Harry put his hands on his hips, striding back to his room expecting to find Grace and one of her insipid girlfriends teasing Miguel again. She was always letting herself in and using his place like some sort of flophouse and he was in no mood to entertain. "Ladies, I told you..." Harry began in loud, authoritative tones, and then trailed off. There sitting on the edge of the bed giggling like best friends were Gracie and Diane. He was dumbstruck.

Miguel broke the silence with a perfect rendition of Kojack saying, "Who loves ya baby?" sending the two women into a new fit of laughter. Harry simply turned and walked out into the hall as the two women fell back on the bed snorting and holding their sides.

He busied himself in the kitchen fixing some coffee, and trying to gather his composure. The fact that Diane was there thrilled him, but his fatigue kept him from being able to snap out of his foul mood. He felt his blood rising as he thought of her and listened to her melodic voice.

Finally they came out, sighing and gasping as if they'd jogged a mile. Harry leaned back against the kitchen counter and stirred his coffee. "I see you've met my niece," he said coolly with his eyes lowered.

Diane studied his posture and replied, "You should have told me you had family near by."

"Yes, well, we've had a bit of an arrangement. I play the benevolent banker. Has Gracie told you about it?"

"Uncle Harry," Grace jumped in. "Don't go trying to spoil our fun just cause you're in one of your moods. Diane knows all about it." She grabbed her coat and headed for the door. "Now, make sure he eats. He forgets sometimes and he gets even more Shakespearean."

Harry looked menacingly over his cup at his niece.

Diane smiled and said,"You sure you're okay walking home. It's starting to get dark."

"Yeah, it's only three blocks and I always call, don't I Harry?"

"Yep," he replied and sipped his coffee, staring hard in Diane's direction.

The temperature of the room was clearly starting to rise, and Grace looked knowingly at both of them. She knew her cue and said, "G'nite Diane. Thanks for everything."

And the door quietly shut.