“You hugged her ? “ Tina said smiling

“It just felt the right thing to do “

“Well she was about to give you over a million dollars “ Tina teased

Bette laughed “If you keep this up you might be lucky if you get a pack of socks from my trust fund money “ she retorted

Tina laughed “I need some of those little ankle socks actually “

“I’ll make a note “ Bette replied

Tina laughed and kissed Bette again – she knew that Bette was getting on a more even keel about things when she could make a joke and Bette would respond with another one.

“I told Helena about my dad “

This time it was Bette’s turn to raise an eyebrow in question

“She made several very unfunny jokes “
“Which you failed to see the funny side of because as you tell me you have had a sense of humour bypass on the subject “

“I do – I threatened to empty my coffee into her nice expensive handbag”

Bette laughed “One of the few threats that I imagine she would take seriously “

“True “

“What did she say – I assume she was shocked “

“Very – she made the assumption that my mother was the one who had done the leaving “

“Easy one to make “

“She basically said that I should step back and let the lawyers fight it all out “

“Not a bad idea “

“The problem is that Willow is due to finish college for Easter in 2 weeks – she will be heading home and I imagine there will be a further eruption. You know that whenever I talk to her she is still steaming “

“I think that might be a good time for another visit to sleepy old North Carolina “

“With the UN white helmet “ Tina added

“Of course – I am considering a second career as a peace keeper and part time lion tamer “

Tina chuckled “Are you okay with going over there again “

“Of course “

Tina kissed Bette’s hand “ It will be a good time to tell them all that we are getting married “

“I don’t know if its occurred to you that maybe we should just get married and then tell everyone “

Tina was silent – coming from Bette it was a pretty strange suggestion. Tina had heard Bette say many times that she wanted the whole world to witness the love they shared

“Why ? “ Tina asked finally

“Before we get married you will have to have made peace with your dad because there is no way you are going to want to get married without his approval and presence. Plus he is going to want to have Gemma and Adam there because he sees them as his family and therefore yours. That’s going to be one very interesting family snap “

Tina had genuinely never thought of things in those terms before and now that she had she was anxious that Bette was right. She didn’t want to marry Bette without her whole family being there and that meant her father and his new partner and their son – her half brother. She looked at Bette and sighed

“Hell “

“I was wondering if you had thought it all through – I want the best for both of us but it does mean that some bridges are going to have to be mended”

“And what if it isn’t ?”