“Hello “

“Hey there – are you hugely busy ?”

“Not really – I am supposed to be on a Health and Safety training course but two of the bar staff got arrested last night for fighting in a bar and so here I am. Things are quiet – what do you want to drink ?”

“Just a lemonade “

“Are you still tee-total ?”

“I wasn’t drinking when I was ill and I made up for it last weekend in Vegas and I am driving so a lemonade is the best thing for me “

“Anything to eat ?” he asked as he took a slice of lemon and added that to some ice in a glass

“Eh – do you sell anything healthy ?”

“The chef will knock you something up “

“Is that because you are her favourite and she’s trying to get you filleted and served with an apple in your mouth ?”

“Something like that – do you want anything ?”

“I will just have some potato chips – but I could do with talking family business with you “

“That’s not a problem – hang on “

He picked a packet of potato chips and handed them to Bette and her drink and lent on the bar “ What’s up ?”

“Your family “ Bette said

“Which part of it ?”

“You are the only one of your family who Tina is not close to breaking point over”

“I always was different “ he grinned “ Why don’t you tell me about them ?”

“Your dad won’t get the same flight as Sarah and her boyfriend, your grandfather is dithering about coming over and I don’t want that to mean that your grandmother misses out “

“So its mom and dad and grandparents – no issues with Willow ?”

“No because Tina is very fixed on her feelings about her sister and luckily both your parents are more worried about themselves and their relationship with Tina to give too much attention to the drug dealer in the clan “

“Good – so which generation shall we sort out first ?”

Bette sipped her lemonade and put the drink down

“Do you think that your dad will hate the wedding if he has to deal with Sarah and her new man ?”

“I know that he says that he is okay about them being a couple but I think that he’s feeling foolish because it was his actions that ended their marriage in the first place. He is reaping what he sowed and he knows that. He is trying hard but seeing the guy that has replaced him won’t be easy for him “

“I hesitate to ask this and I didn’t say this to Tina because I didn’t want to start her off on a rant and get her wound up “

Finn nodded “What do you think ?”

“Does he have to be at the wedding ?”

“What dad ?”

“No –sorry – Jonathan – does your mom have to have her boyfriend at the wedding ?”

“You two have said its okay “

“When we said it the plan was for Tina to meet him several months before hand. Work was crazy for us and then I got ill “

“I suggested to mom that she should come out and stay with Tina while you were ill and maybe bring the boyfriend with her but she didn’t want to do that when you were ill “

Bette opened her potato chips and ate a few

“I want what is best for Tina and I. For me – that means Tina not being stressed out so she enjoys the day. I know she’s been angry with her dad – but he’s still her dad”

“I did wonder how she would deal with meeting John after all that stuff when they started about him being homophobic “

“That is another thing – if there is any event in this world that will be difficult for a man whose wife left him for another woman and he reacted the way he did – well that has to be a lesbian wedding “

Finn took a couple of Bette’s potato chips and ate them in silence

“You want me to tell him to not attend ?”

“I don’t know Finn –that’s what I need to talk to you about. I want the best for Tina and maybe that is that she has her parents at our wedding and not John there as a spare part “