Chapter 3

Tina was now sitting up in her hospital bed. Her body was sore and her head totally confused. She looked down at the photo she was holding. Her hands were shaking looking at the little girl grinning at the camera. She moved it and then picked up her wedding ring. She looked at the message on the inside, ‘I love you forever and always B.’ She looked at her broken arm and slipped it back on. It felt right. The door to her private room opened and Bette walked in carrying flowers along with an elderly man.

            "Hey baby," Bette said setting the flowers on the bedside table.

            "Hi," Tina said looking at her then looking at the man in curiosity.

            The man cleared his throat and stepped forward, "Tina darlin’ it’s me your father, Steve Kennard."

            "M-my father?" Tina said.

"Yes," Steve said, "your mom wanted to come but she’s very sick. She’s worried about you."

"She’s sick? What’s wrong with her?" Tina asked.

Bette smiled, that’s her T, always worrying about others before herself. Steve looked a bit grim as he answered, "she has cancer sweetling, we found about it last year."

Tina looked sad, "and I forgot all about it."

"It’s okay T, your mother understands, we’ll go see her once you get out of here," Bette said softly.

"When Bette called me I came right away hunnypie," Steve said caressing Tina’s face.

Bette knew that it had taken Steve and Lydia Kennard a long while to accept Tina as a lesbian and Bette as her partner. In fact it had taken five years. Right when Tina got pregnant with Angie the grandparent genes popped up. Both Steve and Lydia came to her groveling for forgiveness and hoping to be in Angie’s life. Tina was only happy to oblige.

But Bette wouldn’t remind her of those dark times, if she remembered them on her own better.

"Thank you…dad," Tina said.

Steve smiled.

"You normally call him daddy," Bette said.

"It’s okay, she’ll remember," Steve said smiling.

"Do I have any siblings?" Tina asked.

"One brother but he lives in New York," Steve said, "his name is Adam."

"I called him too," Bette said, "he’s trying to get time off work to come see you."