“Mom – Bette and I will decide when it is right for all three of us to have another baby. We both want more children but Ella is not six months old yet. We both love her so much and are fully aware how blessed we are as a family but the time is not right “

“You could have adopted Leigh’s baby “ Tina’s dad points out as he sits down

“That was never an option “ I say “It is very important to Tina and I that our children are Kennard’s and Porter’s – Ella has my genes and Tina’s “

“And she is just a beauty “ Tom says

“You might be a little biased grandpa “ Tina teases her father as she takes Ella and puts her on her knees

“Its impossible not to be biased when it comes to this angel “

“That’s true and I don’t see what is wrong with that “

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Its one of those typical days when Ella’s grandparents are around – we don’t get to do anything with her because she is always being snatched away from us by either grandma or grandpa. Having an extra child in the house just means that all duties are taken away from us and we get to laze around and enjoy one another. The housekeeper is preparing dinner, baby duties are being filled by Tom and Emma which means we get to snuggle on the sofa and gently kiss and touch.

“You okay ?” I ask my wife

“Wonderful – this is a good feeling “

“It is “

“I wonder how Shane is doing “

“She is getting help – that’s the most important thing”

“And you helped her get it “

“No – nothing to do with me “

“Was Helena right when she said that you were the only person who could get her to take that final step ?”

I kiss Tina and play with her long blonde hair

“It was a huge thing that she said and I thought about it a lot. There were points in Dublin when some Prime Minister was lecturing the great capitalist beast that is the President of the United States of America that I was not listening to a word he was saying – I was thinking about how I could help Shane and whether Helena was right “