Bette: Joe, there is no magic solutions. All you can do is do what you feel is right and keep talking to Barbara. The only real solution is for both of you to want to be back together and to want a life which is happy and fulfilling. And you have to want that more than the pain you feel from whatever hurt each of you has experienced. You and Barbara are a lovely couple and you deserve happiness in your life. But it takes two to make a relationship and only one to tear it apart.

Joe:  Thanks Bette. That helps believe it or not. I’m glad John David has met Daniel. You let me know if he gives you any trouble. I don’t believe he will. He’s not the mischievous type. Not like his brother Joey.

Bette: Well, Daniel is excited about this outing and I’m sure John David will be fine. We have given Barbara our cell numbers, our address and we will take good care of him. In fact, Daniel assures me that they are both caught up on their homework for Monday, so that should not be a problem.

Joe: Now I know Daniel is going to be a wonderful friend. Both my boys have always put homework off until the last possible moment. I think they get that after me.

Bette:  With Daniel, school work comes first in his life. Then his music and sports and free time.

Joe: Music? What kind of music is he into?

Bette:  He plays piano and he is taking guitar and violin this semester. He is doing sports on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Joe:  I usually take Joey and John David for a round of golf on Saturday afternoons. Maybe Daniel can join us sometime. We can make it a foursome.

Bette: Tina and I are moving into our house here in Santa Monica next weekend. Daniel may be available for Saturday, but definitely not on Sunday. Text me sometime during the week if that is what you want to do. Tina and I will determine what the schedule is going to be. We will be neighbors after we move.  Our home is about six blocks away.

In the meantime, Tina and Barbara were talking. Tina was listening to Barbara talk about the pending divorce but how she felt that it might be a mistake. She loved Joe, but he was so involved in his job sometimes, it was like she was raising the boys on her own. Tina encouraged her to keep talking to Joe and to take some time to be with him as a couple rather than always as a family. Barbara was planning to send Joey to his grandmother’s that night and have an evening and a day with Joe. Tina told her that was a good plan. Take every opportunity possible to have some couples time they could. If they were happy together, the boys would be happy as well.