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The café is empty save for Nicole seated at the back table where she is scrolling on her phone. Today she is wearing a black long sleeved T shirt and tight blue jeans. Her acid green hair appears to be on fire, like the colour from chemical soaked logs in a suburban fireplace. "Hey you guys", she says with a smile while lowering her phone onto the table. "What a nice surprise. Back for some more?" "Just coffee for all of us", say I. "What, no cookie for you", she coos as though talking to a three year old. "no cookie for anyone." "Where's Sarah and the Latino guy?" "Sarah is otherwise engaged, and Jesús has returned to Colombia." "That was pretty sudden." Then she looks at Stella, a bit wide eyed and perplexed, "Nice to see you again, Stella..." "And you as well, Nicole" She has gone behind the counter to pour our coffees which she serves to us on a tray. We have joined two tables together and Nicole has pulled up an extra chair to sit with us before things get busy. "Are you considering my proposal", says Stella to Nicole. "First", says Carl, "Perhaps we could introduce our other two friends here. Nicole, I would like you to meet Erik who is also Chris' brother- in- law, just arrived from Sweden, and an old family relation of Stella's, Caspar, here from...from..." "Also from Sweden", interjects Stella, clearly wanting to protect Caspar. "Neither Cynthia nor Chuck think it would be workable. I haven't made up my mind yet, and maybe you could answer a couple of questions for me." "By all means, Nicole, but first I should talk some more with Cynthia." "She has already said no." "Perhaps I could see her where she works." "That is completely forbidden. She is actually very upset with you for dropping in like that." "I really don't see what the problem is. I am after all, a woman." "but you are trans." "But, I am a woman." "Sorry, but policy bars everyone from being there who is not a biological female from birth. "Which I most happen to be" "I am sorry, but", "I will have you kow, Nicole, that I also gave birth to a child, who unfortunately died when she was ten." Nicole says nothing, but her eyes have just widened. "Of course, it was a long time ago. She was born in 1947, then passed away ten years later from luekemia." "Wait a minute. You just said, 1947?" "I am much older than I happen to look, dear." "And I would just love to meet your plastic surgeon." "I will have you know that I have never gone under the knife", says Stella with one sly little smile. "Um, are you guys sure you don't want some cookies. On the house. Fresh out of the oven... "