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“Hello Charles”
“Hello MS Angie “
The doorman greeted Angie with a smile
“This is my granddad and grandma “she explained as they all entered the building
Charles touched his cap with respect
“Hello Sir, Madam “
Mary and Jack were obviously thrown by this greeting. They didn’t speak until all five of them were in the elevator
“You seem speechless “Tina said
“I don’t think we are used to such a greeting “Jack said
“Angie was scared of them for a few days weren’t you pumpkin?” Bette teased her daughter
“No “Angie objected
“You were – you hide behind me when we first arrived “Tina pointed out
Angie shook her head – she didn’t remember that therefore it didn’t exist.
“Never mind “Tina smiled at her parents “Are you two okay?”
“Yeah – it’s a lot to take in “
“You are doing fine – you will feel better after some food and a cup of tea “
Tina reached over and took Angie’s hand
“Are you having a good time sweetheart?”
“Yes – what are we doing after lunch?”
“I don’t know – why don’t you get the tourist guides out after we have eaten and the three of you can talk about it “
The lift arrived at the 17th floor and it sprang open. They all got out and Bette gave Angie her keys so she could run ahead to unlock the door.
“She’s quite a kid “Jack said to Tina.
“She is Tina agreed “ She always was chatty but shy – coming to New York and starting school have totally given her so much self-confidence. She is inquisitive beyond belief “
“It must have been a shock to you Bette “
“What? To have a daughter? – Yeah it was but I have never regretted anything. We got together again at the right time for all three of us. It’s great to have Tina and Angie in my life”
“Do you miss the peace and quiet?” Jack asked
“I don’t get to miss it – but no I don’t miss the life I had before”
“Neither do I “ Jack said “This is a miracle to me – having Tina back is something that I could only dream about when I was in jail and to find out that she is settled down with someone as kind as you Bette and that you have an amazing daughter – it’s perfect “
Angie had opened the front door and was standing waiting for them
“I am going to find Sheba “she shouted
“Angie – do not scare her or she will vanish – and she will scratch you. She will come out when she is ready “
“I better go stop her hunting Sheba down – it will end in tears “Bette took off after her daughter and disappeared into the apartment.
Tina shook her head “One crazy kid “
“Bette seems a good mom “Mary said
“Bette is wonderful – she’s got no bitterness about not knowing about Angie for so long. She’s just embraced being a mother and she’s as brilliant at it as she is as a partner. Marrying her is a dream come true for me. “
They reached the front door
“Come on in “
Tina remembered her own reaction to seeing Bette’s apartment for the first time. She had been speechless – as had Angie.
“Oh wow – what an apartment “Mary finally said
“It’s not shabby “Tina agreed “Take your jackets off and I will turn the heating up for a while. Take a look at the view and when you have picked your jaws off the ground I will give you the guided tour “
Tina left her parents alone while she went back and removed her jacket and went into the kitchen and looked into the fridge – there was plenty of chicken – it wouldn’t take her long to boil some potatoes. Plenty of salad – fresh bread -that would go down well with her dad
“You have a lovely home “Mary said coming into the kitchen. She had removed her coat
“Trust you to find the kitchen first “Tina said “Would you like pasta or potatoes with chicken?”
“Whichever is quicker “
“I will do both “Tina decided
“Let me help “Mary said
“You are our guest “
“I am your mother – I will clean the potatoes “
Tina smiled “Thanks – what’s dad doing?”
“Getting the guided tour from Angie “
Tina laughed “And has the cat appeared?”
“According to Bette the cat is hiding in your room “
“She has just mastered going from the chest of drawers in our room to the top of the wardrobe. It’s a good way of avoiding Angie – pity there’s no room for us up there sometimes “
“I can imagine she can be tiring “
Tina sighed “It’s wonderful to share parenting her with Bette. And Bette can get her to calm down. I get grumpy with her sometimes”
“Parenting isn’t easy but you and Bette are doing a great job “
“How do you think dad is handling everything – he looked a little overwhelmed by her “
“I think his feelings can be summed up by something he said to me when we were in the Museum “
Tina raised an eyebrow
“He asked me to pinch him because he was afraid that he was dreaming and he was going to wake up and he would still be in his prison cell. What the three of you have given both of us is priceless – thank you Tina
NEW YORK MINUTE