Candace just stands there frozen in place. She thinks to herself, Should I just bite the bullet and confess or keep denying it?

Mikela: Candace I saw you two tonight
Candace: Saw us two?
Mikela: Yes, You were talking
Candace once again interrupts her, Talking? Of course we talked. It was a social event. I cant believe you are acting like this just because you saw me talking to another woman.

Mikela gives a sigh of annoyance. Then counters by stating, Do you think I would actually be upset if all you two were doing was talking. I saw you two when you were upstairs and yall were doing more than talking.

Oh, really. Well, what else do you THINK we were doing? Candace asks.

Mikela becomes more annoyed by the condescending tone Candace is using. She is not stupid or irrational and Candace knows it. So why is she talking to me like I am an over-emotional child, she ponders.

The silence she receives from Mikela, after voicing her question, gives Candace time to think about what Mikela must have seen in Bette and her behaviors that may have exposed their recent affair. Before she can replay their brief encounter alone at Provocations, Mikela gives her an answer.

Mikela: Cut the sarcastic act Candace. I know what I saw and I know what it means.
Candace: Jesus, Mikela. There is nothing going on between Bette Porter and me. It is strictly professional.
Mikela: Ha, strictly professional huh? Well Ms. Jewell, you and I must have totally different definitions for the word professional because what I saw was anything but professional.

Candace says nothing to this comment. So Mikela continues, Do you flirt with every person you have a professional (she uses her fingers to make the quote/unquote sign) relationship with or just the beautiful clients.

Thou it begrudge her to do it, Candace admits, OK, I will admit that Bette and I have been working around the clock with each other trying to get Provocations ready and naturally we have stroke up a few conversations during that time. So, yes we have created what you may call a bond of some sorts. Jokingly she adds, We were after all cellmates for awhile. Receiving not so much as a smile for her little joke, Candace continues explaining, So tonight I may have been friendly, but not flirty. No, I was not flirting. I was just being, uh sociable.

Mikela shakes her head in amazement. Wow, you must really think Im stupid, dont you? I
Candace: Mikela
Mikela: Wait. Let me finish. (She pauses to collect herself, and then begins.) I know you and I know when you are being sociable, when you are being friendly and when you are flirting. You were flirting with her. You were standing real close – too close to each other. You were both clearly making eyes at each other and your body language I dont even want to say what your body language meant.
Candace: Mi
Mikela: You let her touch you. I saw what she did with your necklace. How could you allow her to do that Candace? That touch, it just seemed so intimate. And when she walked away you held onto her hand.

Although Candace feels guilty about what Mikela just described she also feels cornered which makes her go on the defensive. With anger in her voice she asks, So from that brief encounter you jump to the conclusion that Im ***** her? You have got to be kidding me?

At this moment Mikela wants to slap Candace but reigns herself in. she knows how Candace feels about violence. Her reaction will not be a pleasant one. Its also the reason why Mikela has made a painstaking effort to keep three feet of distance between Candace and herself. If she feels crowded Candace will go into automatic defense mode and once that happens anything could set her off into attack mode. Its just one of the many after effects of Sanais reign of terror.
Nevertheless, Mikela is growing tired of Candace denials and decides to just lay it all down by stating, So what you are basically saying to me is that I just imagine what I saw because if not then give me a good reason why you two were all on each other tonight.

Candace knows she is busted for flirting with Bette and with the damning evidence so clearly argued by Mikela it is futile to keep denying it. But flirting does not mean I was or am ***** Bette; it just means I was thinking about it. Thinking of cheating on your partner is bad, but not as bad as actually doing it. Besides, I can just blame it on the high of the success and the free flowing liquor. Candace reasons to herself. So with that in mind she confesses, Mi, babe. Youre right. Right away she sees the stricken look on Mikelas face and quickly adds, But only about the flirting. Nothing else is going on. It was just flirting. Im sorry.

Mikela: Why should I believe you? You were a few seconds ago lying to me about not flirting with her. Now you admit to flirting but expect me to believe that nothing else is going on? Come on Candace.
Candace: Mi, I know you got no reason to trust me right now but Im telling you the truth. Tonight, I crossed the line. I had no business flirting with Bette and Im sorry that I hurt you. Maybe, it was just the high of the success or too much alcohol

Mikela quietly says, Thats no excuse. A look of shame comes over Candaces face when she replies, I know, baby I know. She walks closer to Mikela, closing the distance between them till they are mere inches from one another. Continuing her apology/confession, Mi, I cant lie to you and say that I didnt fine myself attracted to Bette Porter and that I allowed myself to act on that attraction tonight at the opening. But, baby it was just a momentary lapse of judgment that would never get any farther than our brief moment of flirting because when its all said and done, no one she pauses to stroke Mikelas cheek and looks her straight into her eyes while softly whispering, no one can match your beauty, your intelligence, your spirit and your heart. Bette Porter cant hold a candle to you. I love you so much. You are my life Mi.

