An hour later they were sitting in a local Italian restaurant with Matthew looking at the menu
“Lobster risotto “ he said to Tina
“I have an expensive Ivy League education – I can figure out that Italian restaurants will serve risotto “
Matthew laughed and placed his order. Tina ordered different things to her father – that way they could try each others meals. Matthew ordered a bottle of white wine and while he chewed on a bread stick he looked at Tina.
“So tell me all about Bette – leave out NO detail. I want to hear all about her and what is happening with the two of you. Tell daddy “
Tina laughed and picked a bread stick from the bowl and crunched down on one.
“What to say ? “ she said “She is wonderful – stunningly sexy. I have all these pictures on my laptop of her and I was looking at them the other night and she looked young – and now she is so mature and she looks sophisticated. She has changed “
“How – tell me “
Tina exhaled “ She has grown into her beauty- her cheeks have become more hollow and it suits her. She’s much fitter and that shows. She is just lovely “
“Looks are only one part of the package – what about her personality. I always liked what a lovely young woman she was. So smart and kind “
“I really think that something has happened to her during the last four years – there is a certain sadness about her. I don’t think there has been any one special for her in four years”
“You had a couple of women who I think you were serious about “
Tina nodded “I did but I was too busy having a good time and being determined not to settle down. I was going to enjoy every minute of college and I was not going to show my mother how much I was hurt by what had happened “
“I warned Emma that if it backfired then it was something that you would never forgive her for. She was taking a risk “
“It failed “ Tina said “ It wasn’t only what she did but how she did it and she talked Rosemary and Melvin into it being the right thing for Bette. You know what they are like – they want what is best for their daughter – just like my mom’s “ Tina took another bread stick “ Who got to decide other than Emma that Bette and I needed to go to different colleges “
“You can tell me I am an idiot but was she right in any way  – have you thought about what would have happened if you had gone to the same college ?”
“I am not saying you are an idiot dad  – I know you are not. Yes – I see the argument that Bette and I needed to grow up separately, to find out who we are. And we are different than we were four years ago – of course we are. It was HOW Emma went about it – there were some many fights and she was “ Tina paused “ She was a real bitch to me. She said some horrible things – I felt so worthless”
Matthew took another breadstick and sighed
“Yes – you can forgive what people say to you but you don’t forgive how they make you feel”
Tina nodded “Exactly – it was emotional blackmail – all the sacrifices they had made and I had the best start in life – way better than she and mom had when they were my age. I felt like such a bloody spoilt little brat”
“You are not a spoilt brat “
Tina grinned “ Bette called me “ daddy’s little princess “ the other day “
He laughed “ And what is wrong with that ?”
“Nothing and Bette was teasing me”
Their meals arrived and they started to discuss food. After a debate about lobster risotto Matthew looked at his daughter
“Tell me how the meeting up at Central Station went ? I was in court – listening to some utter waffle from an expert witness and I just kept looking at the clock and wondering how you were doing “
“Going to see mom was a mistake – I was on edge – I just wanted some reassurance but Emma had to walk in and put her bloody high heels straight into my feelings. I guess it took my mind off Bette because I was so bloody angry. Anyway  – I arrived and she was already there. I stood and looked at her- I have never been so scared. I had all  these doubts but I knew that I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t go through with it. I am so glad that I did. I think it took about 3 or 4 minutes until I was thinking how sexy she was and how much I wanted to  “ she raised her eyebrows at her father “ You know”
“Jump her bones ?” he said grinning
“Yeah -we went and had some food and drank beer and just started talking “
“It must have been odd “
“Well it was and it wasn’t. what felt odd was looking at her and she was 3D and REAL. For four years I have been just looking at photographs of her and seeing her in my dreams and in my minds eye. Having her just sitting opposite me was odd – maybe my brain was not expecting her to be real but personality wise “ Tina looked into her wine glass “ We clicked straight away. Her sense of humour was the same and she was kind and gentle. She was open and honest –  maybe I didn’t expect that – I had kind of imagined the two of us being cagey “
“Understandable enough “ Matthew said
“I didn’t know how I was going to approach things but she was straight forward. It put me at ease “
Matthew reflected that Tina had grown up while she had been at college but there had always been the unresolved issue of her feelings about Bette. Matthew knew that as far as he was concerned Bette was a wonderful partner to his precious daughter. Bette had never been anything other than considerate and loving towards Tina and that was all a father could ask of his child’s partner.
