Yea what, did you think I would stand you up? (Erin)

No no I just thought

What?

I thought you would hang out with Mike a little longer, thats all.

No, tonight is a very welcome girls night on the beach.

Welcome?

Yeah Ill be there in a minute

Okay, bubye

Bye

Bette hung up with a smile on her face and pulled out a book to read until Erin arrived.


Bette was just getting into her book, Kunderas Immortality, when she heard a car pull into the driveway.

She tossed her book in her beach bag and ran down with it to meet Erin.

On her way to the front door, Bette nearly crashed into her father, whose car it had been pulling into the driveway.

Bette, what are you doing running around the house?

Daddy! Bette ignores her fathers question (for the moment) and reaches up to give him a big hug. I didnt think you were going to be home until Sunday.

The representatives of the other company were impossible. After the first four days I decided that remaining there would only be a waste of time, so we came home early.

Im so glad youre back! And Bette really meant it, even though her father pushed her to the brink of her sanity sometimes, always demanded perfection and rarely seemed truly pleased or satisfied with anything, he was the one person in the world she esteemed most. She knew that he only held her to such high standards because he wanted the est for her and wanted her to achieve as much as he had. Bette reached up to give him another tight hug.

Mr. Porter finally relaxed his expression for the first time since he had entered the house and even laughed for a moment at his daughters exuberance. Im glad to be back, As she pulled away and looked up at her father she caught a brief glimpse of his adoration of her in his eyes before his countenance resumed its usual severity.

Now, back to my previous question. Why were you running around the house? I presume nothing has caught fire?

Suddenly Bette began to get that unpleasant feeling she had when she knew she wasnt doing anything wrong, but what she was doing still might upset her father.

Well, actually I was going out with a friend tonight and I thought you were her. She should be here in a few minutes, Im sure she would love to meet you.

Youre going out first thing on a weekend? I hope you havent been being lax with yourself and your studies while I was gone He gave Bette that stare, the one that could make an infant feel guilty for smiling, and Bette instantly began to defend herself halfheartedly. She felt guilty even though she had been working harder in the past three weeks than she ever had before.

No, daddy, I havent, I promise. We were just going to go out tonight, and then begin working tomorrow. We

And who exactly is this girl? asked Melvin as he wandered into his study and put his briefcase down in its place and began to sort through his mail.

Bette followed him and peered around the door frame into his study while she spoke, Erin McKenna, the one I told you aboutShe gave me my orientation on the first day. Shes in all my classes, and extremely intelligent. Im sure youll like her

Ill like her just fine as long as she does not distract my girl from her studies.

Her father had unintentionally hit on a bit of a nerve. For once she almost had a reason to feel guilty, while what her father was indicating, that he hoped she and Erin had not been neglecting their studies while hanging around, was not a reality, it was true that Erin had been a disctraction for Bette. Bette had recently found her mind wandering (something it never used to do) and always coming to rest on Erin. While this was not a major problem for her as she was able to reinvolve herself in classes or her homework quickly, it was odd to hear those words to come out of her father’s mouth.

We study together all the time, daddy. We are the only two taking the same course load, so we work together a lot. She really is great, daddy, and she should be here soon.

Right on cue the sound of a car pulling into the driveway was heard and Bette went to run toward the door before remembering that her father was home and checking her pace.

When Bette reached the front door she found Erin standing there in jeans and a t-shirt. She was glad that her friend had chosen not to come over in a bikini top and a pair of shorts. She knew her father valued first impressions, felt fairly certain that he would fine Erins clothes acceptable and be more inclined to like her.

Bette let Erin in and was just about to mention the fact that her father was home and that she would like to introduce her to him when the two of them hear Melvin Porters deep voice behind them by the stairway.

And is this the friend I have been hearing about? Mr. Porter asked as the two girls whipped around to face him.

Erin hid her surprise well. She had never met Melvin Porter but, judging by the job he had done raising Bette, she had some idea of what to expect. One of the reasons for Melvin Porters success was his intimidating presence, and Bette was afraid that Erin might be caught off guard b this because Bette had not had time to warn her about her fathers early arrival or his disposition.

Bette soon realized that she had nothing to worry about. Erin strode forward confidently and held out her hand to Bettes father.

Mr. Porter, its a pleasure to meet you. Im Erin McKenna, a friend of Bettes from St. Marys. said Erin as the two shook hands

It is a pleasure to meet you, too Melvin did an excellent job of concealing how much Erins straightforward manners and poise impressed him, but his daughter could tell that he was surprised and pleased that Erin had not been deterred or intimidated by his tone or bearing.

Melvin continued to speak to Erin as he walked into the living room, So how long have you been at St. Marys, Erin?

The two girls followed him into the room and stood behind one couch while he sat at the couch opposite theirs.

Since freshman year, Mr. Porter.

Please, have a seat, he said gesturing the couch Bette and Erin were currently standing by. As the two sat Mr. Porter continued to question Erin.

Bette tells me you are in all of her classes, which would indicate that you take your academics very seriously, where do plan to apply for college? Bette grimaced at the mention of the last word in the question but Erin quickly replied.

I am still in the process of choosing which colleges to apply to, but right now Im looking into most of the Ivies as well as a couple of other East Coast schools and Stanford.

You still are not sure where you are going to apply?

I have it narrowed down to that group, but I still need to visit the colleges to get a better feel for them. I have nearly finalized drafts for all of my applications finished, so I feel like I am in good shape.

It would seem so. What do you want to major in in college?

I dont know yet, but Im considering pursuing a career in civil rights or international law, so I suppose I will begin as a pre-law student.

Very ambitious, but from what I have heard about you, well within your potential. Now what extracurriculars do you participate in at St. Marys?

The questioning went on for over an hour and Bette noticed that the more her father learned about Erin the more he seemed to like her. He saw the same drive and intelligence in her that he so valued in his daughter. She even succeeded in making him laugh with her views on politics, an extremely rare accomplishment for any of Bettes previous friends. After Mr. Porter decided that he was satisfied he told them that he hoped he had not delayed them too much and that, if they would excuse him, he would return to his study.

Erin stood up to shake Mr. Porters hand again, Bette gave her father one last hug and they were off.

As they were pulling out of the Porter driveway in Erins car, Bette looked at her friend in awe.

Absolutely ***** amazing, he never likes anyone when he first meets them. How on earth did you do that? Im his daughter and I still think hes a rather imposing figure, isnt he?

Erin looked at Bette with a wicked grin and said, Well, the apple doesnt fall far from the tree, and I have been able to practice with your imposing figure for weeks.

TBC