“I had a thought floating around my head lately but it seems to evade scrutiny. My mind seems to travel and yet not really think of anything specifically just as I call it to task for distracting my focus. When I try to analyze it, it disappears, and then I see just my reality. It’s like I’m not really “there” sometimes, in the goings on of everyday life, and part of me is somewhere else. I guess I’m tired. I guess I’m busy. I guess…well, I must be getting old and scatterbrained.” Tina looked off into the distance as she sat across from her friend Alice at the table near the window at Panache, the little bistro they liked.

Alice nods…”The mind…it’s the first thing to go…”

“I’m not THAT old.”

“Well, you never know. It can start early for some.” She smiles.

“Don’t you ever get distracted, lost in your thoughts?”

She replies sarcastically, “no, I’m a disciplined thinker…real focused all the time…just put the nonsense out of my head…no day dreams, no meanderings in my mind’s eye, no make believe…I’m just too busy for silliness like that…”

“Alice, seriously…this is different. I don’t know, maybe it’s more than that. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Why does anything have to be wrong with you? Tina, we all get caught up in our little worlds. What makes you different? I mean you’ve been kinda out touch lately, but we all have our phases.” She sort of stops herself and re-thinks it, “Oh wait…you’re not thinking of phalanx symbols are you?!!!”

“What???”

“Just checking…”

“For what?!!!”

“Nothing…”

“Al!”

“Well, I just want to make sure…ya know?”

“No, I don’t know…”

“You’ve actually been in a zone lately. Last time I saw you like this…well, it was…never mind…” She looks down at the menu, back up at Tina, out the window, takes her water glass, smiles at Tina… “Ok so like I’m hungry. What are you having?”

Tina gives Alice a look, shakes her head a bit, then picks up the menu, “I’ll just have a club sandwich I think.”

“A club?”

“Yeah,” looking up from the menu, “why?”

“You never have that.”

Her eyebrows come together as she gazes at Alice, “So what? I feel like a club sandwich, is that ok with you or am I going to have to go sit at another table?”

Alice squints, “Hmmmm.”

“What ‘hmmm?’”

“How’s Marilyn?” Tina just looks at her. Alice continues, “Uhhhh…Marilyn…ya know…the lover…”

“Fine.” Tina starts gazing at her menu now, perplexing Alice.

“Fine?”

“Yep.” Tina scans the menu as Alice is looking at her. Alice picks up her own menu again and looks at Tina. Alice thinks to herself as she ponders Tina’s disposition and starts to look out the window.

“It’s a nice day out.”

“Yeah, it’s really nice actually.” Tina looks up slowly to look at Alice but her eye catches a figure in the background, near the entrance of the restaurant. It’s like she only sees the figure’s outline…the bare essentials…a tall mocha skinned woman with long hair who catches Tina’s eye in a second…she feels caught of guard, suddenly anxious, and she moves her menu as she tries to focus her eyes and concentration, knocking over the glass of water.

“Woe there Tina…” Alice grabs her napkin and picks up the glass as Tina is startled back into the moment and the slight mess she’s caused.

“I’m sorry Alice,” she says as she helps to soak up the fallen water, “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what…”

Trying to stop the water…”Hey, it’s ok…no worries…got it covered. There we go…it’s fine.” Tina tries to clean things up a bit further. “I got it…it’s all good Tina.” Tina nods and just as she looks back up to see what had caught her eye, as she puts her glasses on, and she sees the woman approach from what is now just a few steps away. Tina smiles instinctively but then feels quietly unsettled as she stands. The woman embraces her warmly and Alice now stands.

“Oh it’s so good to see you,” says Tina as her eyes are closed.

“Hey mom.” Disengaging Tina, she looks to Alice, “Earth mother!”

“Angie…” embracing her.

“Wow, now that’s a bear hug Aunt Alice!”

“Sorry kiddo, haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Hey I don’t mind…I miss you too.” Angelica grabs a seat and joins the two women. She holds Tina’s left hand on Tina’s lap as she sits between the two women.

Tina looks at her lovingly, “So, daughter of mine, how are you?”

“I’m great mom…great. I miss you. All of you. A few months is way too long.” Tina smiles. “I’m not late am I? I was meeting with a friend for coffee and got lost in catching up.”

“No no, we were actually about to order. Still waiting for the waiter.” Alice assures her. “We were just cleaning up some spilt water when you arrived.”

“I’m clutsy in my old age I guess.” Tina smiles as she looks at Alice and then at Angelica. “You know you look more beautiful every time I see you.”

Alice jumps in, “Yeah, you’re looking more and more like…” she stops herself, “like…yeah…wow…you know that model…what’s her name…oh I don’t know, can’t think of it…” Tina had bowed her head slightly and was starting to look at the menu again as she tried to maintain a smile.

“Juliana Maradena?” Answers Angelica.

“YES! That’s it! That’s exactly it.” Says Alice, with some relief.

Tina looks at Alice and then Angie, “Juliana Maradena?” Angie nods. “She’s blonde and…”

“Yes…she looks like you mom…” Tina looks at her daughter, caught really off guard and feeling almost emotional at her daughter’s gesture, and surprised…after all, she assumed they’d be at least referring to a mocha skinned beauty sort of model.

Angie continues, “and just like you, she’s really quite beautiful. I think we both have some of her features. The facial structure I think.” Angelica nods as she smiles and looks at Alice, as Tina looks at Angelica with a huge grin.

“Yes! That’s what it is. I was trying to put my finger on it but…” Tina is giving Alice a look… “Yes…well…” Alice coughs a bit, “Soooo…Angelica…you beautiful thing…how’s the dating scene?”

