SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL

Chapter 28

Tina had been to work and because she had started early as a favour to her boss she was had been allowed to go just after 4pm. She had gone to Bloomingdales to pick up the coffee machine that her mother had bought for her. She was very excited about it – it looked so sleek – she couldn’t wait to get it home and start reading the instructions so she could make her first decent coffee.
Instead of going in via the side door she went into the restaurant as the door was ajar. Her father was sitting downstairs in the unoccupied area working at his laptop
“Hey dad “
He looked up “Hello sweetie – what have you been buying from Bloomingdales ?”
“Housewarming gift from Kate “
“Oh – what is it “
Tina put the bag on a table and removed the bag – he got up and looked at the box
“That is SOME gift – that’s a really high quality coffee maker “
“I know – I wandered around the shop and I was looking at them before I went to pick up what mom had bought for me”
“That  – as long as you don’t drop it from a window in your apartment should last you over a decade”
“Wow -is it that good ?”
“Its Italian as you can see and trust me the Italians do not mess around when it comes to coffee. If you take good care of it that beauty will repay you several times over “
Tina nodded and sat down “Bit like a relationship with your partner eh ?”
Matthew laughed and nodded  – he sat down at his laptop
“What are you doing ?”
“Shopping “
“Oh even better  – what ?”
“I have to decide what pattern and what colour I want the plates and crockery “
“Oh god – quick – find a gay man “
Matt laughed “Yes – I am matching my stereotype by having spent most of the day just looking at patterns and having a blast “
“Any decisions ?”
“I have decided which ones I don’t like”
“Well you have to start somewhere “
“Thank you for being kind to your old dad “
Tina smiled “I wouldn’t be in my awesome apartment if it wasn’t for you – I owe you so much”
“How are you settling in ?”
“Its been a couple of weeks “
“And ?”
Tina nodded “ It was odd at first – especially the first night when Bette wasn’t around – and I did wander around down here just checking that everything was secure “
“And was it ?”
“Of course “ Tina said “I have never lived anywhere where I have been the only person in the building you know”
He nodded “ I do – it can be a lot to get used to “
“It did feel odd but I getting to like it. If I have had a bad day its great to lock the door behind me and know that I can just get my head together “
“I love being in a relationship but there are times when the sheer size of  the house is a real saviour for us. Its big enough so if we are mad at one another we can get away from each other and have some space. Space is very important in a relationship regardless of how much you love someone “
“Are you asking me if Bette and I give one another space ?”
“Just wondered how the two of you are getting on – I haven’t seen her in a week or so”
“She’s been around don’t worry – she’s studying a lot but we see one another at least four times a week “
“So the two of you are settling into a routine as well ?”
Tina nodded “Yeah -things are real good between us – I just adore her”
“I can see that its two way “
“It is – I know we have something that is very special”
“That’s good — what about your job prospects ?”
He had been thinking a lot about the prospect of making Tina the manager of his coffee shop. He had spoken to Pete and Kate about it and  they both thought that it was something that Tina could do  – the question was did she want to do it ?”
“Looks like the job at NYPD isn’t going to last much longer which is a real pain “
“When will it end ?”
“Well four of us were taken on at the same time – Jack got a job straight away which left the three of us – well we found out last week that Robyn is being released at the end of next week”
“And does that make your job safer or weaker ?”
“It means that sooner rather than later my contract will be ending – shame because I have enjoyed the job and enjoyed being paid “
“Any thoughts about what you might like to do ?”
“Anything “ Tina said “I know the battle-axe would say that I am an Ivy League graduate and all that but so are a lot of other people – people who also have all sorts of Presidents of this club and this college to their names. Me – I played sport, had a good time and chased cute brunettes “
Her father smiled “ That sounds so much like my time at college — and I did okay “
“Yeah but you did Law – you knew what you wanted to do “
“Its just a case of finding what you do want to do – I mean-  you are smart and intelligent – there is a lot that you can do “
“I guess I could do a teaching diploma “
“Do you want to be a teacher ?”
“Not really “
“Then don’t do it “
Matt picked up a yellow legal pad that he was using to make notes. He turned to a blank page and picked up a pen
“So tell me what you are good at – what you would like to do “
Tina lent back in her chair “ People – I like people and I am good with them”
“True  – you are outgoing – I would say that Bette wasn’t “
Perfect to run a café.
“No – Bette is good with some people – it will be interesting to see if the more she trains as a criminalist the more she might come out of her shell. She can be a little shy “
“What else do you like – what else do you have going for you ?”
“Intelligent – I pick things up fairly quickly – not as fast as Little Ms First Class Honours Porter but I do okay “
“Literacy and numeracy are important – where did you finish in English and Maths in your Senior Year at High School ?”
“2nd in English behind You-Know-who and 3rd in Maths “
“That’s still impressive – did Bette finish first in Maths ?”
“No – and that really cheesed her off “ Tina shook her head laughing at the memory of her beloved’s reaction to losing to a new kid who had only been at their school for a few months – he had gone on to a place at MIT.
“So you are good with people and you have great math and English skills  – you are also a hard worker . I saw the effort you put into that apartment – especially when it was all new to you “
Tina shrugged “ One thing I am not scared of is hard work — look at my parents for God sake  – the four of you are living examples to what you can earn when you work hard and you make sacrifices -that was driven into me from a very young age and it was something that stuck in my head. I can be lazy but once I decide I want something – well then – that’s it. I am not as driven as my darling girlfriend but I don’t think it would be healthy if I was. That would be a really scary combination “
Matthew knew that Tina was virtually talking herself into being the only candidate he wanted to run his coffee shop. He would talk to Pete again and then he would take Tina out to dinner and put the business proposal to her – should he invite Bette as well ?
Well it had been Bette’s idea in the first place.