Then the door opened again, Sam leaning in and saying, “Tina?”

            “Yeah?”

            “Shane is bunked down in my room, and I told her to go home, and I’m high as a kite, but she said she already was, got any ideas?” asked Sam with a lopsided grin.

            “I have no idea, why don’t you ask her?” said Tina softly.

            Shrugging, “I guess, g’night, Tina,” smiled Sam.

            “Good night, Samantha,” said Tina as Sam disappeared for the second time.

***** 

            Helena eased the door open of the small house that she now shared with Shane, not really minding in the least that she’d been pegged down a few notches by her mother any longer.  Instead, she was seeing it as a wake up call, one that had been much needed.  All her life, she’d been privileged, seeing the world through money colored glasses, taking so many of the little things for granted, not just things, but people as well. 

            She vividly remembered Quin’s post cards from the time she’d traveled, no money, her guitar and more guts than Helena would ever have.  Moving from city to city, stopping at a few, living there, working odd jobs, going so far as to waiting on tables in New Orleans.  Helena had been envious of Quin whenever she’d receive a card in the mail, some of them stained with gravy or ketchup, written quickly, but with love.  It was the time where they had honestly bonded, away from one another, no more comparisons, just two sisters with nothing on common but blood.  Helena was well aware that their earlier years had been filled with turmoil, but as they grew apart, Helena had realized that she needed her family, her sister in particular.  So, when Quin had offered to dupe their mother into thinking that Quin was now ripe for the family business, and then help Helena gain an independent foothold in the company, by way of representing the clients of Shaolin, Helena had been grateful and in awe at how well Quin had played the part.

            Opening the fridge, seeing that there was nothing to eat in the compartments, instead, she grabbed one of Shane’s beers, grimacing lightly, but thinking that it didn’t matter, it was something to drink.