*****

            “Hi Bette,” smiled Carmen.  Bette looked out, seeing that Shane’s jeep was nowhere to be seen.  Then again, Shane wouldn’t have recognized the car that Carmen had come in, a sleek foreign car, painted a ghostly silver with green flames that seemed to lap the side panels of the car in a 3-D manner.

            “Carmen, come on in,” smiled Bette, ushering her into the house, along with the woman that was behind her.  Bette looked at the sexy woman with Carmen, hands stuffed deep into her pockets, the checkered black and red shirt billowing around her in the soft breeze.

            “Cuz, are we staying long?” asked Carmen’s friend, who was apparently her cousin.

            “Just a few minutes.  Bette, this is Rosita Navarro, Ro, this is Bette…”

            “Porter.  I’ve read a few of your articles,” nodded Rosita, sticking her hand out and Bette took it.  Surprised that anyone read anything she wrote anymore.

            “Are you an art student?” asked Bette, smiling.

            “Naw, I dabble.  I’m a law student, I tag for fun,” said Rosita, batting her eyes at Bette.  Carmen groaned, there wasn’t a woman alive that Rosita didn’t flirt with.

            “Tag?” asked Bette, mildly intrigued.

            “She spray paints walls, which is illegal,” chimed in Carmen with a laugh.  “I brought this by for Helena,” said Carmen, thrusting an envelope at Bette.  Bette took it, placing it on the table where Angelica wouldn’t be able to get at it.

            “I’ll give it to her, do you want something to drink?  I’m cooking a lasagna for supper, if you want to stay…”

            “No, thank you, Bette,” said Carmen politely, but Rosita’s eyes were having Bette for supper it seemed.

            Bette seemed disappointed, but said nothing. Carmen headed for the door, “I’ll be right there, bella, gotta use the facilities,” called back Rosita.  Carmen nodded, getting into the car, the limousine tint hiding the fact that she was there.

            “Bathroom is that way,” smiled Bette.

            “Gracias.”

            A moment later, Bette watched Rosita coming out of the bathroom, her lips curling into a smile.  “She’s still not over her,” said Rosita to Bette.