Meanwhile, Bette and Tina had zeroed in a store which sold antiques and paintings.

‘This is wonderful.’ The brunette commented on an ancient, grandfather clock. It was made of dark wood, trimmed in gold.

‘It’s one of our most valuable pieces.’ A redhead, enchanting clerk with lilting high-pitched voice announced, gave Bette a conspicuous once-over.

Tina snorted discreetly, gave the seller a menacing look, put an arm through Bette’s and ushered them both away from there.

‘What?’ Bette asked, apalled, innocently. ‘It was a beautiful thing for our living-room!’

‘No need for that. We already have enough clocks throughout the house.’ the blonde answered bitterly, kept walking.

Bette shrugged, unaware of what had happenned, and followed her partner.

Jenny and Robin went inside a huge bookstore. It had books on every subject one could think of. The writer felt lost, awed when surrounded by so many diverse products of human consciousness and thought.

‘Soon we’ll see your name stamped in gold, on a bookcover.’ Robin crooned in her girlfriend’s ear. ‘Your works will be on the bestsellers shelves all around the world…’

Jenny dreamed about it, was able to perfectly visualize those pictures. She meandered, touching a few promising books, running her hand over spines and pages.

She’d never be able to know it, but she picked up and toyed with the same titles that Marina Ferrer had done, almost a month ago. The writer echoed Marina’s steps and gestures flawlessly, in sync, in a rehearsed form even. It was as if the older woman’s ghost was whispering in her mind, guiding her very acts, conducting her in a certain direction. A translucent hand, gently pushing her.

Robin merely watched, followed, kept an eye on her beloved. Bought a few magazines to keep herself distracted through the long flight and helped Jenny carry her newly acquired volumes as they headed to a jewelry store.

Shane simply paced around, not a care in the world. A few girls glanced interestingly in her direction, the bravest ones even said hi.

She didn’t pay any attention to them. No more chicks until Florence, that had been her last minute decision. She wanted to try something new, meet someone with a different view on the world.

Surely Europeans had other customs and opinions about things, right? She didn’t know, she’d never left America at all.

The trip was both exciting and unnerving. A new experience, unknown. Was there anything better than trying to expect the unexpected – and entirely failing to foresee what would happen?

Adventure pumped through Shane’s veins, a drug. Made her beam and keep walking so as to work out some of the extra energy.