Chapter 6

Carmen parked her fabulous, brand new Nissan Qashqai right in front of DEW and turned off the ignition. It was ten o’clock in the morning and the day was gloomy. The whole sky was turning into a metallic grey surface and the sun was slowly disappearing behind the dark clouds.

Shane observed Carmen. She was right behind one of the front windows of DEW, one hand shoved into her pocket, the other hand holding a mug of boiling hot coffee. She took a sip and swallowed slowly, pensively. She watched Carmen checking something on her planner, then scribbling down something, then checking her phone, then flipping a strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled.

Then again, Carmen frowned and cursed because she was unable to unfasten her seat belt, and Shane smiled again the sweetest of smiles, and shook her head. She turned around and walked to the counter.

She placed the empty mug in front of Helena and stared at her. Helena stared back.

“So?”, she asked, removing the mug from Shane’s hand and putting it into the dishwasher.

Shane was still smiling that tiny smile, and Helena raised her eyebrow suspiciously.

“Shane?”, she called her out, tilting her head to a side.

Shane blinked her eyelids and cleared her voice.

“What can I say?”, she shrugged, shyly.

Helena made a small laugh and shook her head.

“I haven’t seen you like that since…”.

She left the sentence suspended and it swirled in the air like an autumn leaf.

Shane exhaled.

“I don’t know what’s happening to me. I don’t have a clue”, she finally admitted.

Helena smiled.

“Well, I have more than a clue about what’s happening to both of you…”, she said in her best British accent, and Shane frowned.

“What do you mean?”.

“I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. I’ve seen the way you two touch each other. Honestly, Shane, I am surprised that you’re still clueless and I wonder what you are unable to see, yet. I mean, it’s so obvious”.

Shane tugged at her tie, loosening the knot a little bit. Her breath was becoming uneven again, as Carmen started to walk to the front door of the club.