Babs' New Year’s Resolution 60

©Beverly Taff 23rd April 2020

List of Characters.

Lola Smith Bab’s adopted trans daughter.
Callista Denton (Callie). Transgendered Duchess of Denton.
Margaret Denton (Maggie). Callie’s wife.
Molly Denton Callie’s grandmother
Ellie Denton Callie’s mother.
Bab’s Barbara Smith. Lola’s adoptive ‘Nana’
Olivia Smith Bab’s adopted daughter.
Angela Smith Bab’s newly adopted daughter
Erica Bab’s foster daughter.
Sergeant Bridie Davies Lady Police detective protecting the girls.
Sergeant Brian Davies. Bridie’s twin brother.
Inspector John, Heading up the anti-rape-gang operation.
Gareth Jenkins, Police office trained in firearms and protection.
Belinda Harrington Bab’s university girlfriend.
Aaron Talbot Surgical registrar – married to –
Shirley Talbot Lecturer at Local university.
Mickey Talbot Aaron and Shirley’s oldest son.
Jessica Talbot Aaron & Shirley’s middle daughter.
Bianca Talbot Aaron & Shirley’s youngest daughter.
Henry Denton Callie’s only son.
Caroline Denton Callie’s only daughter.
Beverly Callie’s maternal great aunt (Ellie’s paternal aunt)
Wendy Smith Beverly’s Operations Manager for Hull

Chapter 60.

Beverly eyed the pair and suggested they go and freshen up while she ordered the light lunch.
“Pete knows my usual order Bab’s, so what do you want?”

“Oh just a light salad, just a couple of ham slices and the basic makings. You did say we’re eating a meal later with everybody?”

“Only if you and Wendy are okay with it, how about you Wendy?”

“I’ll copy Bab’s; something light for now and I’ll see how I feel after meeting Lola again.”

“Okay, go and freshen up. I’ll speak to Peter.”

As Bab’s and Wendy visited the lady’s, Peter was immediately by Beverly’s side. Beverly smiled her appreciation for it was almost as if Peter was telepathic.

“Can you rustle up a communal salad bowl with a variety of cold meats and three place settings. Once we’re seated, we’ll sort out any drinks.”

Peter nodded and thus reassured; Beverly called Lola then joined the pair in the lady’s loos. She was also in need of some repairs to her makeup, as the odd tear escaped.

As Beverly stumbled tearfully through the door, Wendy turned and wagged her head with a smile.

“I never had you down as a weepy one Bev.”

“Yeah, well you don’t know my whole story. I’ve got family stuff as well.”

“Callie and Maggie have told me a bit Bev, but they always said there’s a lot more.”

“There is but not here, not now; there isn’t much time and we have to make sure Lola feels okay when we meet her. She’s every bit as nervous as you and Bab’s.”

“But she’s no need to be, can’t you call her and reassure her?”

“I just did, but she’s wound tight as a drum. I’ve arranged for her to meet us here in half an hour and then hopefully we can take her to meet her sisters – your daughters.”

“Has she eaten?”

“She’s at a Maccie-d’s right now. Callie agreed to bring her here then we can go to yours and talk in your car. Is that okay with you Bab’s?”

Bab’s nodded as she finished her makeup.

Minutes later the trio emerged to take their places at the table while Peter hovered thoughtfully and almost invisibly behind the pay-station. Beverly signalled and he approached.

“Half a bottle of white wine please, something to refresh.”

Peter nodded and quickly returned with a suitable bottle then uncorked it at the table.

“Give it a few minutes to breath,” he advised.

“Thank you Peter, we won’t be long.”

ooo000ooo

In the early afternoon, the minibus arrived outside the restaurant and de-canted Lola at the front door. Tactfully, Callie made her excuses and left before Beverly could reach the door.

“Come in darling, don’t stand there in the rain.”

Lola turned and paused again at the porch.

“How did it go?” She asked quietly.

“A bit tense at first. Both sides were treading carefully but they found common cause when, they chatted about you of course.”

“I suppose that’s to be expected, what’s the mood like.”

“It’s eased up a lot and they’ve hugged each other. I’ve seen a lot worse when families meet. Funerals always seem to be the worst; you can imagine why. Bab’s wants to see the two little girls so I think both women are hanging their hats on that peg. Come on in, they can’t eat you can they?”

“Can’t they?” Lola riposted cautiously. “I’d love to see the girls as well; they are my sisters after all.”

“Yes, Bab’s reminded me just now. We’ve arranged to drive out in Wendy’s car as soon as you arrive. Do you need to eat?”

“No. The Maccie ’d’s was enough.”

“Come on then lets join them.”

Beverly preceded Lola into the restaurant only to find Bab’s and Wendy collecting their coats. There was a brief exchange of courtesies then the four of them hurried to Wendy’s car as the rain worsened. There they simply scrambled for seats without ceremony. Beverly found herself in the back with Lola as Bab’s sat up front while Wendy drove.
Moments later they were approaching the ramps for the Humber Bridge as the heavens opened. The mood in the car was subdued and somewhat morose before half an hour’s driving through the downpour found them eventually at a pretty little village in the Lincolnshire Wolds. There Wendy turned into a schoolyard where parents were collecting children. Lola gave a short exclamation.

“Huh! If you did that in my old school, the lollypop lady would have had a fit.”

“Things are a bit kinder in country villages,” Wendy replied. “D’ you want to come with me to collect your sisters?”

Lola chirped up a bit at the offer and responded quite eagerly.

“Oooh yeah! I’d like that!”

As Wendy and Lola dashed across the school yard Bab’s and Beverly chatted.

