The morning wept with rain, it wept into the afternoons and into the nights and the streets were brimming with the water it kept at its sleeves. Drowsy were the walks of the day; the shops dripped in languor, drooped with long facades as company shunned the sanctums of food, clothing, shoes.

I decided that though a visit to the spa was in order, it would have been wise to drive with caution against the clutch, an interment remembered at the wheel. Los Angeles in a bucket floated with drab across the windshield and seemed more dangerous in drizzle than it did in sun. Softly or harshly, the rain fell and the wiper made do with the blitz.

Here and there, a bookstore sputtered a blessing of colors of books in the trend, a vision of an Armani store skirted past the horizontal drive of rain to thrust a bold, symmetrical cut. Palm trees stood hunched in their burden of sodden leaves, water-encumbered branches and the effects that people threw into the wind. I had noticed two deflated balloons some kids might have intentionally led astray to blight the sky with something more than blue. Indeed, the sky had been anything but blue the whole day.

I turned a corner, and found the most indiscriminate lady walking alone, her dark hair mobile in the sheets of rain, her face as lacking in makeup as a newborn would be, and the expression there, caught in the grief of merely existing. The wind held sway on her coat, the rain on her impeccable shoes, her suit that lay open against an expensive, tailor-cut blouse.

Recognition lit the womans face as Alices Mini-Cooper made its slow approach and there was utter surprise when the windows pulled down, only to place a package of uncertainty right at her lap.

Oh, hey T, the woman managed, smiling awkwardly. I hardly expected you to be driving Alices Cooper at this time of day, much less in this weather. Where are you off to?

It was all very casual, her words put in minutely curious routine, fast in their carelessness. It was also an attempt to rid of the immediate unease that our unprecedented meeting brought on. Her query didnt in fact need a reply.

I sighed inwardly, looked at her to the point that she consciously averted her eyes, and I unlocked the car doors.

I cant, for the life of me, understand why youd want to walk in this horrible weather. Get in the car, Bette. Ill take you home. A hint of irritation managed to seep into my voice. As intended, she caught it but nonetheless, made a cautionary step forward.

Wheres the car, anyway? I muttered, trying to smile but barely succeeding. It felt just a bit empowering to have had her so very inclined to running away at any moment.

Something like relief bathed much of Bettes expression, and she pursed her lips before taking me up on my offer. She possessed the look of someone who didnt quite know what the package held and suspected it harbored a frisky ogre. I could have rightly been that if pity hadnt had a place in this decrepit, rainy day. And I was curious.

Why the ***** would Bette, the owner of a handsome convertible, be walking to her house – our house, fully clothed in alpha-attire only to get drenched? Clothes were expensive and more often than not, Bettes clothes had their place in making one wonder if her suits could feed an impoverished family for a year.

Oscar might have had something to do with that derogatory remark.

Bette removed her coat, her suit and got in without further ado, her body language advertising all manners of delay and discomfort. She didnt, as expected, keep quiet.

I

I cocked my head to allow her to continue. You? I started to drive, taking a left and cruising through an empty road and off into another vein where the traffic seemed moderately hard to take.

She chuckled softly. Thank you.

That wasnt so hard to say, now was it? I said. The light banter only served to kindle a familiar rage first glanced at the night after Provocations.

Was I provoked? Quite. And the reasons werent all too obvious. T, we need to talk.

No, we dont, was my flippant reply.

I could see her swallowing, re-processing my words for maybe the umpteenth time, because it was well over a minute before she finally said, Maybe not now but Id hope someday. Someday. God, some day. She had said those words so softly, had glanced out the window to watch the rain fall hard, like her hope.

Well see, Bette; well ***** see, I replied, my fingers wiping an involuntary tear from my cheek.

She glanced my way, studying me with the personal look of a museum director resolving to appreciate a painting rather than to touch it.

How did you end up walking home? I asked, if only to interrupt that look.

Bettes answer came unprepared, uttered in that firm dialogue which belied her intelligent move to grasp the root of the problem, her defense of blunder, and her bias.

Other than leaving the car at home, hoping to break the last vestiges of monotony? -I happened to remember an excess of things that made life worth living for seven years; it made me ridiculously mindless of my wardrobe, my hair, my general appearance. She shrugged. I completely expected it to rain. And you?

I stepped on the breaks as a red light hindered my progress down the road. Well, Im out for precisely all the opposite reasons. I have an appointment booked at the spa. And here you are, at the passengers seat, the only vestige of a life that would be so much nicer for me to forget.

We broke into a smile of unified surprise. In all this, she knew that this show of opposites was healthier than it sounded. Looking back, it was funny we hadnt broken into an argument then.

~*~*~*~


I arrived at Alices apartment, completely prepared for Als unconventional replies.

