Page 11 of Christmas Shelter

Vanesa's eyes narrow as she focuses on Carlota with a smile.

"Why are you emphasizing the fact that her ex is a woman?"

Again, and as it's becoming an habit she doesn't like, Carlota feels herself getting hot and her cheeks flushing.

"I wasn't emphasizing anything, I just stated the obvious," she defends herself, flustered.

"An obvious detail that wasn't necessary - it was enough to say her ex came to help her," Vanesa teases.

"What's the big deal? It just surprised me, I didn't know Patricia liked women."

"Well, look at that, your former classmate is one of us. Here's your first lesbian friend," Vanesa claps. "It's fantastic, you can meet up with her to go out and start meeting girls, her friends, for example."

"What?" Carlota gets agitated. "No way would I meet up with Patricia, besides, I doubt she's forgiven me for what happened with the job position, and you don't know how harsh she can be when she wants to," she starts saying, increasingly nervous and flushed. "I assure you she hates me, Vanesa, not to mention Patricia would never agree to meet with me."

Again, Vanesa's dark eyes narrow, and Carlota lets out a huff.

"What?" she asks uneasily.

"You're saying she wouldn't meet with you, but you want to meet with her, don't you?" she asks, leaning forward.

Carlota coughs and for a moment fears she'll choke again.

"I don't know why you're saying that, I don't want anything with Patricia," she stammers, increasingly uncomfortable.

"I didn't say you wanted anything with Patricia, you're the one saying that," Vanesa continues to prod, delighted with the new situation.

"You're impossible," Carlota blurts out.

"Sometimes, yes," Vanesa admits, getting serious, "but you know what I think?"

"I'm not sure I want to know," Carlota responds fearfully.

"Doesn't matter, I'll tell you anyway. I think you like this Patricia a little bit, that's why this conversation is making you so nervous."

"I don't like Patricia," Carlota insists, standing up. "How could I like such a harsh woman? You haven't met her, if you knew her you'd understand."

"You're right, I haven't seen her, maybe you could ask her to come by sometime and introduce us," Vanesa continues to press.

Carlota doesn't answer and starts gathering her things, ready to leave.

"Hey, don't get mad," Vanesa says, approaching her. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, it just caught my attention that you pointed out her ex was a woman, that's all. But if this Patricia hasn't sparked even a tiny bit of curiosity in you, then it's fine, we won't bring up the topic again, I promise," her coworker assures and hugs her.

Carlota accepts the hug while her increasingly confused mind wonders if she really wants to forget about Patricia completely.

"Everything okay?" Vanesa asks her.

"Yes," she responds, still dazed, "I'm going home. I desperately need to sleep in a real bed."

"Of course," Vanesa responds.

Carlota grabs her purse and says goodbye to each animal one by one before leaving.

"By the way," Vanesa says before Carlota walks out the door, "how did you two sleep if there was only one mattress?" she asks mischievously.

"I'm sure you can figure that out on your own," Carlota responds, rolling her eyes.

"Yes, yes I can," Vanesa laughs. "See you at the adoption fair?" she asks as a goodbye.

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