Babs' New Year’s Resolution 58.

©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.
Charlotte Denton Callie’s only daughter.
Beverly Callie’s maternal great aunt (Ellie’s paternal aunt)
Wendy Smith Beverly’s Operations Manager for Hull

Chapter 58.

After dinner, Beverly excused herself and retired to firstly telephone Wendy and then prepare for the fortnightly business meeting in Hull.

“Hi Wendy love, how are the girls?”
“Oh, busy as always, you know. They’re doing their homework now and I’ll be putting them to bed shortly.”

“Doing the mummy thing then. Are there any questions about tomorrow’s meeting?”

“No the agenda looks pretty routine, the Brexit business is pretty much in hand, we’re on top of it.”

“Good; so we should be wrapped up by lunch time.”

“Barring any accidents or upsets; yes.”

“Have you any plans for tomorrow afternoon?”

“Not really, Friday afternoon is pretty routine. Once she’s docked and discharging, I pretty much leave it to the team until she’s ready to sail. Otto is not coming over so Friday p.m., is pretty much my own. I usually take the girls for a treat when they finish school. They like to go swimming then I take them for a MacDonald’s. Are you staying to see them?”

“I’d like to very much but I’ve got something important to tell you.”

“Uh-oh!”

Beverly decided to take the plunge as she sensed Wendy’s concern.

“Oh it’s nothing disastrous. We haven’t gone broke or something.”

“Go on.”

“Well it’s about your daughter Lola. She want’s to meet her mother again.”

“Oh. There aren’t going to be fireworks are there?”

“No. She’s okay about that. She would just like to see you again. I suspect she would like to strengthen the connection; the mother – daughter thing.”

“Are there going to be tears?”

“Possibly, but good tears I think; reparative tears. It’s been a lot for her to take in.”

“Will she be there for lunch? I planned to have it on the ship after the meeting.”

“I think it best if you accompany me to my favourite restaurant, there’s some other stuff as well. It’s more family stuff.”

The silence was ominous. After learning that Wendy already carried lots of baggage from her early life, Beverly knew that this part could get very tricky. Eventually Wendy responded.

“What sort of Family stuff?”

“Well, it’s a bit tricky for me to deal with.” Beverly confessed.

“You to deal with? How tricky can it be? Don’t tell me it’s my mother or something. That’s the only family I could possibly have!”

“It’s not your mother,” Beverly hesitated then plunged in. “It – it’s your father.”

“My Father!” Wendy almost shrieked then she added. “Don’t be daft Bev! Nobody knows who my bloody father is. My egg donor was a bloody Geordie junky and the sperm donor – well; fuck knows. Probably some horny sailor doing it in a pub door-way down the Hessle Road.”

“Is that what you were told?” Beverly pressed cautiously.

“I wasn’t told anything Bev. I never remember them, either of them. The only stuff I’ve got is a single name on my birth certificate. Mother, - Brenda Smith, there’s no father listed. Even the social workers can’t tell me anything! The pub doorway thing is just my way of handling it. I might as well have been a foundling for all the information I have. Nobody knows anything!”

“Your father does Wendy. He was there when you were being carried in your egg-doners womb and he would have stayed had he not been rejected by your egg-doner’s family.”

“You keep saying egg doner but call the other one, the sperm doner; my father. You know something that I don’t, don’t you?”

“Yes Wend. Do you want to hear it?”

“Well, it can’t be any worse than what I’ve lived with all my life. Who is he, the mad axe-man of Grimsby fish dock or summat?”
“No, it’s nothing like that. The only certainty I’ve got is a police DNA Profile of your daughter Lola. The trans girl you met last time. Lola’s DNA confirms that the individual I am talking about is definitely Lola’s grandfather and that makes her your father.”

“So Lola’s in trouble with the police is she?”

“No!” Beverly almost snapped at Wendy. “She’s not in trouble with the police, in fact she’s got an impeccable record. No, - Lola was the victim of an attempted murder down in Gloucestershire. The old lady who found her and rescued her from a flooded gully turned out to be a transexual woman called Barbara!

When things came to a head, it turned out that Lola was Bab’s grandchild. It’s a hell of along convoluted story but one I think you would benefit from hearing.”

Once again, Wendy’s jaw sagged then worked silently for a brief moment before Wendy found her voice.

“You mean – somebody – somebody – a total stranger has got my story!”

“Partly; yes! Well the part before your birth, what your mother was like before the family broke them up.”

“Shit! I’ve got to meet this guy.”

“Well guy might not be the correct English terminology.” Beverly explained. “We don’t usually think of girls as guys. Her name as I said is Barbara, and she’s trans. That’s why Lola and she first became friends. When she rescued Lola, she had to undress the unconscious girl and put her in a warm bath. That’s when she discovered Lola was a transsexual.
When Lola recovered in a strange house, she was shocked and relieved that Bab’s explained how she was a transgender as well. Lola had been attacked and dumped by her companion when he discovered her penis.”

“Now I’ve really got to meet him – sorry her, - when can we meet?”

“She would love to meet you, but she’s somewhat afraid. I can only say that she’s a lovely woman and you can tell by the relationship with her grand-daughter – that is your daughter; that Bab’s is a truly decent, loving person.”

“Yes, Lola struck me as a truly decent girl, if that’s Barbara’s influence, I want to meet hi – her! Is she there with you? You know in that bloody palace you stay?”

“Yes, she is, and she can come tomorrow if you’re prepared to meet.”

“What, the man – sorry woman with my history! You bet I want to meet her; and bring my daughter again as well, pleeease!”

“That’s a given of course. Lola wants to meet her sisters.”

“That’s an excellent thought. Tomorrow it is then. I won’t sleep much tonight.”

“Neither will we.” Beverly assured her.

ooo000ooo

When Beverly descended the stairs, the chatter from the living room fell silent and dozen pairs of eyes turned expectantly. She was well used to facing audiences and knew not to keep people waiting.

“It’s a yes,” she declared, then cautioned the girls, “but don’t just go piling in when we meet. It will be me first while we attend at the ship’s arrival. That will give Wendy and me a second chance to iron out any wrinkles privately and for her to refuse if she’s worried, okay?”

“Is she still hesitant?” Lola asked with a tinge of disappointment.”

“She didn’t seem to be just now, but she’s got all night and tomorrow morning to dwell upon it. It’s a big move for her. Forty odd years of searching and rejection to confront and then overcome all in one morning. It’s a lot to ask of anybody.””

“You did it Bab’s!” Olivia and Angela chorused.

“Yeah, well it’s not the same for everybody.” Beverly responded.

“Ain’t that the truth!” Lola concurred.”

Erica remained silent and that silence indicated how different experiences had affected different people different ways. It was Ellie, Callie’s mother who summed it up.

“Well everybody’s different so I think it best to follow Beverly’s plan and take the whole think in small stages.”

There was a soft murmur of consent only interrupted by the clink of crockery as Callie returned from the kitchen with a loaded trolly of coffee, chocolate, tea and biscuits. Naturally, Henry’s young eyes lit up with delighted expectation.

Eventually, everybody made their ways to their beds with their own thoughts about the morrow.

ooo000ooo