“Helena, I, there is no way I can accept this,” Alice said, running her hand down the side of the brand new Mini Cooper as Helena beamed, “Why not, of course you can.  Your car is a disaster and well, this is much better, isn’t it?”

“Much better, yeah, but Helena, that’s not the point.”

Helena walked around to the passenger side of the car and leaning over the roof, said, “Come then, take us for a drive.”   The sound of a car horn snapped Alice from her shocked state.  She snapped her attention toward Helena as she made her way to the side walk.  “No, Helena don’t you see, this just makes everything weird nowyou buying me something so extravagant…”

“Alice, what are you talking about?  It’s only a car.”

Alice, looking at the Mini, said, “Only a car?  Look, I enjoy spending time with you; a lot actually and I’ve been really enjoying myself lately.  But this, well, this just makes it seem like you feel sorry for me or something.  I’m not a charity case, Helena; I can take care of myself.”

“Whoa, is that what you think; that I see you as a charity case because I bought you a car when you so obviously needed a new one?  I enjoy spending time with you as well, Alice, I doI honestly don’t see the harm in it.”

Alice: “But that’s my point.  I enjoyed you before you bought me the car.  Now I just feelawkward.”

Helena cocked her head.  “Well don’t.  This doesn’t change anything between us, Alice, you don’t owe me anything.  This only means that I don’t have to drive all the time.  Please, I really want you to have it.”

Reaching for the handle, Helena looked over and winked at Alice, who was just standing there lost in a sea of thoughts.

“Come then, let’s see how she handles herself.”

It was a typical evening at the Porter/Kennard residence.  Tina fed Angelica as she attempted to feed herself, while Bette poured another glass of wine.  Aside from a couple childlike exchanges with Angelica, not much else was being said.  Bette pushed her plate forward and taking the glass into her hand, leaned back to observe.  “So, you were saying.”