Susan then glanced at Tina and smiled.  “A little care and attention every day will go a long way in making anything look and feel beautiful.”

As quickly as a lightning bolt passes from the sky to the ground and with the same intensity of impact, the thoughtshe’s not talking about plantspassed through Tina’s mind.  Is she really looking at me that intently?

“I promise to watch over them.  Any idea how much to take care of everything?”

“I think I can do this for a couple hundred.  Is that fair enough?”

“More than fair, Susan.  Most landscapers out here charge a couple hundred  just to give you an idea of what they’re going to do.”

“Well, I’m not in the business out here and, anyway, you and Bette are friends now.  You’ve been very nice to me.  It’s the least I can do.”

“Okay, it’s a deal then.  I’ll give you a check as a down payment.”

“Just give me enough for the materials.  Say $75.  I don’t want you to pay me the rest until you see it done and you and Bette are satisfied with the job.  Fair?”

“Yes, very fair.  All right. Let me go in and write you a check.  I’ll be right back.”

Tina turned to head back into the house.   She felt a bit of a shiver as she reached the patio doors.  That’s odd, it’s hot as hellwhere did that come from?

Susan couldn’t help but notice, as her eyes followed Tina, just how ***** and downright beautiful she was.  I see why she wants her back.  Damn, Bette Porter is one lucky lady.  I certainly wouldn’t let something that good get away from me in the first place – then thought of her status, shook her head and let out a sad sigh.  Maybe one day again she’ll have what they have – maybe.

All right, stop daydreaming, you’ve got a job to do, Susan.    Do the job right and it’s one more step towards them letting you in.  Tina and Shane are the pivotal ones.  I don’t know that an outsider could ever win Bette’s trust. 

You, TinaI need to win your trust.   I just need the time to get you to believe I’m a good guy.  You’ll be the one to convince Bette.  Yours is the only word she’ll trust.

* * *

Candace Jewel had been surreptitiously watching Bette Porter and her wifey now for several weeks.  Wasn’t very hard to do.  They did every ***** thing together.  Christ, it just pissed her off.     Porter was one great piece of *****, but ***** wasn’t the driving force behind her feelings right now – retribution was – a little payback – a kindly reminder that you don’t ***** around with someone who knows how to partner up with a power saw.  Ahh, I won’t hurt the bitchjust get her to squirm a littleyeah, just like she used to do under me when I was the one she wanted

and then she was reminded what her new “friend” said in that phone call,

“revenge is a dish best served cold.” 

***** that, she mumbled to herself, I hate cold food.

TBC.