“Oh gawwd…don’t go there. It’s a mess. I’m so busy with school.”

“Riiiiiiiight…” interjects Tina, smiling.

“No really…there’s no one mom.”

Alice jumps in, “How could there be? Porter would…well you know…she’s…well…Angie…you can’t focus on school ALL the time ya know…”

Angelica looks at her mother, who is drinking water, and back at Alice, and she smirks. Tina smiles as she looks at the menu, “Speaking of which, how is your mother doing?” Alice’s eyes are darting between the two women.

“Good…she’s well.” Angelica nods. “Well, that is since the last time I heard from her. I guess she was in the UK the most recent time, and then got back this past week. She’s got a gallery opening coming up as you know.” Tina nods as she plays with the menu. Alice and Angelica look at one another. “I mean it’s great going to school in New York and be able to visit her, but she’s traveling a lot these days.”

“For the museum?” asks Tina.

“Yeah that too…I mean you know…it’s…she keeps herself busy. And you mom? Are you getting to travel much, you and Auntie Helena with the film business?”

“I guess, from time to time. Marilyn really doesn’t like traveling much.”

Angelica nods, “Yeah, it’s interesting ’cause mom was telling me that Juliana doesn’t like it either.” Alice looks like she’s having a hot flash. Tina is nodding.

“That’s too bad,” replies Tina.

“Yeah, because they really get along so well so it’s a shame mom can’t share that with her. She’s such a nice lady too. And she’s been so good to me.”

Alice is getting more hot flashes, “Okay! Well…I’m just too darn hungry to wait for my food…where the hec is our waiter???!!!”

“That’s nice to hear Angie, that everything is going so well in New York,” comments Tina.

Angelica’s tone gets a little intense, “Too bad you couldn’t make it to the dinner party that time you and Aunt Helena were in New York a few months ago. You could have met Juliana. I know she would have liked to meet you too.”

“Yes, well, that’s too bad, maybe next time,” answers Tina as she continues smiling, or trying to smile.

Angelica smirks, “Could be. Perhaps when mom is here for the Monterebo showing at the LA gallery tomorrow night, you’ll get a proper introduction.”

Alice is surprised, “Monterebo showing?”

“Yeah, didn’t you know?” asks Angelica.

“No, how would I? Tina? Why didn’t you mention Bette was coming to town?”

Tina looks caught off guard, “it must have slipped my mind I guess, with everything at the studio…I’m sorry Angie, I totally forgot.”

Angelica rolls her eyes and is getting sarcastic, “It’s ok mom. I mean I don’t understand why you’re being this way, but it’s ok…”

“Angelica please, I really don’t want to get into…”

“What? Get into what mom?”

Alice interrupts, “Wait a minute…why didn’t Porter tell me? And Kit? What’s HER excuse? Geez people, I need to be in the loop!”

Tina looks at Alice, “Al, honestly…”

Angelica is not pleased, “No mom, you know…she’s right…why didn’t you or mamma tell her? Why is it that we all have to tip toe around the subject? It’s been a few years now and a whole lot of drama, to say the least. Every time she comes up, I have to be careful not to say the wrong thing. Every time you come up…it’s the same thing…I get the Porter treatment. I haven’t seen you and I come here to be with you and what happens? I’m giving poor Aunt Alice indigestion just from the stress I’m causing her by bringing up mamma in front of you. You’re my parents and I love you but you’re both just ridiculous. You behaved better when I was younger for crying out loud. You’re getting worse with age. I thought wisdom was supposed to set in as your youth passed you by.” She starts to get up.

Tina isn’t sure what to say, “Angelica please…”

Alice jumps into the fray, “Angie, c’mon, don’t go…”

“Look, I have to go. I’ve got other things I have to take care of in any event. I’m sorry. Mom…I’ll see you back at the house later. Alice, I’m so sorry but I…I gotta go.”

“Angelica don’t…you don’t have to go…I’m sorry I forgot but…”

“No…I’m sorry. You know, I was looking forward to tomorrow. I thought seeing one another would…I don’t know…I guess I’m just too nostalgic.” She kisses Tina on the cheek and leaves.

Alice looks at Tina as Tina sits and looks out the window. “Congratulations Kennard.”

“Alice please don’t start…”

“How long have you known she was coming? That’s it isn’t it? That’s why you’ve been acting so weird…isn’t it?”

“What? No, that’s silly.”

“You know what…she’s right…you’re both ridiculous. I’m going to see Porter tomorrow and give her a piece of my mind. She, well no…both of you…just unbelievable. She hasn’t been to LA in years and I can’t see her unless I’m in New York. What the hec is wrong with the two of you?” She shakes her head and after a moment, “where the hell is our waiter? Hey, Pierre, over here! What’s a woman gotta do for some service?!” She looks back at Tina who is resting her head on her hand, “I’m gonna order a martini, maybe you should get one too and explain to me what all this nonsense is about. Explain to me why I have to keep my friendship with each of you separate just for fear you might both cross paths and have an allergic reaction or something. Explain to me why you’ve allowed years to go by and…and…you know what Kennard? I’m earth mother, and do what you will to me, and to Shane, and to Helena, and do it to one another…force us to communicate with you separately and be friends to you separately all these years, but you’re not allowed to do this to my Angie. I thought you exempted her from this silliness but clearly she’s affected by it. I’m not above causing a scene you know. I’ll drag Porter out of that gallery if I have to and bring her home or I’ll drag you there kicking and screaming, so save me the trouble or I’ll…I will just …”

“What Al, what will you do?”

Alice purses her lips, looks at Tina, and then calls out to the waiter, “Pierre!!!”