Chapter 4

They walked out of the restaurant, with light banter between them. Occasionally, Shane would laugh when Carmen told her about how her family suspected she was gay but never asked. “It’s a secret, probably the worst-kept secret in my family,” Shane looked over at Carmen’s animated face and hand gestures and there was a tenderness inside her, that made her want to place her hand on Carmen’s cheek and taste her lips. “I’ll give you a ride…my jeep is parked near the salon,” “Okay…..” Carmen felt a certain disappointment deep within her, she was glad they could walk this short distance because she realised all this while, it was her talking and Shane listening. She suspected Shane had always played the role of the silent observer, listening and in the meantime, guarding herself fiercely. What did she know about Shane? A gust of wind hit Carmen and she pressed her hands to her forearms. “You cold?” Before she could reply, Shane took her hand in hers. She could feel the calluses on Shane’s hands, her long pianist’s fingers engulfing hers in their warmth. Then, the truth hit her. It was the same type of feeling when she saw Alexis dribbling the basketball across the court, in her too-loose jersey and scarred legs. The only difference was that this time, Carmen already knew what was waiting for her at the end.

“Carmen?” “Hmm?” “You’re lucky, you have a family, I don’t even know who my parents are,” Shane said and that knowledge hit Carmen like a knife in the gut.

When they reached the front of the salon, Carmen saw a Mercedes convertible parked right in front of the salon and a woman standing there. There was a sudden stiffening in Shane’s posture, but she did not let go of Carmen’s hand. Carmen looked at the woman with her carefully-coiffured hair and expensive clothes. She could feel distaste welling up inside her and when the woman looked at her with narrowed eyes, Carmen shot her a dirty look back. “What the hell are you doing here, Cherie?” Cherie, her name was Cherie. “I’m looking for you. Who is that?” She tilted her head in Carmen’s direction and all this while, there was an unfathomable look in Shane’s eyes. “It’s none of your business, Cherie. You made that perfectly clear last time,” Cherie pursed her lips and then she looked at Carmen from head to toe. “Shane your taste has greatly deteriorated,” Carmen felt that like a slap to the face. She didn’t like how this woman judged her, and she sure as hell didn’t like the curt way she talked to Shane. “Well you heard her, so why don’t you just shove it?” Carmen stepped forward but Shane’s hand held her back.