Dan: “Hey too tough!” he laughed “He’s out back”

Justin and Ben made their way through the breezeway and walked out side.

Daniel Kennard turned to his daughter and smiled.

Dan: “Hey” he said getting up to hug her.

Tina: “Hi dad” she smiled as she tried to fight back the tears building in her eyes.

Bette was surprised, the visual she had in her head wasn’t even close to what was before her. She pictured a man not much different from her own father. She pictured a tall clean cut man who spoke with authority. He was defiantly none of the above. Before her stood a man not much taller than Tina. His eyes were deep brown giving them the puppy dog effect, and he had a permanent gentle smile that made the tension in the room a little less noticeable. He sported a few tattoos and the same beard he’s had since Tina was little. Ben liked to describe his father as an old school hippy that loved motorcycles.

Dan: “So who’s your friend?”

Tina turned around and smiled at Bette.

Tina: “Dad this is Bette Porter, Bette this is my dad, Daniel Kennard. The one and only.” she smiled

Dan: “Nice to meet you, this is my wife, Joyce” he shook her hand and pointed back at the woman sitting in the corner.

Joyce: “Hi” she smiled

Bette: “It’s nice to meet both of you”

Joyce: “Did you get the cold stares and fake smiles when you came in?” she laughed.

Tina: “Oh you bet’cha.” she smiled sarcasticly.

Dan: “They never change” he shrugged.

For some reason at that moment Tina decided she needed to tell her father about her relationship with Bette. She figured she would wait until the service was over to tell him, if she told him at all. But now that the moment had presented itself she took it.

Tina: “Can I talk to you for a second dad?”

Dan: “Yeah sure, something wrong?”

Tina: “No, nothings wrong. Let’s go in to the garage.”

Tina was prepared to tell her father right now but not anyone else. Bette knew exactly what was about to happen, all of a sudden it felt like temperature had jumped ten degrees. She gave Tina an encouraging smile sat down at the table with Joyce. Joyce smiled and began. “So where are you from?” Bette felt like this was going to be the longest conversation of her life.