Tina carried the tray of drinks out to the table near the pool followed closely by Bette with the take away food containers.

Shane and Alice were slumped in their chairs. So, how many days of this torture have you planned? Alice asked.

Tina thought it would be FUN said Bette with an I told you so smile on her face as she glanced towards Tina.

You need a new dictionary girl Alice punched Tina in the arm.

Cmon Al, how much would you pay for a workout like that at the gym..we should be charging you.. Tina smiled as she sat down with them.

And tell me again how Dana and Kit wriggled out of this one Alice inquired.

You know Danas on the circuit.did you expect her to ditch a few games to come back here and help? Bette asked.

Yeah..yeahOK.. but Im watching the game on TV later and if she loses Im ringing her and telling her to get her butt back here pronto.. Alice said grumpily ..and wheres Kit?

Al, shes at The Planet .. you spoke to her when we stopped for coffee on the way here Shane said.

Alice grumbled good-naturedly and helped Tina open up the food containers. They helped themselves and sat together companionably as they ate, murmuring the occasional thought that popped into their tired heads.

When they were finished Shane collected the plates and helped Tina put the leftovers away. Its hardly worth sticking them in the fridge.. you want me to just throw them? Shane asked staring into two of the containers which had almost nothing in them.

Tina peered over the container tops Umm..guess we were hungrier than I thought..Oh,,just stick it in the fridge maybe someone will want a snack later..

Well.. they wouldnt want to be hungry Shane smiled and opened the fridge Hey..Whats this, dessert?

You have any room left? Tina queried

It looks homemade.. Shane said

Well it just looks it..or it was made in someone elses home.. Tina took the cheesecake out of the fridge The fruits freshly cut though..do you want to grab it and the ice cream?

Bette wandered into the kitchen Coffee? She walked over to the cupboard and removed four mugs and filled them with coffee then followed Tina and Shane back outside.

A little later as they sat around the table hardly able to move from all the food theyd consumed, Bette turned towards Tina and caught her eye. Do you want to give them the invites T?

Invites to what said Alice, immediately afraid shed missed out on something important.

Just waitlet us do this properly for once Tina laughed and went quickly through the doorway and grabbed two of the envelopes shed left on the table inside. She came back out and formally gave one to each of them Consider yourselves the first to be invited.

Besides Kit Bette smiled at Tina Oh.. and your mother.

So.. Alice said tearing open the envelope… in other words were nothing special.. . She opened up the folded invitation. Wow..a naming ceremony. … Alice said happily thinking how much she loved a party, but then she couldnt help adding ..but how many more names does she need?

Shane smiled as she read the invitation You want us to be Rosies guardians.. wow.. she felt really pleased then a little concerned umm …what does a guardian do?

Bette looked at Tina You explain..you did all the research..

Tina smiled at them both; she loved them like a family and she knew they were both excited by the prospect of becoming Rosies guardians OK..weve invited you two, Kit and Dana to be Rosies guardians, its kind of like being a godmother Tina explained then went on to elaborate the meaning of being a guardian.

So its sort of like formalizing us as her extended family.. said Shane.

Yeah.. like that Tina said.

Guys..Thanks…. Shane got up and hugged Tina then Bette. Wow..Rosies guardian.. Shane said again softly, aware this was the most responsibility shed ever been given in her life and overcome by the faith these two people were showing in her.

So said Alice I just want to get this straight..you dont expect me to take her to church or stop swearing in front of her or anything like that do you?

Bette and Tina laughed No..you dont have to commit to do any of that..its not a christening.. Tina said, then since shed been given the opportunity she added But if you wanted to stop swearing in front of her thatd be good..

I guess I shouldnt have opened my big mouth Alice said Well OK..count me in

Bette laughed Were overwhelmed by your enthusiasm Alice.

TBC