Shane nodded at him and looked over at Carmen who was already on the phone with who must have been one of Casey’s relatives. She didn’t catch the whole conversation but Carmen apparently promised them that she would stop by later that day.

“Yeah I promise. I miss you guys too. See you soon. Bye.” She placed the phone back on the hook and walked over to her seat at the table again. She breathed in and out several times and looked at Shane with apparent nervousness in her beautiful features.

Shane looked at her quizzically, “What is it babe?”

“It’s Casey’s brother, Daren. He wants me to come over today.”

“You gonna be okay?”

“Yeah. Daren is a great guy and he actually wants to meet you some time soon.”

“Me? Why?”

“No idea. I have to get ready but I’ll be back this afternoon. Do you mind if I borrow a shirt?”

Shane answered with a shake of her head and a smile as she watched Carmen get up to go change. On impulse, Shane shot out her hand and gently grabbed Carmen’s wrist. “Carmen. I love you.” she said in a voice just above a whisper.

Carmen walked over to the lanky hairdresser and a placed a breath taking kiss on her lips, the kind that made you wish you didn’t need air so it could last longer. “I love you too.”

It had been three years since Carmen had been in this area and in this house. South Central Los Angeles was notorious for its ghetto mentality and its gang violence but standing where she was, the thought of a drive-by wouldn’t have crossed even the most paranoid mind. Several little girls were playing double dutch on a driveway while some adults sat on their porches and conversed. Teenagers were walking and talking and an elderly woman was hanging clothes out to dry on a line. All and all it looked like your average neighborhood.

Carmen pulled up to a one-story blue and white house with a large porch that had stairs that started on the right side of it, making the drive-way a walk-way as well. The front lawn was green and had a garden full of assorted flowers just before the porch began.