Finally, I heard her voice, “Hello.”

“Helena, hi, it’s Bette.”

“Bette, I was beginning to think you weren’t going to call.”

I felt a silent sigh of relief course through my body.

“Well, you know how it is taking care of children. They keep you busy,” I offered as an explanation for my delay. In all truth, I hadn’t wanted to appear too anxious.

“Indeed, they do. Sooo, are you still coming by this evening?” she asked.

“Of course. I just wanted to agree on a time. How is 5:30 or 6:00 for you? I’m dropping off Angelica at Tina’s around 5:00.”

“Five-thirty or sixish is fine. I’ll have an assorted cheese and fruit plate ready for us to nibble on,” she said.

At the sound of Helena saying the word nibble, in that sexy accent no less, my mind fell into the gutter. I kept that to myself.

“Oh, that reminds me,” I said. “I almost forgot to ask. What kind of wine do you like? Red or white?”

“Either is fine with me, Bette. Which do you prefer?” she considerately asked me.

“Actually, I prefer red. But a nice chilled white sounds kind of refreshing at the moment. I tell you what, I have a nice French Pinot Blanc, as well as a marvelous Châteauneuf-du-Pape I’ve been anxious to open. Why don’t I bring each, and we can have some of both?”

“I trust your selections. I look forward to our little tasting,” Helena said.

Oh, was it my imagination that I heard innuendo and seduction dripping from that reply?

“Alright, both it is. I’ll see you at sixish then?”

“At sixish,” she answered.

With that taken care of, I set about the next important task. I picked up Angelica and carried her to my room. “Boo Boo, you want to help mama pick out something pretty to wear tonight?”