“I am getting on well with them. I think they have seen what I went through – that I felt abandoned by them when I needed them the most”

“I think after a while the three of you are just going to have to close the book on what happened. You and I agreed that we had to do that about – well – you know who “

“Yes “ Tina knew who Bette was referring to “We do. I think there is more work and more talking to be done. Dad hadn’t really told me what happened “

Bette raised an eyebrow but didn’t speak. She went to the freezer and regarded the three flavours of ice cream – she pulled out the strawberry and shut the freezer again

“What did that look mean ?” Tina asked

Bette shrugged

“Bette – come on “

Bette knew that one of the ways in which they had changed was that they didn’t tend to leave things unsaid  anymore .. Unsaid things had a habit of festering and simmering into a serious resentment or two. Bette put the ice cream on the unit and turned to face Tina

“I just don’t know why you want the gory details “

Its what got the whole family into the mess “

“All the same – I think that you should be careful about demanding to hear the whole event from your father’s view “

“Why ?”

Bette really wished that Tina would just accept that they could have different views on some things – they didn’t have to be on one another’s wave length about everything. It didn’t make them any weaker as a couple for having two different view points

“I just think that once that is out  – its like a Pandora’s box “

“You don’t think that I deserve to hear how he killed my boyfriend”

Bette sighed “ Tina – you knew that I cheated on you – you didn’t want or need to hear the gory details do you ?”

Tina went silent. Bette turned back to the ice cream and fiddled on with the scoop for a few minutes getting it warm so the ice cream came out easier. After five minutes Bette looked at Tina who smiled ruefully

“I haven’t thought of it like that before “

“I would have struggled to tell you the whole thing. It was shameful enough that you knew that I had done what I had. It would have torn both of us apart for me to tell you the graphic details. You have to give your dad some dignity Tina. If he doesn’t want to tell you –  you really need to respect that. I can see that you want to make sense of what happened – the one thing that changed the course of your life but I really think that if he doesn’t want to tell you – you shouldn’t push him “

Tina was silent – fiddling with the coffee  that she should be putting into the filter paper. Bette went back to messing with the ice cream

“Mommy – do we have any of those little candies ?” Angie came in

Tina opened the cupboard and handed the packet to Angie

“You mean these ?”

“Yeah – cool – can I have some of those on my ice cream momma B ?”

“Of course darling “

“Cool “

Angie wandered off again. Bette sprinkled some of the candies on top of Angie’s ice cream and popped a few into her mouth. She gestured to the packet at Tina who shook her head. Bette handed the bag back to Tina who put it away. Tina lent forward and kissed Bette on the lips

“Thanks for knowing what is right and what isn’t “

Bette smiled “I know what its like to be ashamed of yourself. While I learnt how to not run away – there is no point in pouring extra salt into the open wound. It will never heal that way Tina “