“Sounds like him – he’s a really good man but as I said – he didn’t do too well with Kit and me “

“He sometimes seems wary of Kit “

“When Kit gets going everyone is wary of Kit. She can go from Earth Mom to Foxy Brown in the twinkle of an eye and its scary if you don’t see the change”

“Kit had problems with drink – she told me that but didn’t expand – I asked her why she wasn’t drinking wine at dinner with Melvin and me last month “

“Kit has a BAD reaction to drink – it makes her everybody’s friend and not exactly Ms Discrete. She gave up a while ago and she is a different person “

Leigh seems to have all these impressions about her new family and isn’t sure whether she should be telling me all this.

“Talk to Tina about my family – they can be a lot to get used to. I had never introduced a girlfriend to my dad until Tina – he knew I was gay but it was never something that we discussed – he never said – well tell me about it – help me explain why you feel different “

“You were scared?”

“Terrified – but she charmed him. She’d seen him in court in England and started to talk about that – he just was so captivated by her – they talked for ages and I knew that he approved. He sees her as his daughter and he loves Ella “

“It’s hard not to love this little beauty “Leigh kisses her niece

“It is “

“He is just besotted with her- takes her picture with him everywhere “

“Like he does the picture of his new daughter “I say

She looks at me

“I’ve seen the wallet and you are in it as well as Ella “

“Really?”

“Hell yes “

Leigh smiles shyly “I really didn’t know “

“What that dad dotes on you? – he adores you – you are his pride and joy.”

“”He’s sweet “

“Yeah but don’t tell anyone that – next year he is going to start cutting down his hours at work and looking for a successor. From what he said the last time he was with me – and when I could get him from kissing Ella long enough – he’s going to just work Mon to Thursday for six months and then Tuesday to Thursday”