They shook hands and Danny turned back to Tina with a look of concern.

”Stan’s here,” Danny said. ”I haven’t seen him drink much, but even without alcohol, you never know what he’s going to say.”

”Alice warned me,” Tina said, waving off his concern. ”He probably won’t even remember me. Where are the kids?”

”Everyone’s in the back yard,” Danny said. ”Most of the kids are in the pool and the adults are taking turns making sure someone’s watching them. The bar is back there if you’d like a drink. Help yourself.”

He made his exit and Tina looked at Bette.

”Ready?” Tina asked.

”All set,” Bette replied.

They walked together through the patio doors into the yard. They hadn’t progressed very far when a voice that was loud and harsh overshadowed the joy of the kids’ squeals.

”You got a lotta nerve showin’ your face here.”

Tina rolled her eyes and turned to face who she knew would be there.

”I beg your pardon?” she had no choice but to look up to Nicole and Alice’s Uncle Stan.

He was a formidable man, who used his height to intimidate people at the best of times. He didn’t take kindly to being challenged by anyone – let alone a woman.

”That little niece of mine was dragged into a life of your sinning ways, and now she doesn’t have any chance for redemption,” Stan continued.

”You are entitled to your opinions, but those opinions don’t affect me in the least,” Tina wasn’t intimidated by anyone. She knew how many people would jump to her defence if necessary and she doubted it would be. ”God will judge your hate more harshly than He judges who I love.”

”The bible is clear,” Stan continued. ”You can be sure to expect eternal damnation for your wicked ways. You’ll burn just like Nicole is burning right now.”

Tina turned and walked away. There was no reasoning with someone like him and it was only getting her blood pressure up.

”You can walk away from me, but you can’t walk away from the reality of your sin!” he called after her.

No one could ignore the exchange that was happening between them. Tina spun around defiantly.

”Your narrow-mindedness is a glaring reminder of how much work there is left to do in educating the world on issues of equality,” Tina said. ”Come on Bette, I want to go visit with people who are worth our time.”