Bette had just seen Kit out when she saw Tina’s car pull into the driveway, Tina and Kit waved as they passed each other.  To say that Bette was happy to see her was the understatement of the year.  She watched Tina walk over carrying bags of groceries with love in her eyes.  She wasn’t afraid to show Tina how much she loved her anymore.  The growing being inside her only magnified that love a million times more.  She met her half way and took the bags of groceries from her carrying them the rest of the way to the house.

“I thought you weren’t coming over”

“Thought I’d come over and cook you something to eat.  Knowing you, you probably haven’t eaten since we last saw each other”

“I ate”

“When?”

“Uh ..”

“I thought so.  Move over I am going to need this kitchen space.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“How is he doing?”

“Getting worse as days go by”

“How are you doing?”

“Better now that you’re here.”

     After dinner they sat in the living room with Melvin as he slept.  Bette had given him his pain medication and as usual it puts him out like a light.  They sat together Tina holding Bette as they watched her father.  The old man opened his to the sight and voiced his happiness, but not at seeing Tina holding Bette.  It seemed that in his delirium he mistook Tina for Bette’s mother Maxine causing Bette to breakdown at the situation.  Tina guided Bette to what used to be their bedroom and helped get in bed.  She got in bed with her and allowed Bette for the first time to hold her and the baby.  Bette immediately, even if temporarily, was in Heaven holding the love of her life.  The feel of Tina in her arms as she rubbed her hands over her pregnant belly gave Bette the release that she needed.  Tina enjoyed being held and soon was sent into a slumber by Bette’s soothing hands.  She missed those hands.

     It was after midnight when their daughter decided to play kickball with Tina’s bladder.  She carefully got out bed making sure not to wake Bette who slept with a smile on her face.  Even if it was in sleep, Tina was happy to see her smile.  She was washing up when she heard Melvin coughing from the living room.  She was going to wake Bette but then thought twice about it because Bette seemed really exhausted.  Quietly she approached the old man’s bed to see if he was coherent enough to recognize her, but he just kept coughing.  Tina reached for the glass of water by his bed and handed it to him.

“Here drink this”

     Melvin drank the entire glass like he just ran a marathon.  He opened his eyes to see the individual who came to his rescue.  Tina refilled the glass, placed it back on the night stand and then turned to leave but then stopped when Melvin, with labored breath, said to her.

“Thank you for taking care of my little girl”

“I’ll always be here her.”

“I knew you’d come back to take care of her”

Tina turned around to face Melvin and nodded in response and he added.

“I know who you are, Miss Kennard”

Tina looked down to try to hold back the tears.

“I know I haven’t been fair to you”

“It’s okay Melvin.  Really, I understand”

She approached his bed and took his hand in hers.

“She’s not entirely like me you know.  She hasn’t given up on you.  So please don’t give up on her.”

He squeezed her hand to emphasize his last statement.

“Okay”

“You have so much love between the two you that even this bitter bigoted old fool can see it.  And now on my death bed I am acknowledging you as my daughter’s partner and mother of my granddaughter.”

They looked at each other and smiled.  Tina gave Melvin’s hand one final squeeze before releasing it.

“Goodnight Melvin”

“Sweet dreams Tina.”