SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL

Chapter 36

Bette had a standing date with her father on a Thursday night – if both their work schedules allowed they met at a sports bar and chatted over a few beers and a burger. So far the only Thursday they had missed had been last week when Bette wanted to be near Tina after the stunning announcement from her mother.. She was sitting watching a soccer game from Europe when her father arrived and sat opposite her
“Hello darling “
“Hey dad – you want a beer ?”
“I took the liberty of ordering our beers and burgers – that okay ?”
“Sure – saves time as we always end up talking more than we do eating”
“Well given the hot topic for debate I decided to get the food and beer ordered as soon as I arrived – should be 10 minutes for the burgers and the beers are on their way”
Bette smiled “Thanks dad”
“No problem “
“Where is mom tonight ?”
“A dinner at the library – since she got promoted she is out a couple of nights a week doing library stuff – I know she is enjoying it though – and she gets to turn her charm on more people than she did before – that’s always entertaining”
“I cannot imagine where I got my charm the birds from the trees skills from “ Bette replied dryly
“Only one possible source “ he replied “ Thank you “ – that was to the young woman who brought them their beers. Bette picked the bottle up
“Thanks “
He nodded “ How are things ?”
“With my studies or with the whole Kennard situation ?”
“Both “
“Studying is hard but fun – it’s a good place to lose myself in”
“You have always been able to do that”
“At times it’s a good thing and at times it just a form of escapism that I shouldn’t use. At the moment its helping me get my studying done”
“So how is Tina ?”
“Still in shock “ Bette said “this came right out of the  blue for her and its still sinking in. its not easy for her that its Kate who is the baddie – it would have been easier if it had been Emma”
Melvin frowned “Do you mean that ?”
Bette sighed “ I guess what I do mean is that it would have been something that she would have expected. Before Kate showed up and royally fucked the whole situation up Tina was sure it was Emma who had been screwing around”
“And it was a shock when it was Kate ?”
Bette nodded
“And what about you ? What did you think when you found out ?”
Bette laughed mirthlessly “My first thoughts were for Tina – of course they were but there was a streak of selfishness as well – you know how I feel about Emma Kennard – her being the victim in this “ Bette trailed off