“At least you two didn’t get into the open marriage thing “

Tina laughed “The first time Bette and I got together we went to Hawaii we were lazing around the pool and this man was looking at me . She went crazy – she couldn’t handle a man looking at me and really giving me the eye. She nearly strangled him with her bare hands. “

“Does she do that all the time ?”

“No – she’s done it a couple of times – totally lost it . I have learnt to recognise the look in her eyes when she thinks someone is over stepping a line with me”

“And do you get jealous of her ?”

“Women still think she’s available and they come onto her. She hates it and I have managed to develop strategies to deal with women. You have seen her – Bette is stunningly beautiful , I trust her – I just don’t trust some of the women that we meet “

Sarah sighed “I have been doing a lot of thinking since your father walked out and in truth we haven’t been happy for a long time. We make each other miserable and our lives were just disappearing away. Do you and Bette like Pink Floyd ?”

“Yes “

“And then one day you find ten years have got behind you – no one told you when to run –you missed the starting gun “ Sarah said “ the sun is the same in a relative way but you’re older – shorter of breath and one day closer to death.

I don’t want to get to your grandparents age and regret living with a man I don’t love Tina. You took a brave decision coming out and admitting to yourself that you are gay – you could have taken the easy way and married Eric or Henry “

“God – that is a truly scary thought “

“I will always care for your father – he’s a good man Tina – I wish that Finn and Willow could see that instead of being angry all the time with him. But – “ she rubbed a tear from her eye “I don’t want to be with him “

“You want to be with a man who hates all that Bette and I are ?”

“I knew you would be hurt and angry about that. Jonathan is a good man and in time he will get over what happened with his wife. Maybe if he meets you and Bette he will see that his dislike is misplaced “

“And what if he turns out to be a rabid homophobe ?” Tina replied. She could handle her mother being with someone else- but it was this part that she was finding very hard to stomach

“He isn’t “

“And what if he is – can we not come home and visit because Jonathan is going to get upset that Bette and I share a bed ?”

Sarah took Tina’s hand “Tina – you are my daughter and it impossible for me to love you more than I do. I am so proud of how you have turned out – you are so smart and kind. Of course he isn’t going to stop the two of you coming to the farm and staying as long as you like and sharing a bed and making out under the apple trees – no man alive could come between me and my kids. But I deserve to be happy and I think that Jon is just hung up abut how his marriage ended – just like I am less than warm towards pushy stuck up little lawyers who steal people’s husbands. Honey – he isn’t going to come between me and my children or my future daughter in law but I do want to be with him”