“Will you talk to him ?” Bette asked

“I don’t think I want anything to do with him – he can talk to me through my lawyer. I assume he has lost his access to the legal firm behind him now. I am sorry that you and Tina are stuck with him – especially when the two of you have a couple of days off together but I don’t have anything to say to him that he will want to hear”

“Well done mom – nicely said “

Sarah got up “I am going to check on my meatloaf – would you like to take a couple of slices home for Tina and you ?”

“I think we might have to pass on that “

Sarah disappeared inside the house. Bette looked at Finn

“He’s a wreck Finn “

“He deserves everything he gets “

“He probably does – but he is still your father and his world has been turned upside down “

Finn sighed “Yeah I know – I do feel bad for him but don’t you feel that he has got what he deserves for how little thought he gave mom and us ?”

Bette sighed “If I hadn’t seen him then I would be saying that he got what he deserved but the man’s life has come crashing down around him and he is your father and Tina’s . I like the guy – he’s harmless if a little weak. He is not the first man who has been ruined by a woman and he wont be the last – just hope that you never fall for a bad woman. If he has been thrown out by Gemma and your mom doesn’t want him back where does he go now Finn ? “

Finn was silent

“I know he hurt you and all your family but he’s got nothing now – he must be very scared and above all he must feel so humiliated – that’s not a nice place to be “

“Do you want me to come over ?”

“It would be nice – regardless of what has happened between your parents he’s your father and he is a good man”

“He’s an ass “

“He is – but as you told him the other week he is the only ass as a father you have. To be honest Finn I don’t know what we are going to do with him “

“When does mom go back ?”

“Thursday morning “

“Think he will stay ?”

“At the moment he is gutted – I hoped that by leaving him with Tina he might start feeling better – she’s the best tonic I know. I hope that if he mends fences with his kids he might start feeling a little better about his life “

“Do you think gran knows where he is ?”

“I don’t know “

“Why don’t I call them – they will take him in if he’s homeless and granddad will find him things to do to keep him out of trouble. What has he been doing for all these months ?”

“Nothing from what he told me –she’s done a job on emasculating him . He did all the household chores and baby sitting “

“Does he think the baby is his ?”

“We didn’t get into details for obvious reasons but he took it as gospel. They had been sleeping together but there is not proof one way or the other that she wasn’t sleeping with anyone else “

“If Gemma is now out of the picture it means that you can him and mom at the wedding “

“Tina said that your mom is seeing someone “

Finn grinned “Yeah – she told me –he sounds like a catch. I think I know who it is – nice bloke “

“Who is he ?”

“Jonathan from the ranch to the south of our farm. Mid 50’s – handsome – tall – he’s a catch and if mom has snared him – good for her – she could have done a lot worse “

“Is it serious ?”

Finn nodded “She’s had a call from him at least twice a day since she arrived. She called him almost as soon as she arrived to assure him that she had arrived safely – its serious Bette – that’s why she doesn’t want dad back and we should all be behind moms new relationship “