Some kind of wonderful

Chapter 12

Every Friday since Tina had come home from college she had spent the evening with her father Matthew and his partner Pete. Pete was away for a couple of days and wasn’t due back until the following Tuesday so Tina had gone to her father’s house and he was going to cook for her. When Tina arrived and let herself into the huge four storey town house the dogs came to greet her. She hugged them and fed them the treats she had in her pocket. Once the treats were eaten the dogs padded off and Tina was free to go into the kitchen to see what her father was doing.
“Hey dad “ Tina said going into the kitchen “ What are you cooking – it smells lovely”
“Trying some recipes out for the restaurant – see what you think of this – its lobster risotto”
Tina accepted the spoon from her father and sampled it. She knew her dad well enough  – he genuinely wanted her feedback – he didn’t want her to tell him it was delicious if it wasn’t . Tin sampled a second mouthful and considered the food
“Needs some extra flavour to bring out the lobster and if there is salt in there I cannot taste it”
Matthew took the spoon from her and tasted what was left
“Yeah – think you are right. Its got potential though – it’s a good starter “
“It is -how’s the menu coming on ?”
“I have so many recipes its hard to know what will work in a restaurant . I guess I will get there in the end and have a great time in the process“
Tina said sitting down at the huge pine kitchen table that was covered in used bowls and utensils. Matthew started to pick the used bowls up and fill up the dishwasher. Tina got up to help him. When that was done she sat down again and regarded her father.
“So what’s for dinner – I will have you know I need more than a couple of mouthfuls of risotto”
“I thought we would eat out – is that okay with you ?”
“That’s fine – can we talk though ?“
Matthew dried his hands and retrieved two cold beers from the fridge and handed one to Tina
“I ran into your mother yesterday “
“Which one ? The heartless one or the other one ?”
“The other one – Kate filled me in – I gather that Ms Porter is back and stunning and sweeping you off your feet “
“That sounds like a reasonable assessment “ Tina agreed.
“So talk to me “ Matthew said “ I gather you are not in a chatty mood with anyone else”
“I talked to Kate  -I have hardly seen Emma which I think is just delaying the inevitable when I have a huge row with her. She was vile to me dad”
“Kate told me that Emma went too far “
“To say the least “
“For Kate to say that must have meant it was bad”
Tina sighed and sipped the beer “ Ever since I got back from college she has been telling me that I am an adult now and that I should get a job. Seemingly I am not old enough to be with Bette though- even though Bette was just fine for me when I was 18 and I needed someone to help me study and get into college in the first bloody place. Its just not fair dad – just like it wasn’t fair that we were split up in the first place”
“I know how much it hurt you sweetheart “
“I don’t think anyone doesn’t because I did my best not to tell any one how much it hurt and what an idiot I became at college for a long time”
“I guessed honey “ Matthew smiled at his daughter “ There was no way you were going to let Emma see what she had done to you right ?”
“Right “ Tina said “ Except I would get drunk or stoned and blame her for ruining my life”
“Nothing like pot to turn some people into drama queens – especially a lesbian who is the product of two gay people and who has four gay parents . I think all in all we have got off lightly – you could have become a real diva “
“I have my moments “ Tina said laughing – she loved that her dad always knew the right things to say.
“I think under the circumstances you are allowed. You know that I didn’t think that what Emma was doing was the right thing”
“I do – pity my mother listens to no-one because she always has to be right all of the time. Dad I don’t want her to run my life”
Matt lent back “Then don’t let her – look – lets not get ahead of ourselves. I will go and have a shower and get changed and I will take my daughter out for dinner – lets see if we can pick up any tips. See if you can get a table somewhere”
Matthew stood up and kissed his daughter on the top of her hair “We will sort something out “