“And where do you go from here ?” he asked
Tina waited until her main course had arrived
“I want this to work dad. There are issues- of course there are and there will be fights and things that we need to work on. But I want this to work – I want her back. We had this really sweet conversation a couple of nights ago when we were talking – kind of skirting around our feelings and she asked me if she could be my girlfriend again”
“Was this conversation held in bed ?” he teased
Tina chuckled “ it’s a fair guess – it lead there. But at the time we were fully clothed. She asked me to be her girlfriend and I said yes – well I kissed her and I said I wanted it to be exclusive.”
“Was that ever in doubt ?”
“I know you think I am wonderful dad but you know I wasn’t into exclusivity at college”
“No one is – well there might be a minority but that’s what college is – a time for experimenting and finding out who you are. I don’t think any of your numerous parents stayed in their rooms night after night and studied “
“No – and the four of you are all top of what you do”
“Exactly – I hope Emma hasn’t been implying that there is no such thing as too much studying “
“I know she has more front that Bloomingdales but no – she hasn’t taken that line with me. But Bette had a lot of women at college and so did I “
“Is she still seeing any of these women ?”
“No – there are a couple of women around who she’s got a casual fling thing going”
“And that bothers you ?”
“No because she’s not the only one. I have a couple of friends in the city who I have a rather mucky past with. Its what it is – neither of us have been graduated long enough too start losing friends from college. There are about six people living in New York right now that I was at college with and I know from classes or sport or parties”
“And Bette will have the same “
Tina nodded “We know its an issue – its something we are going to have to face”
“At least she didn’t spend her four years locked in her room studying – that was something I thought when I thought about her”
Tina shook her head “She is way too beautiful and full of self confidence as well”
“Bette is full of self confidence ?” he questioned
“She is stunningly beautiful and if you tell someone that often enough I guess it starts to get through and they believe it. She is still cool about things but yeah – Bette is much more self assured “
“That makes her even more formidable “
Tina nodded “I don’t want to lose her a second time. We owe it to one another to give this everything”
“Can you see yourself settling down with her ? “
Tina sipped her wine “ it’s a long way off – we have just graduated. But -and please don’t tell anyone else this dad – I would love it. She’s wonderful – so sweet but she’s also got this wicked sense of humour and she’s “ Tina was almost lost for words.
Matthew knew his daughter well enough to know what she meant. He filled in what he suspected summed up Tina’s feelings
“She’s Bette “ he said
She laughed “Yes – she is Bette Porter and there really isn’t a cure. Four years going cold turkey didn’t work – nothing is going to work. I just HAVE Bette Porter “
“You don’t seem to be suffering “
“I can deal with the lack of sleep and the excessive happiness”
Matthew laughed – one of the things he loved the most about Tina was she was tough – she had been forced to be by having Emma as her mother.
“So do I take it that you have a plan ?”
“See how it goes with her – take it gradual. But I need a job dad – I don’t care what it is but I need to earn some money”
He guessed why – he had expected this – in fact he was more than surprised that Tina had lasted the number of weeks living with her mothers that she had. He waited for Tina to explain
“I have to get my own place dad. Mom isn’t going to welcome Bette to the apartment and I shouldn’t have to face the shit that she is going to heap on me for seeing Bette again. I am frantically avoiding her as much as I can. I just know she is going to be at her most snide and vile about Bette. The last thing I am going to allow is for Emma to sabotage us for a second time”
“Emma cannot sabotage you two – you two can sabotage you two. That is the first and most important lesson to learn. This is now up to you -do not use Emma as an excuse if things get bad. Life is about making the best of bad situations -Emma at the moment happens to be an obstacle. Yes she is scary but she is your mother but – she is one person and she cannot control you or Bette “
Tina listened to her father and took his hand “ You couldn’t write that down for me so I can refer to it when she’s making snide comments about me wasting my four years at an Ivy League University costing several thousands of dollars all because I am seeing Bette?”
“If I am sober when I go home I will see what I can do “ he grinned
“I need a place to live “ Tina said
Matthew smiled, put his fork down – the pasta was rather bland he thought – how was it possible for an Italian restaurant to mess up pasta ?  He pulled his wallet from his coat and took out a piece of paper
“My agent sent me the details of some new places for us to look at. I am seeing this one tomorrow- come along with me “
He handed her the paper “ Its in a really nice place “ he explained “ And one of the things that I like is that it comes with a couple of apartments above the restaurant. I think it would be ideal for my little princess “