20. Grapevine

Irina shrugged and played with a screw thingy that had come off the fan. "It's probably one of her husband's. You know, they used to run business separately before he bit the dust. Now she owns everything."

Vaughn nodded in reply and paused to snatch the object she had picked up.

"So, do you tap dance?" Irina asked.

Everest shook her head, surprised at the question.

"Irina," Vaughn said with a tired tone of voice. "Do you have to send all of my customers running? Besides, don't you only take kids?"

"I know, silly. We could use a teacher though," Irina said, scoping Everest openly. "What with Beverly and Moe pregnant at the same time. Tap dancing is not something you do when you're carrying, and pretty soon they'll be handing in their notice to leave." Irina sighed at the last statement and turned the object in her hands over and over like meat on a spit. Her wandering fingers had found another object from the dissected fan.

"I'm sure you'll find someone else," Everest said for lack o