You did what? she shrieked, her sentences flowing out of her mouth without pausing. A wet Bette in my car? ***** it, my upholstery! Do you have any idea how much water those suits soak up? Theyre like sponges! She retreated out the door at a half-run, doing a 360 by using the door frame as a pivot point.

I could hear her voice echoing from the stairwell, Damn it, Tina! Sodden ladies arent allowed in the Cooper -no pun intended! -and what did you do? I know youre going through a lot but please, nothing crazy! It was ***** raining! Her voice eventually trickled off and I could hear another door open to the weather outside. Her irritation managed a last hurrah. And it still is! *****!

I shrugged my own coat off, picking up Als keys from the floor and setting them on the coffee table.

Sorry Alice! Couldnt help myself! I yelled, half smiling.

A neighbor had poked his head into the hallway. Would the two of you ***** shut up?

Sorry! I repeated, in a more apologetic tone.

Sighing, I stole a fleeting look at the kitchen, and my stare lingered at a pot hanging over the stove-top. The groceries Alice had picked up were lined rather messily at the counter, their contents spilling. I smiled at the stuffing the paper bags presented: stalks of celery sticking out with carrots spilling over the edges. There was the accidental onion and garlic and more than a bag of tomatoes. A plastic container of penne appeared beneath a layer of parsley and fresh basil leaves.

Pot, penne, basil and tomatoes only meant one thing for tonight and I brandished one of Alices wooden spoons before pulling out a knife for the work ahead. Humming and the manicure forgotten, I found myself elbow deep in water, olive oil, and salt when Alice finally shut the door behind her and huffed.

Oh, very nice. In addition to soggy car seats, Ive always wanted a home-maker every Thursday evening, Alice commented, smiling with her usual impishness. She walked over to me and was about to give me a mocking kiss on the cheek when I grimaced and made gurgling sounds of disgust. She continued her theatrics by saying, Yup, Im definitely home. Laughing, she twirled and danced her way to the foyer.

The wooden spoon smacked her on the shoulder. Not another word Alice or youre not getting any, I said, joining the repartee.

And I didnt ask for a domineering mummy, either, Al muttered, faking an accent and fleeing from another scathing comment by walking into the modest living room and starting her computer. Ive got this insane schedule of deadlines. Just holler when dinners ready. Or we could go out She disappeared behind a divider.

I rolled my eyes. Im staying right here.

Knew youd say that. Oh, need help?

Not from you, no.

Knew youd say that, too. Breakfast tomorrow with Dana and Shane; missing it would be murder. There was a pause and as I continued with the cooking, Alices head stuck out from the foyer. She bit her lip, suddenly serious. I knew that what shed skirted earlier, beneath the layer of good humor, was finally going to surface. The apartment was quiet and the exuberance of not a few minutes before, dissipated in the conflict of emotions dancing on Alices face.

Hey Tina, you okay? she asked mildly, with an expression so open that I walked over to her and gathered her in an embrace. She obliged me by warmly rubbing her hand against my back. You know Im here for you. Cook me dinner and Ill do anything.

I pushed her away playfully. Go work, Al. Youre on overdrive today.

Alice smiled at me, sighing as though she was already tired. I know. Insane deadlines keep the adrenaline running. She frowned, took my shoulders and continued a bit more gravely, Just do me a favor, will you? Dont get mixed up in any more *****. It stings to high heaven, for me and for you. *****, I should know. Been there, done that.

It was just a chance meeting, Al.

Yeah, and chance brought the two of you together to begin with. Alice was trying to get her message across with pointed sarcasm, trying to sound less frustrated and bribing patience into the picture with a half-hearted smile. Right now, consider both of you fucked up. Theres a lot to fix, even more to figure out. I think its high time both of you got your independence even if its just for a little while. Dont tempt the fates, Tina. Jumping into something youre not ready for just isnt the thing.

I looked at her, unsure of what to say. She seemed ready to take a battering of remarks on just how self-righteous a prick she was because she was already squinting, however minutely. Im trying to take all this in stride, Al but But Im suddenly anxious to ask her, Should I see a shrink?

Her mouth hangs open for a split-second; a sign of momentary relief that she wasnt about to be judged. Dan Foxworthy? Honey, that man mustve screwed you up some. Someone who listens to you should be sufficient. For now. Ill find you someone.

Al, no. I raised a hand to silence her and she complied with expectation. Ill do the looking. II need to do this on my own.

Alice rubbed my arm in understanding. Okay. You do that. But youre definitely relinquishing the keys to the Cooper. No more picking up of unexpected, coated ladies for you, missy. And definitely not in this abominably strange weather.



~*~*~*~

(To Be Continued…)