“I’m not. I mean, I am. I mean, that’s not …” Alice held up her index finger. “Back in one second.”

From her table, Tina could see Alice approach the woman, and exchange a few words. Then the two of them headed back. Tina rolled her eyes. Way too familiar, she thought again.

“Hey, Tina, I invited my friend here to join us.”

Pausing for a moment for an introduction that never arrived, Tina decided it best to move things forward on her own, Tina stood. “Hello, I’m Tina Kennard.” She held out her hand.

The woman grasped Tina’s hand firmly. “Nikki Wade.”

They all seated themselves around the table.

“So, you’re a friend of Alice’s?”

Nikki looked confused for a moment, until Alice held up a hand. “That’s me.”

“Not a close friend,” Nikki admitted. “But we did speak the other day.”

“I asked Nikki if she’d join us. By the way, I’m Alice Pieszecki. We sort of met the other day, but it wasn’t exactly the best of meetings.”

This clarification wasn’t helping Tina at all.

“So I take it your friend isn’t here?” Nikki looked around the restaurant.

The way she emphasized the word ‘friend,’ Tina understood that this was someone that Nikki was feeling anything but friendly about.

“Helena?” As an aside to Tina, Alice explained, “Nikki knows Helena.”

“And is not a fan.” Tina took a stab at filling in the rest of the picture.

“No, love, I’m not. Problem?”

This was becoming oddly confrontational. “I don’t have a problem, as long as you realize that she is a friend of mine, also.”

“Look, I’ll let you two get on, then.” Nikki started to stand up.

“I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but you are welcome to join us.” Tina motioned towards the chair that Nikki had just been seated in. “Please.”

Alice nodded in agreement.

She wasn’t sure what the ultimate decision would be, but Tina smiled when Nikki retook her seat at the table.

“Thank you,” Nikki said, as she took the menu from Tina. “I’m new here, and don’t really know anyone.”

“Not at all.”

“So.” Alice leaned across the table, towards Nikki. “Helena said you’d been in prison, want to tell us about that?”

(tbc?)