About two blocks later Bette and Tina came to the jewelery store that Tina had noticed in the cab that morning. ‘So after this we’re going back to the villa right?’

Tina rolled her eyes ‘Yes Bette, after this we are going back to the villa.’ She entered the store, Bette, close on her heels, shut the door behind her and was glad to be greeted by the wave of chilled air being pumped out of an air conditioner somewhere above her.

‘We are so catching a cab back’ she mumbled to herself as she began the customary anti-clockwise rotation of the store. She had to admit the stuff was beautiful – this was no Indonesian handy-craft stall, it was sleek and stylish looking jewelery that could just aseasily have been bought on a trip to New York as South East Asia.

‘Babe, come look at this’ Tina called to her from a couple of cabinets on. Tina was pointing to a necklace in the middle of a display that seemed to be themed in pieces that were a combination of copper and silver. The necklace itself was thin silver, with tiny flat copper squares alternating with silver ones at 3/4 inch intervals along the front portion. It was subtle and delicate, great for every day wear and Tina knew that it would take to Bette’s mocha skin in a way that would make her glow.

‘It’s beautiful Tee.’ agreed Bette who had come up right behind were wife and was gazing at the necklace over Tina’s shoulder. Tina turned around and wasn’t expecting Bette to be so close, flustered she took half a step back and Bette smiled slightly in satisfaction at Tina’s shock.

Tina recovered quickly. ‘Try it on…’

‘I can’t be bothered, I’m hot and sticky, but I like it, I’ll just buy it’

‘No, let me’

‘Okay Tee, I’ll let you pay for the necklace on your card with money that comes out of our joint account’ Bette rolled her eyes.

‘It’s a present, I want to buy it for you. Besides every birthday present I’ve bought you in the last 8 years has come from our joint account – you realise that don’t you?’ Tina arched an eyebrow.