“You are so unlike Helena,” said Tina.  “That isn’t a bad thing,” she added.  “It’s just, I have a difficult time imagining you as children together.”

            “We did not grow up together.  She was raised in several boarding schools until she was 16.  I, on the other hand, came to America when I was three with other family.  Hence, the reason I have no accent,” explained Harlequin.

            “I always wanted to ask you that, about the accent, or lack there of,” smiled Tina.  Taking a bottle of water, “I should go, I left Angelica with Bette, I should go get her, or I might leave her there, it would be easier,” a sigh from Tina an she let the subject drop.  Did she want to go back to Bette’s and find her and Sam together, being cozy? 

            “She’s pretty,” said Harlequin.  “Angelica, I mean.”

            “She is,” grinned Tina.  “We’ll reschedule that meeting.”

            “That we shall,” said Harlequin, watching Tina leave the room.

*****

            “Start you motherfucker,” growled Tina.  She slammed a hand on the steering wheel, causing the horn to honk.  Tina had stopped at The Planet, picking up Bette’s favorite dessert as a thank you for taking care of Angelica, when she gotten back into her car, the engine had refused to turn over.  She’d weighed the options, if Sam was still there, she’d brought enough for two.  If she wasn’t, then Tina would have an excuse to stay a little longer.

            “Having trouble?” asked someone who was a few feet behind the car, Tina reached into her purse and found the mace bottle that was there.

              “No, I’ve got it under control,” said Tina, clutching the small bottle, trying to see in the side mirror who was behind the car. 

            The woman wasn’t buying it, “Pop the hood, bella,” she said in a friendly ordering manner.  Tina watched her move to the front of the car, waiting for the hood to be opened.  Tina reluctantly pulled the lever and watched as the woman efficiently lifted the hood of her car.  The woman didn’t look all that threatening, long silky dark hair, and a swagger that would command even a straight girl attention.