Carmen saw the troubled look forming on her girlfriends face and immediately recognized it for what it was; fear and apprehension. “Shane, there is nothing that you’ve done that could make me stop loving you. It’s not your past that makes you who you are baby or else more people would be a lot worse then they are now. I’m here for you not matter what, okay?.”

“You mean that, don’t you?” Shane asked with trepidation.

The Latina simply nodded her head as she gently pulled Shane’s arm, encouraging her on to the bed.

The couple wrapped their arms around each other, giving and receiving comfort and protection. Both their eyes were closed and Carmen said in a drowsy voice, “You’ll tell me when you’re ready okay?”

Shane nodded, “Yeah.” and both lovers drifted off into a much needed deep sleep.

The next morning found Shane taking a shower and Carmen in the kitchen brewing a fresh pot of coffee. The events of last night were fresh in both of there minds and caused both of them to be relatively silent that morning. Not that the silence was uncomfortable, it was just neither felt the need to say anything at that moment.

As Carmen sat down at the kitchen table in a terrycloth bathrobe she borrowed from Jenny’s room and a cup of coffee in one hand, the door opened to let in a disheveled and hung over looking Mark.

“Morning.” Carmen said in an even tone.

Mark merely grunted in response and reached for the pot of coffee and a mug. As he poured himself a cup, Shane walked into the kitchen in a pair of green cargo shorts and a white beater, her hair still wet and product free. Mark brought down another mug and poured Shane some coffee as well. Muttering a ‘Thank you’, she walked to the table, giving Carmen a kiss on the cheek before she sat down across from her and looked at the news paper she’d brought in earlier.

Mark, although not in the best head space at that moment, was collected enough to realize something wasn’t quite right between the two women. “So, anything exciting happen last night?” he offered in order to break the silence.