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Life and Love and Why – 6
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"He should have said something." Tina said firmly, but quietly.
"Tina, Mom and Cathy were just going to make you miserable for being so happy with Bette. Leaving us behind was the right thing for you and Bette. You proved that you didn’t need their approval, which just made them miserable."
"And were they? Were Mom and Dad really miserable that they were able to just ignore that every holiday, every family gathering, their youngest daughter was nowhere to be seen?" Tina asked, her anger just barely concealed. "Because I waited, Paul. From Christmas that year, to every day of every year that followed, I waited for one of them to even acknowledge that I still existed, and I got nothing."
Paul sighed, leaning back on the chair. "Remember how it was? Every year, every Thanksgiving, every Christmas? We were all never really close, but every year, we stayed, and we had fun."
Tina glanced at him.
"When you left, it was just… it became just a perfunctory dinner. It was all very strained, just polite talk and avoided topics. And then when Ned left, it just became something we had to go through." Paul looked at her. "They may not have reached out, Tina, but I promise you that they felt it."
"Funny, how you saying all this now is actually making me feel better," Tina told him. "Not, you know, that I’m happy that’s what happened, but, that it wasn’t just me."
"It wasn’t just you," Paul shook his head, assuring her.
"So how come you never wrote, or called?"
"Karen sent those cards," Paul protested.
"Yeah, but she was always too good for you." Tina teased.
"Fuck you." Paul retorted.
Tina smiled. "I guess it’s just as well that you didn’t know what to tell me all those years ago."
"I still could have been a better brother to you and Ned," Paul admitted.
"Yeah, you could have," Tina returned.
"You’re never really going to let me off the hook, are you?"
"This is what Ned lives with."
"Poor guy."
"You know, I wasn’t really expecting anything from you," Tina admitted. She turned to him. "You weren’t a bad brother, but you were always off on your own, somewhere. Ned was always the big brother."
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Not having a sibling myself, your convo w/all three sounds very realistic. It’s funny how Tina can be upfront and honest w/her brothers but not w/Bette. Bette can offer her solace and comfort and support. Her brothers seem kind of lost and inadequate in knowing what to do and how to move forward for the most part. It’s obvious to me that her bros just don’t quite get her except for being apologetic after her parents basically disowned her and their grandchild. This dynamic along w/strong writing is what makes “Brothers and Sisters” such a good TV show.
Having siblings, we decided to let our oldest sister to make the final decision about our mother’s health after we all gave our thoughts and suggestions. This chapter took me back. It’s sad to see that Tina’s mother and sister cannot put away their differences for a while while they decide what to do about their father/husband. Tina admits to herself that she was going to need a little help getting through all this. I wish she calls Bette. Great update. PPS
I’ve been one of the siblings that have discussed the medical fate of a parent. We didn’t have the complications of Tina’s family, but we had some of our ouwn. It makes for a very odd and stressful time. On the one hand it is static, even boring, just sitting around in the hospital keeping vigil. Yet at the same time it is extremely tense and emotional. I’ll be interested to see the inevitable interaction between Tina and her mother and sister.
Hopefully Tina will call Bette and tell her what is going on. Then just maybe we will see Bette, Angie and Helena walking down the hospital corridor. Thanks for posting.
I hope that the little help will come from Bette. Tiff, that was excellent. You are really giving Tina some background. The entire family’s emotions seem to run deep and it sounds like they were dysfunctional long before Tina professed her love of Bette to them. Super story…can’t wait for the next update.
Great update! I love learning more about T’s family! PPS!
Being the decision maker in that kind of situation would be really hard… but it might bring them all together. Maybe, over the course of Tina’s stay, some of the issues the Kennards all have with each other will be addressed, and resolved. Wishful thinking? If Tina does call Bette for help, I don’t think she’d hesitate to come… but I wonder (worry) if Helena’s actually the first person on Tina’s speed dial just now. Great chapter, tiff, thanks.
Tina’s mom has some mighty high expectations resulting in one big family mess. Clearly, it’s not easy to have a situation with one ill parent and one parent who’s an idiot.
i think tina needs a lot of help going through this, and bette is the one to help…let’s just hope tina is brave enough to turn to her for comfort and help
YES, SHE WILL NEED A LITTLE HELP FROM BETTE AND ANGE. Families can just be so toxic!!! Ned and Tina deserve credit for getting out. Taking that step towards sanity is very hard. Like this realistic story. PPS.
An awesome update. Thank you. :)
it takes a certain kind of strength to admit that we need help… i’m glad that tina sees it now. i am hoping that bette is the one she turns to not only because i ultimately want to see them back together but because i feel that bette is the best person who can give her the support she needs.
Ahh come on Tina just call Bette already!
I was hoping for an update, what a great surprise..keep it coming. great story.
I don’t buy Paul’s rationale for why he and his dad didn’t stand up for Tina & Ned – but I suppose in families you tell yourself what you have to. This is going to be a bumpy and painful ride for the Kennards – but a necessary one. It’s good that Tina is thinking of reaching out to her chosen family now – fractured as it presently is, they’re a part of her too.
family dynamics in a hospital setting is fucking horrendous. i am very patient. thx