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“This place is a lot bigger than I expected.” Jamie, Etta’s girlfriend said as she looked around. Even though she came from a lower middle-class background, she hid it well with her girlfriend’s money adorning her body – in the form of a black and white dress and a wide-brimmed sunhat that covered most of her dark hair. Yet when Jamie picked up a regular spoon to eat her soup, Monique saw the tell-tale sign of a woman new to the world of old money.Took me two years to figure that out. She hoped she wasn’t too obvious when she picked up the large soup spoon and swirled it around her bowl.

“For the amount we paid, it better be big,” Etta looked at Monique across the table.

She picked up her iced tea before answering. “It’s adequate for the job. Still a few rooms leftover if I decide to hire more personnel.”

Etta jerked her thumb to the woman sitting at the end of the small table. “She needs a job. She’s unemployed now.”

“Etta!”

“What?”

Jamie stuck her tongue out and Etta pretended to be offended.Another one that was almost destroyed by Jacqueline.She wouldn’t bring it up today, but Jamie was the poor soul Jacqueline kidnapped and intended to “break-in,” consent be damned. Only because of Monique’s fortitude did they escape. Oh, and Etta providing the getaway car, of course.

Monique didn’t get to see them often enough. They lived farther away, although Etta made a concerted effort to keep in touch weekly – and not just because she was Monique’s #1 investor. She put up most of the start-up costs and gave Monique the money necessary to buy the Manoir. In turn, Monique made sure it was a good investment for Etta.

She wished she could see what few true friends she had a bit more often.

“Oh, excuse me.” Yvette appeared in the doorway, wearing her tanning bikini and a straw hat on her head. In her hand was a tablet, although Monique had no idea how she read it in this sunlight. “Thought the balcony was empty.”

Both Jamie and Monique caught Etta staring at Yvette’s backside as she walked away.

“Hate to break it to you, but she refuses all clients who aren’t her patron,” Monique said, blowing on her soup. “You’ll have to find someone else to play with tonight.”

Jamie blushed, but Etta smiled. “Afraid we have to leave before three. Unfortunately, since I know how much Jamie has been looking forward to coming here.”

They both looked at the woman in question. She shifted in her seat, grabbing her drink and pretending to be so thirsty that she couldn’t answer.

“Sweetheart,” Etta said, pulling out her wallet and handing her girlfriend a slip of paper. “Do me a favor and go give this to the driver. I forgot earlier.”

Jamie scoffed. “Can’t it wait?”

Etta cleared her throat. “No. Afraid not.”

“I see. I’ll be back.” After putting on a plastic smile, Jamie stood up, pushed in her chair, and disappeared into the Manoir, leaving Monique alone with Etta.

“Subtle.”

Etta sat back in her seat, crossing her legs while balancing her wineglass on her bent knee. The look she gave Monique made her feel like she was about to get the fifth degree from her older sister.

“Guess what I heard from a birdie named Jem Mercier?”

Etta drank her wine but did not take her eyes off Monique. She, in turn, saying, “I have no idea. What in the world is Jem Mercier saying?”

“Says she saw you at Midnight acting cozy with a date.Reallycozy. Oh, what was her name…” Etta looked right into the sun, eyes narrowing as she sucked on the inside of her cheek. “Helen Warner.”

Monique’s façade faded with another shrug. “I was there.”

“Come off it, Monique. You’re seeing that Helen Warner gal, huh?”

This time Monique looked her in the eye. “What if I am?”

“I’d say good for you. Was a bit worried.”

“About what?”

Etta put her glass down and rested both hands on her chair. “That you wouldn’t date.”

How nice of you to be concerned for my love life.She knew what Etta meant, however. Even Monique wasn’t sure if she would ever give a woman a real chance again. That was before Helen… convinced her. “She’s a remarkable woman. What do you know about her?”