The young woman looked up as the door chimed, and quickly pressed a button on the phone. "Good day, Mrs. Bader. We've been waiting for you." Gertrude smiled politely, receiving the stock greeting for the umpteenth time, and knowing that the button signal would bring Serge oozing from the back.

"Mrs. Bader! How delightful, and don't you look grand. You bring the sunshine indoors, darling." Serge wiggled forward, planting a brief kiss on her cheek and taking her wrap.

"Serge," Gertrude said, tugging her dress straight and patting his face, "your compliments are always so unique and romantic."

"A visage such as yours inspires me, darling." He swayed his arms about in the air, finishing with a precious clutch of her fingers. "Which do you prefer first today, darling, hair or makeup?"

"If it suits, I think I'd like Darlene first. Is she free?"

"Serge thinks that's a wonderful idea, and we're all free for you darling." His smile froze and he added quickly, "Well, not free, free..." he giggled and tapped her lightly with his comb. "Rebecca," he called to the receptionist, "find Darlene right away please. You come and sit right over here, darling, she'll be right out."

Darlene came promptly from the back of the shop, a winning smile belying the tired cast about her eyes. "Mrs. Bader, so nice to see you." She selected a clean cover from the shelf by the chair and draped it over Gertrude, carefully clipping the ends to keep it in place. "You know, you never look like you need my services," she said, lifting the graying hair with delicate fingers. "I feel guilty about that sometimes."

"Don't. I like to come in. I'm too lazy to wash it myself, and why should I when I can have a beautiful woman pamper me? Besides, staying away from the house gives Ivan a little time to- to be alone. To have his own space, so to speak."

Darlene lowered the chair back, and swung it around so that Gertrude's head was over the sink. "Well I certainly don't mind pampering you, Mrs. Bader, and I think giving your husband his 'space', is a very thoughtful gesture."

Gertrude chuckled, closing her eyes as Darlene ran warm water over her hair. "Yes, well I'm sure he'll be whipped by the time I get home." Her chuckle finished with an unladylike snort.

Darlene gave her a confused, curious, look.

*****

Carlos walked his mother back down to their little vineyard and gave her a parting kiss. "You take it easy out here in this heat, mama, don't let these vines tire you out."

"You needn't worry, Carlos, I'm in full control. You do well at your class and make your mama proud."

"No sweat, mama." He kissed her again and dashed off up the yard. "I'll probably be late for dinner, I've got that thing at the theatre so don't wait." He called back.

She waved goodbye, swiveling her head slowly toward Ivan's garden.

"Bully! Bully! Bully!" Ivan chanted gleefully, peering back at her from the shed window.

******

Gavin was furious. He wasn't listening to any of Felicity's entreaties as she followed him about the room while he dressed for work. The fact that he had spent the previous afternoon walking the street in front of the playhouse—which had been locked tight—like some forlorn hooker, in jeans that bound his crotch so tight he feared for his circulation, seemed of little interest to her. Her main concern seemed to be that he wouldn't let the unfortunate incident interrupt her schedule.

"Unfortunate incident! Do you have any idea of what that was like?" He buttoned his shirt, keeping his back to her and closing his ears to her repeated pleas.

"Gavin, it was harmless—look at it like a joke—"

"Harmless! That is a bloody great joke! It wasn't you trying to walk around out there like a fool all- all dressed up. Not only that, but three of our other 'neighbours' were right across the street having coffee!" He knotted his tie and snugged it up under the collar, grabbing his jacket from the hanger and stalking out of the room with his wife in hot pursuit.

"Honey, it's over. Nobody knows—"

He didn't care if she thought that he fooled them; he was pretty certain that Denise was suspicious, and that's all it took—one little suspicion.

"I had to walk right past them to use the phone in the restaurant, for Christ's sake! He stuffed a handful of papers into his briefcase and headed for the door.

"But nothing hap—"

"Then it was back again to my post in front of the theatre," he ranted on, as though she hadn't spoken. "Jesus, Felicity, a goddamn police car stopped and asked me if I was alright!"

She followed him out the door and down to the drive. "Baby, don't let this spoil everything. It's over. Let's just forget it. Please, Gavin, I need you... we work too well together... please?"

He slumped behind the wheel and stared blankly through the windshield at the garage. Was he overreacting? Aside from a little paranoia over the possibility that Denise suspected something, nothing had really come of it. Thinking about it, he actually had to snicker. God, who would have imagined doing something like that—in broad daylight!

He looked at his wife's worried face and suddenly felt sorry for her. He leaned out of the car and held out his arms.

"Oh, Gav!" She brushed away the beginning of an artificial tear.