……………

The glint off the gun barrel also caught Max’s eyes right before she turned around with Elizabeth on arms.  A knot twisted inside her stomach but she suppressed it and followed Tina inside the house.  She knew the executions of plan ‘B’ must be in place by the time she arrived at headquarter.  For now, lunch was being prepared by Tina while she kept watch over Elizabeth.  Eventually, the baby grew tired and restless from the morning activities.  She cleared the plates off the table while Tina carried the baby off for a quick bath and her much needed afternoon nap. 

Max used the break to walk back inside her room to call Alice.  She then placed another call to Barbara informing her of the unexpected opportunity and rushed to finalize details to the last phase of their ‘B’ plan.  The sudden progress of plan ‘B’ also changed the arrangement she had set up for Tina and her child.  At the end of today, if all ends well, everyone identity will change, for better or worse depends on her negotiation skills.

“Max, tea is ready.” Tina’s light knock and calling by the door brought Max out of the zone.  She ended the call with Barbara sometimes ago but the foreboding feeling kept her dazed in forethought.

“Coming” She replied quickly and took a calming breath to gather herself. Her head nodded a few times as possibly a gesture of self reassurance.  She walked out of the bedroom shortly thereafter and joined Tina for that cup of Tea.

“Is everything alright?” Tina asked, the worried look in the woman’s eyes prompted her inquiry.  She did not know what had transpired but during their hiatus but it must be significant.  She noticed that the older woman seem exhausted and somewhat detached since their brief parting.  On such an intimate occasion, Tina quietly observed the woman and always found the uncanny features remarkable as traces of her beloved reflected in details.  The creased in her brows from serious thoughts, that gentle but amazing smile, and those eyes, those incredible soulful eyes, undeniable.

“Fine…everything is fine….it all should be fine.” Max’s replied, wantonly.  Initially, she was going to tell Tina the whole truth but the minute possibility of endangering their lives if the mission fail prevented her.  Instead, another compromising plan was forming in her head to take care of all eventuality success or not.