Firstly, and forgive that my wife has asked me to speak on her behalf due to a mild public
speaking phobia, but Tina Rachel and I are so grateful to you. You have been a force of love and faith and calm that we both have felt in our lives since the night of the first BBQ we shared with you at this house. Since then you have become friend and family and to Rachel a sister who she has gained so much
from. This is shown in the fact that when planning this wedding there was no other choice than you for her maid of honour and in gratitude for all you have done we would like to give you a small token."

I stood as she spoke retrieving a small package from under my seat, I couldn’t talk in public but I’d be damned if I couldn’t at least stand and embrace my wonderful friend and give her the
gift I had so carefully chosen. I handed the small box to Tina the famous green
colour giving away the location we had found the gift and my tears matched hers
as she opened the platinum locket that we had settled on, inside a picture of
her and Bette with the girls that Andy had taken while we were in London and in
the other side a picture of just her and Bette that I had caught, the look
unmistakeable between the two of them. On the back we had engraved a message
“Tina to show you what we see, and all that you have given us”

It was less than we felt we owed her but she seemed to love it and for that I was glad. The break in the
speaking went on long enough for us to hug again and for her to allow me to
clasp the delicate chain around her neck. With that done it was on to the next
as Andy took up speaking duties once again.

            “Next to Klara, it was not until we got closer to this day that I realised the true extent of the gift you have given me, not only in having given birth to the woman I married today but in the gracious acceptance of us and our love the quiet support and love that you have shown us over the years when I have kept her so far from you. You gave me your blessing the first time we met and have never rescinded that in any of the bad
times. What I have come to realise is the true grace with which you have allowed us to live so free of any expectation and that at times we may have unintentionally not involved you in our lives as we should and so I hope that the gift we have can fill some of that gap that we should not have allowed.”