “Such a beautiful little girl. Look at you.” Melvin held Taylor up in front of him. “You look even more like your mommy than you did the last time I saw you. And that blonde hair. What a pretty little girl!”

“Hi dad.” Tina gave Melvin a kiss on the cheek.

“Tina…you look beautiful. Oh look at Dylan. What a handsome little guy huh?”

“Yeah…he’s got all of Bette’s features…he’s beautiful isn’t he. Just like his mama.” Tina smiled at Bette and winked.

“Hey dad?”

“Yes Bette?”

“Come and sit for a minute…we need to talk to you about something.” Bette sat on the couch and patted the cushion. Melvin sat next to her…still holding Taylor in his arms. Tina sat on the other side of Bette with Dylan in her lap.

“What is it Bette? You’re all healthy aren’t you?” Melvin looked concerned.

“Oh…yeah…yeah…we’re healthy…all totally healthy. It’s not that.” Bette bit her lower lip. “Dad…Tina and I love being parents and ummmmm….well…our family is going to be expanding again.”

“Oh my God…Tina…you aren’t pregnant again are you. I mean … you just had these two….I’d worry that…”

Tina looked at Melvin and then put her hand on Bette’s shoulder.

Bette spoke again. “No…dad…Tina isn’t pregnant…I am….with twins.”

Melvin looked at Bette and Tina and smiled broadly. “Two more grandchildren…Bette…Tina…that’s wonderful! But you’re going to need more space.”

“Well..we’ve been thinking about that…and we’ll probably both have to work…Tina, at least part time…and I’ll continue to work full time after my maternity leave from the CAC….”

“Nonsense…I want to help you….my grandchildren are going to be raised by their parents…not day care. I want to build an addition for you…assuming you want to stay here….and legally…I can give each one of you a certain amount of money each year – tax free. And that’s what I’m going to do.”

Tina’s mouth fell open and Bette stared at Melvin in disbelief.

Bette kissed Melvin’s cheek. “Thank you daddy!” It had been months since Bette had called Melvin daddy.

A tear fell down Melvin’s cheek. “You have no idea how much I missed you calling me that. Ok – so Monday we find an architect. And every year each one of you will receive a gift from me in the amount of..let’s see…hmmmmmm….I think right now it’s $11,000 a year. And just to make things easier…we’ll find a way to include Jackie in that too…since I know she helps out so much.”

“Thank you daddy! Oh my God…thank you! I love you daddy!” Bette threw her arms around Melvin and kissed him again.

Tina was numb. In her head she did the calculations. $11,000 a year times 7. $77,000 a year tax free money.
“Holy *****! Oh sorry…thank you so much dad.”

“Yes Tina…$77,000 a year to help you out. I’m glad to help. After all..I can’t take it with me. I may as well watch you enjoy it while I’m alive. And if both of you decide not to work..that’ll be fine. I’m going to get all seven of you on the medical benefits of one of my companies. We’ll just make it happen.”

“HOLY *****!” Tina chuckled after she said it again.

“There is one condition.” Melvin spoke the words and Bette and Tina listened intently. “I want to see my grandchildren several times a year. So I hope you don’t mind if I hang around with you at different times throughout the year…holidays…birthdays…major events in the children’s lives. You know…all the big things.”

“Oh God daddy…we’d love to have you involved. That’ll be great…and really wonderful for the kids to know their grandfather. This is great daddy! Oh my God…this is great!” Bette smiled her brightest smile at her father.

“Ok…now that we’ve settled that…may I hold my grandson please?” Tina handed Dylan to Melvin as Bette took Taylor from him. “Do you mind if I take him with me…I’d like to go speak with Jackie.”

“Ummmmm no daddy….go ahead. Let us know if he becomes a problem.” Bette could only manage to smile at Melvin. As a matter of fact… she couldn’t stop smiling. Melvin got up and left the room with Dylan in his arms.

“Baby?”

“Yeah T?”

“Do you think he’s really lost his mind this time?”

“Ummmmmm…..I’m not sure Tina. He has always done what he’s promised.”

“Bette?”

“Yeah?”

“I think your father has just made our lives 100% easier. Are you sure he’s sane?”

“Ahhhh….he seems to be sane….I hope he’s sane…Tina…do you know what this means?”

“What?”

“You don’t have to go back to work…unless you want to.”

“Oh God Baby…I’d love to stay home with the kids. You can take an extended leave Babe! That’ll be great. I know you love your work…”

“Yeah…I can take more time off…and I’ll keep working. I have to work or I’ll eventually go stir crazy. But I love the idea of you staying home with the kids. God T….no day care costs….we will be raising our own kids.”

“Babe?”

“Yeah Sweetie?”

“I love you…”

Bette looked over at Tina and handed Taylor to her. Tears ran down Bette’s cheeks.

Tina leaned toward her and kissed the tears from her cheeks. “What’s going on Babe?”

“Tina?”

“Yeah?”

“I think all of my fears about having two more babies just disappeared.” Bette looked at Tina and then at Taylor who was propped up in Tina’s lap. “My two favorite girls…you’re both so beautiful.”

“Baby?”

“Yeah T?”

“I love you…we’re gonna be ok. We’re gonna be ok.”

Bette kissed Tina. “We’re really going to be ok…we are…we are.”