“You know what, I think she’s looking at you.” she replied, with a slight smirk.

“Well I guess we’re about to find out because she’s walking in our direction.”

“What!” said Tina, with a slight edge of panic in her voice. She turned to look to find that Kate was telling the truth and as the woman got closer it was becoming more and more apparent that Kate was right about something else as well. This woman really was looking at Tina.

“Hey, don’t I know you? Yeah, you’re the girl with the beautiful smile.”

“Thanks, that’s sweet of you to say, but I’m married.” replied Tina and even though she hoped her reply would be enough to put a stop to the conversation she couldn’t help but laugh at her admirer’s pick up line. Meanwhile Kate’s head nearly snapped off her shoulders she turned to look at Tina so quickly after her declaration that she still considered herself married.

“But, no ring?”

“No…it’s…I…I’m not sure where it is.” replied Tina, quietly.

There was a pause where Kate and Tina’s suitor looked at her, both equally puzzled as to why Tina would not know where her ring was. Then they locked eyes with each other.

“You heard what the woman said, she’s married.” said Kate, in a tone of voice that she knew would brook no objection and with that the other woman walked back to the other side of the bar.

“Thanks.” said Tina.

“What are good assistants for if they can’t protect you from unwanted attention.” replied Kate, after which they sat in silence even though Kate was itching to say something and after a little while she finally cracked, she spoke quietly, gently, so Tina would know that she was only asking what she was about to ask out of concern.

“You told that woman you were married and yet you purposely took a job that would take you five thousand miles away from the woman you’re supposed to be married to and, well, how can you not know where your wedding ring is?”

“I know, I don’t understand it either. It almost killed me when I found out about what Bette had done and yet now it’s killing me to leave.”