Sarah eyed her as she approached, “Hi Tina, glad you could make it!”  She gestured for Tina to sit.

“Where’s Bette?” Tina asked as she pulled a chair, and dumped her bag on the chair beside it.

The waiter approached, so Tina asked Sarah, “Do we have time?”

“Yeah, we have time.”

“Okay,” Tina smiled at the waiter, “Can I have some chamomile please?…Nothing on it, just the tea. Thanks.”

After a few minutes, as Tina thumbed through her mobile, not wanting to engage in conversation, as yet, with Sarah until Bette came, Sarah cut into her thoughts, “Tina, I don’t think Bette is coming.”

Tina looked up from her mobile in surprise. “Really?  Why, what happened?  She didn’t tell me about that.”

“Actually, we had cancelled it this morning…”

Tina blew out a long breath, “So why didn’t you tell me?  I texted you…”

“I know.  I let you believe we were still on because I wanted to talk to you.”

Tina shifted in her seat, looked back at Sarah, her reserve up.

“What about?” warily.

“Bette, of course.”

“What about Bette?”

The waiter came with Tina’s tea, interrupting them.  Tina stirred her tea, wondering about what Sarah was up to.

“You need to watch out, Tina,” Sarah said, after a few minutes.

Tina didn’t respond, blew on her cup, then took a sip.  She sat back, and asked, casually, “Alright, I’ll bite.”

“What is it that I should be watching out for?”

“Your suspicions about Bette are unfounded, “ she began.  And before Tina could respond, she followed up with, “But I think Bette should be suspicious about you.”

Tina had it.  She shot Sarah an angry look, “First of all, I don’t think it’s yours or anyone’s place to speculate about mine or Bette’s suspicions about each other, and whether they do or don’t exist.”

“Secondly, I don’t think we can do business with you if you continue to talk this way about either one of us.”

She was standing up to leave when Sarah replied in even tones, “I can tell, Tina.  But Bette is too in love with you to notice the signs.  I guess it really is true that the girlfriend or spouse is always the last to know.”

That got Tina’s attention.  She sat back down.