With her confession and declaration of love finished Candace closes the remaining distance between them and begins to plant chaste kisses on Mikelas face. Slowly working her way down to her lovers neck, Candace begins to unzip Mikelas dress. Meanwhile, Mikelas brain is telling her to push Candace away. Her pride says not to forgive Candace for her betrayal and deceitfulness, but in the end (and as usual) when it comes to the beautiful carpenter Mikelas heart overrules her head. Besides, it has been awhile since they were intimate. They are both guilty of recently clocking in late nights at work which left little time for each other. Then there is that last blow-up they had over Yolanda which definitely put a damper in their love-making.

Maybe it was just flirting, Mikela laments. Maybe it was a warning or a wake-up call from god to let me know to always take care of home. Candace is a good catch and many women would love to take her away from me if given half a chance. While Mikela is still weighing rather she will accept her apology, Candace has managed to completely undress both of them and is slowly guiding Mikela back towards the bed. When they reach the bed Candace begins kissing Mikelas left shoulder which she knows is her spot. The combination of her last thoughts about taking care of home and the tingling sensation in her center causes Mikela to swallow her pride and forgive Candace. She wraps arm around Candaces waist, pulls her down onto the bed and makes love to her with such passion that any flirting with Bette Porter will remain not only a momentary lapse but also a singular lapse of judgment.


Hours later***

While Mikela is asleep Candace lies there wide awake. No rest for the wicked, she muses. I cant believe I just bold faced lied to her like that. I know I havent been honest with her and that every time I saw her and didnt confess about my affair with Bette I was lying, but tonight was different. She flat out asked me and I looked her dead in the eyes and lied. God damn, I never considered myself to be a deceitful person, but what else can I be if I could cheat and then when confronted with evidence of my betrayal lie about it. This is the same ***** Alicia used to do to me. How did I get so low? My parents raised me better than this.

Mikela begins to stir in her sleep. She turns her head so that she is facing Candace. The half moon shining through the half drawn curtains illuminates her face. She looks like an angel. She is an angel, my very own special angel. She truly is a god-send to me. I guess after Alicia, Sanai and even Yolanda the good lord figured I had suffered enough. So he or she blessed me with Mikela. So why are purposely trying to lose this blessing from god? a little voice inside her asks.

Candace: Because
Voice: Because what? You think you can do better?
Candace: No
Voice: Perhaps you are looking to upgrade with the lovely Ms. Porter?
Candace: No, Bette
Voice: ah, I see you two are on a first name basis now. I guess you should be since you fucked her brains out in her office yesterday.
Candace: well, yeah but Bette and I… Its just, uh, its just
Voice: *****?
Candace: Yeah, she and I its just *****. There are no emotional attachments. *****, aside from what we learned about each other that first meeting at the CAC, we really dont know each other. Not like
Voice: Not like who? Mikela? Or perhaps Tina?
Candace: Tina, oh god
Voice: Yes Tina. You remember her right? The nice blonde lady that came and bailed Bette out of jail after you two just mind fucked each other in what liken to and old prison ***** movie. The same lady who you agreed to volunteer your professional services to the center that she volunteers at after coming from a little quaint bed and breakfast where you spent several hours betraying Mikela by ***** Bette, who by the way happens to her wife.
Candace: Jesus Christ! How could I have been so stupid?
Voice: Been? Dont you mean be?
Candace: Yes, How could I BE so stupid?
Voice: Or careless?

Candace begins to think about her tryst with Bette at that bed and breakfast. She wonders did anyone see them or what about that time in Bettes office. Anyone could have walked by and heard them. At that moment another realization hit her, if Mikela saw them tonight, others might have seen them too. She makes at vow to end it with Bette. I maybe too much of a coward to tell Mi the whole truth but I am at least smart enough to see that this thing with Bette has catastrophe written all over it. If I dont end it now eventually all the lies and deception will wreck not only the first healthy relationship I have ever had, but will also ruin Bettes marriage. I just couldnt live with myself if on top of being a liar and a cheat that I am also a home wrecker. No, its best to just end things with Bette and work hard at restoring my relationship with Mi.

With her guilt waning slightly due to her plan to end things with Bette, Candace leans over and kisses Mikelas forehead and whispers, I love you, before falling asleep. Little did she know that while she sleeps the time bomb that is her affair with Bette, has exploded at the Porter-Kennards residence. Its destruction will eventually lay claim her life and love as one of its many victims.