“Lola still seems a bit wary,” Bab’s observed.

“Give her time Bab’s, this is only the second time she’s met Wendy and she’s never met her little sisters. She’s not good with strangers.”

“Nah, it’s hardly surprising is it?”

“It’s the same for Wendy I suppose and she has to act like the adult.”

“I think both of them have still got vestiges of ‘the-poor-me’ syndrome.” Bab’s finished.

“I suppose it’s to be expected,” Beverly shrugged. “You seem to have got over yours.”

“Oh come on Bev! I’ve had years to get over it, plus transitioning. When I think back, transitioning, was the best tool in my box to help me re-adjust my life. Talk about a new start, a final break with everything.”

“Were you lonely during those early years – after transitioning I mean?”

“Damned right I was. You’re nobody’s friend when you transition. You have to make a whole new set. Lola was the best thing to happen to me.”

“But that was much later.”

“Better late than never and now I’ve got four of the little beauties! Greedy or what?”

“Hey-up. Here they come.”

Beverly couldn’t help smiling as Lola emerged with two eight-year-old girls tugging eagerly at her hands whilst trying to skip towards the car. Wendy was talking to the teacher then she turned to follow as Lola opened the door.

“Room for two little‘uns?” Lola grinned the question to Babs.

“There’s two fold-downs in the back,” both girls chirped simultaneously.

“Ah! Didn’t know that.” Lola chuckled as the three of them got wetter while she opened the unfamiliar rear door.

Eventually all five were seated and Wendy drove to her home but a few hundred yards from the school. In that brief drive the girls wasted no time in telling Bab’s that they were names Griselda and Mia.

“Handy living in the centre of the village.” Beverly remarked to Wendy as the others chatted away in the back.

“Yes, I find it good for the kids. My au-pair usually looks after the girls if I’m coming home late but usually I’m here to meet them.”

Beverly knew this because, as Wendy’s employer, she made allowances with the working hours. Wendy often had to re-arrange her working hours to accommodate any delays to the ship so this was compensated by her having flexible hours,

As the car swept into a wide fore-court, Greta and Gerda tumbled into the house and bolted straight upstairs while Lola waited in the hall for Bab’s and Beverly who arrived at a more sedate pace. Once everybody was out of the rain Wendy called upstairs.

“Louisa! D’ you want coffee?”

A teenaged girl appeared at the top of the stairs with Griselda and Mia clinging to her hands. Then, she noticed Lola, and became much more pro-active as she recognised a girl her own age or similar. As Louisa arrived at the bottom of the stairs, Wendy made hasty introductions.

“Louisa, this is Lola, she is my daughter; Lola this is Louisa, she is my Friend Otto’s daughter from Germany.”

“Are you staying?” Louisa asked hopefully as Griselda and Mia danced around her..

The question caught Lola short. As far as she knew, she was returning with Bab’s to Denton Hall that same evening.

“Uuhm, no. I’m just visiting with Bab’s.”

“Bab’s?” Louisa asked wonderingly. Whilst upstairs, she had missed Bab’s arriving.

“My grandmother / My father” both Lola and Wendy replied simultaneously.

Louisa frowned with puzzlement. “Your what?”

“It’s complicated.” Said Wendy, “You’d best come and meet them.”

“Yes. I think I’d best!” Louisa replied.”

As they stepped into the living room Lola’s sharp mind was ticking and as Bab’s shook Louisa’s hand, Lola had determined that she and Louisa were in fact both half-sisters to the little girls and that must somehow make them legally related; even if not by blood.

Soon the blood relationships were established to everybody’s satisfaction and Louisa invited Lola into the kitchen to make some tea and sandwiches while the adults talked.

There, Lola got a sibling style ‘third-degree’ from Louisa.

“Are we related then in anyway?” Louisa asked.

“I’m not sure,” Lola replied. If I’m half sister by blood to Griselda and Mia through my mum Wendy and you’re their half sister through their dad Otto there’s no blood connection. The only thing I can think is we’re step sisters but Wendy would have to marry Otto for that or something.”

“Who is your dad?” Louisa asked.

“Don’t know.”

“Oh I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”

“No problem. I’ve never known about him. I only found out about my mother Wendy last week.”

“Mein Gott! That must be horrible. I was shocked and hurt when my mother and father got divorced, that was bad enough; but never knowing, and worse, never having; - sorry; I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“No harm done,” Lola replied boldly. “I’ve got Bab’s. She’s worth a hundred parents.”

“How come?”

“Ooh now there hangs a tale; another time perhaps. Let’s take these teas in.”

Once the tea was served by the two teen-aged girls, they simply sat and listened to Bab’s answering any questions she could, that Wendy asked about her mother.

“Wonder if she’s still alive.” Wendy mused.

“Well if she is,” Bab’s confessed, she’s in her seventies.

“Would you ever consider looking for her?”

“Not now,” Bab’s was forced to reluctantly concede as she explained. “It was made abundantly clear that I was not wanted by Betty or her family. I tried every which way to find Betty but she wasn’t having it. So by default I could not therefore find you Wendy. Would you want to find her?”

“No!”

Wendy’s answer was so abrupt as to remove all further speculation. It was obvious she could never forgive her mother. That mutual hurt she shared with Bab’s served to cement their relationship of father and daughter and the conversation turned to other things. Including a light-hearted debate as to what Lola and Louisa should call their relationship. Eventually they decided to call themselves step-sisters even if the term wasn’t technically correct. They were not blood and Wendy had never married Otto.

Eventually time forced the meeting to adjourn back to Hull where Olivia, Angela and Erica would join them for the pre-arranged evening meal.

ooo000ooo