Alba translated it, a bit hesitant, afraid they wouldn’t like the idea of spending the night away from the rest of the tribe. It was a shock when the gitanos nodded, took the address from Patricia’s hand and beamed in gratitude and delight.

Everyone shook hands, a formal gesture to signal a closed deal. Tina, Patricia and Alba saluted them, turned away and meandered without direction. The girl caught Maria looking at her, smiled and waved goodbye.

‘She sure did like you.’ Ms. Kennard taunted, light-hearted. Talking had done wonders to her bruised mind, wounded soul. Whereas before the emotional gash had been gruesome, open and bleeding, muscle and bone exposed, now it was tenderly closed, no more than a harmless pink scar.

Her breaths were deeper, trully nourishing. For once in a very long time her chest didn’t feel crushed by an ominous, dark weight.

‘Age closeness, geographic proximity…’ The teen waved the matter away with a brisk movement, facial expression spelling "nonsense". She’d understood very well what Tina had been implying. After a moment, she exhaled in relief. ‘Mission accomplished, I’d say.’

The other two women sighed, released a breath they hadn’t noticed holding. Stress usually has interesting physical effects.

‘Thank you for everything, Alba.’ Ms. Arpino said, eyes shining. ‘I wish I knew how to compensate you for this.’

‘It was nothing. Don’t mention it.’ The teen beamed, happy for that reaction. ‘Well, I think I’ll go back to the mansion if nobody needs me in here…’ 

‘Yeah, you should probably go.’ Tina almost ushered the young one away. She could barely wait to spend some quality time alone with Patricia. ‘Make Marina company, and all.’

‘Marina’s not home. She took Shane, Robin, Alice and Tonya shopping. Dana’s still running, probably, and Bette went out to work outdoors. Said it’d clear her mind. But I’ll see if I can take Jenny out of her loneliness.’ Her eyes sparkled in mischief, a child planning a funny trap to her best friend.

‘Sure, do that. Poor little Jenny is almost always alone, writing in a corner.’

‘Ok. Bye, then.’ The girl stomped once as means of warm up, then darted back to the mansion.

A small part of Tina’s soul shuddered. Now that Alba was gone, how was she supposed to resist the growing urge to kiss Patricia?

She called to mind a picture of Bette, imagined herself touching her girlfriend. It was such a strong recollection that she could actually feel Ms. Porter’s smooth skin sliding under her fingertips.

The myriad of sensations which engulfed her was strong enough to dissolve her earlier resolution to make out with Ms. Arpino.

Well, at least for that momennt.