‘I’m so glad you’re calling. I just gave up hope.’

“Okay, I’ve decided to meet you !”

‘Oh, thank you. Have you chosen a place ? I’ve got a meeting in thirty minutes, but I’m free after lunch.’ Marina’s voice was soft. ‘When and where, Jenny ?’

“I still don’t know your reason for this, Marina. So I’ll call you at noon, okay ?”

‘Yes, everything you say. ‘til later.’

* * *

While Marina was on the phone, Kit brought over her coffee. She overheard her talking softly and as Marina mentioned Jenny’s name, she nearly lost her footing.

* * *

“Shane, this is not about crushing. It’s the opposite, to be exact. I feel free and fresh and for the first time since forever I’m able to breathe.”

“Bette, I think that’s great for you, really. But you have to excuse me, if I don’t want to loose you.” Shane tried to be understanding.

All the while they were talking, Blue had decided to stop hunting butterflies and had walked up to Bette’s deck chair. He jumped onto it and lay beside her. Looking up with trusting eyes to his adopted human, he nudged her hand to be petted.

“But, Shane, you won’t loose me.” Bette looked her right in the eyes. “I promise. And look, the new house, if I get it, is not at the end of the world. It’s the same city and, honey, I really need your help with young Mr. Porter here.” She put in a little humor.

“Sorry, Bette, it’s just the shock. It’ll wear off.” Now Shane smiled a little.

“So, are you up to one more thing ?” Now Bette was becoming shy.

“Another one ? Bette, I’m too young to die from a heart attack !” Shane was always so perceptive, but all this she wouldn’t have thought possible. “But okay, what could be more shocking than this ?”

“Well, I should go back in and look in the medicine cabinet. Maybe I have some pills for stopping the attack !” Bette grinned. “Now, the other thing I’ve discovered is that I’m atrracted to someone. Seriously attracted. And I hope there’s a chance for me.” Now Bette’s face spoke volumes.

Shane was sitting there, not knowing if this was all real or a bad episode of the Twilight Zone. She opened her mouth, but no words were coming out. She looked like a goldfish out of the bowl.

Bette waited for her reaction, while absentmindedly tickling Blue.

Finally, “A…ttracted… to some… one ?” Now Shane felt like she was just learning to speak.

“Yes ! And to put you out of your misery, it’s Helena !” Bette confessed.

And while speaking her name, Bette felt a new range of emotion. If someone had told her a year ago, she would sit by her pool, petting a kitten, speaking to Shane about Helena Peabody like that, she would have had herself commited.

But this was real and by the look on Shane’s face, it was too real. She grabbed her ice tea and thrust the glass in Shane’s hand. Shane gulped it down, still looking like she was in serious need of medical attention.

“Hel… Helena ?”

“Yeah, Helena Peabody, the one and only.” Now Bette smirked. “Do you need an ambulance now ?”

“Bette, you are too much. You mean to tell me, a) you have a man in your life now, b) you’re selling some pieces of your priced art collection, c) you’re buying a new house, d) I am your roommate, at least temporaryly and last but not least, e) you’re attracted to Helena Peabody ? I can’t fucking believe it. All this happened since yesterday evening ?” Now Shane got her speech back.

“That about sums it up.” Bette was laughing now and took Blue into her arms.

“Wow, you work fast, don’t you ?” Shane was laughing with her.

“Fast is relative, Shane. Some things are brewing a little longer than others. Any questions ?” Bette asked while looking at her watch.

“Hundreds, but I think we have to go now. The vet is waiting for Blue and we have time to talk during the drive over there.”

“Thanks for understanding, Shane.”

“No problem, Bette, that’s what friends are for.”

* * *