What are you trying to tell me? Janis thought silently. Janis stood up from the table and walked over to the counter. She saw a few sandwiches that needed to be finished.

She turned on the tap water and rinsed her hands. She took a paper napkin and dried them. She picked up the Mayo and a butter knife.

"Maybe it wasn't meant for my daughter to always be in my life, Fate. Obviously you weren't made to always be in your Mom's life. She died at her birthday party."

Fate appreciated her finishing the sandwiches. She really didn't feel like making anymore. She wanted to go to the beach with her family and enjoy the rest of the day while she prepped her mother's funeral.

Fate stood up, the chair sliding back audibly. Stretching, she walked over to Janis, her heels clicking against the checkered marble floor.

"Fate. You and Red look so happy together. I envy that. I haven't had a man in my bed in years. When my husband died I couldn't bring myself to remarry, date or give away his body. It's so hard!"

"I understand that. You truly loved him...

"Yes, I did. My second husband, I should say. I loved him more than my first husband Earl."

"How so?" Fate asked.

"Earl left me for another woman. Her name was Jonnie. I never forgave him for abandoning me and leaving me with a daughter. My child blamed me for the split."

"Divorce is hard on children. They feel it's their
fault," Fate said knowingly.

"That is true. But it's not their fault that adults can't get it right," Janis said.

"I agree, Janis."

"I hope you and Red get it right," Janis said. "I
don't support gay marriage, but one look at the boy who led me to the kitchen showed me that he is truly happy. Who am I to judge? I wish you and Red all the luck in the world!"

"Thanks. Red and I are really happy. Truly. We have our problems."

She looked over her shoulder and made sure Red was still out back, loading the truck. Red hated Fate telling her business to anyone. She felt very strongly about that.

"I don't really trust her like I used to."

"Why?" Janis put a piece of bread on top of the ham. She then grabbed a sandwich bag, putting the sandwich inside. She set it off to the side by the nine other ones.

"She lied about who she was. In the beginning I
thought her name was Lolita Harvey. It turns out her name is Lianna Gregory. We went to school together. Why would she do that? Yes, we talked about it and I understand her reasoning, but when you lie about something as small as your name, I have to wonder what else she lied about."