8½ months earlier

A last minute change of plans had Kelly flying into Australia to meet the honeymooning couple instead of Bora Bora as they had originally talked about. Jodi had enjoyed the past four weeks in Tahiti and Bora Bora but now she was bored and distracted. Instead of trying to be sensitive to Tina’s fears and timidity around water her mind kept drifting to Kelly and how much more fun she would have had with someone that shared her love of the ocean.

They enjoyed some dry land activities but her frustration grew each time she failed to psyche Tina into partaking of the adventurous water sports that were prevalent on the islands. Tina tried to be brave and accommodating but her fear was real and paralyzing so when Jodi suggested leaving the Society Islands to visit Australia Tina was happy to go along. They told Kelly to change her itinerary to fly directly from Los Angeles into Queensland instead of stopping in Tahiti first.

***

Prior to meeting Tina Kennard Jodi Lerner led a nomadic lifestyle peddling her art wherever she could get a show and mostly living from hand to mouth. She never settled long enough in any one place to build a life for herself and she abhorred the restrictions of socialization. Though practically a pauper she had a grandiose sense of self-importance and entitlement. She was focused on self-gratification taking what she could get from others with little concern or regard for them.

When she first met Tina she was intrigued with the idea of turning a ‘straight girl’ but the elation of the conquest was short lived especially when Tina didn’t seem interested in anything more than a fling. She was enraged at the idea that the rich girl had just been using her as a transitional object into the land of alternative lifestyles. Tina was doing nothing of the sort but that didn’t prevent Jodi from harboring hostility which she covertly disguised behind superficial charm.

Tina’s susceptibility to Jodi’s manipulative and conning ways soon gave way and she let down her defenses long enough for Jodi to ingratiate herself. Being a heiress to a multi-billion dollar conglomerate and having already experienced two bad marriages and several unfulfilling love affairs Tina was guarded but also flattered when Jodi told her that she owned her heart, body, soul and mind. Jodi knew her reputation as a Lothario preceded her so she worked hard to convince Tina that she was ready to settle down to a long-term committed relationship. She even hinted that maybe they should think about having children together knowing it was one of Tina’s desires. She knew of Tina’s two previous miscarriages and it was something else that she used in her arsenal to gain Tina’s affections.