Bette had left Tina who had gone to the gym for an hour. She wanted to see her father and knew that he was a man of fairly fixed habits. So if he was not in court he would take an hour off at 1pm and go and buy a sandwich at his favourite deli a couple of blocks from his office. So Bette knew that if she hung around that deli she would see her father. She was standing at the back of the deli waiting for the queue to start to thin out when the door opened again and her father walked in. he saw her straight away and smiled – he walked across and grinned at her
“Am I so predictable ?” he asked
“No – its just this is your favourite place and I know  you are often in here at around this time”
“Well I plead guilty – have you ordered a sandwich ?”
“I thought I would let you buy me one “ Bette said
“Fair enough – beef ?”
“Turkey would be great “
“Turkey it is  – grab some bottles of juice from that fridge – ah  – see – the advantage of coming in here for 15 years – they see me regardless of how full it is – hia Charlie – beef on rye for me and turkey with the whole works for my daughter “
It took five minutes for Melvin to be served and they went outside with their sandwich and drink.
“How are you ?” Bette asked her father
“I am fine – don’t worry about your mom and me – we are going to be okay. Did you have a nice time last night ?”
“I got to be with Tina – we had a great time – are you two really going to be okay. I am sorry you know “
“I have told you before – we are going to be okay “
Together they crossed to Central Park and sat down on an empty park bench. After a few minutes of eating Melvin looked at his daughter
“For the record and I really hope you believe me when I say this  – I do not have an issue with you being gay. I am not my father who thought  it was some illness and it could be cured. You were born gay and that’s no ones fault – it is what it is. I would rather you found out now rather than in 20 years time because you can explore who you are in so many other ways and they matter a lot as well. And I like Tina – she is sweet and its obvious that you just adore her “
“I do – I never felt this way – which is obvious but she is just wonderful. I do really love her dad”
“I know -everyone tells me that and I can see it for myself”
“The last thing I wanted was to exclude you and hurt you and I know that I have “
“I am hurt but not at you. I know guys who have never told their parents and about three weeks ago I was talking to one of the girls in the office and she had known she was gay from 12 and she’s waited 25 years to tell her parents. That would have been really awful Bette and I am proud of you that you did tell me”
Bette put her sandwich down for a minute and looked at him
“Seems that as you and my mother both worked it out before I actually said the words”
Melvin smiled “ She has a scary ability to pull stunts like that – I have warned you in the past but its probably just as well that you see it for yourself and you have “
“I did think that there might be a problem “
“With you being gay or you being with Tina ?”
“With Tina “
“Because her mother and I locked horns when we were both young and dumb ass arrogant. You know that she is arrogant – and so am I . We both needed to learn the important life lesson that you cannot always be right and its good to be humble and to learn some grace. Way back then I had come from high school when I had been king of the hill and I expected to be the King of College and I was not and hell I really did not know how to deal with it. I guess Emma was pretty much the same. The worst thing was that we really hurt Rosemary and Kate – its good in a way that they have met up again and are having a ball. I guess we owe that to you and Tina”
Bette took his hand “Thanks dad “
“I would like to maybe do something with you and Tina – I know that you love her – I would like the chance to get to know her better”
“I would like that “
“Where is she anyway ?”
“She is at the gym. I am meeting her later. Do I have to come back home ?”
Melvin grinned – of course Bette loved being at Emma and Kate’s – what 17 year old would turn down the chance of spending nights with her girlfriend ?.
“Well if you are not being a nuisance to Emma and Kate – there is no reason you shouldn’t stay for a couple more days. I am going to get some Broadway tickets for your mom and I – what do you think she would like to see ?”