"This is upsetting, Linda."
"The reason I parked outside your apartment for two hours is simple, I did it so I could be close to you. I sat staring up at your window imagining what you were doing. Wondering what you had on. And what I could do to impress you." She had to pause. "I never expected to have a chance."
Linda was trembling. Sandy reached over and patted her arm. "It's okay you don't have to go on. Let's leave it right there."
"I'm over it now, I'm all better." Linda laughed.
Sandy could see that she wasn't. Was her emotional outburst award-winning or sincere? Sandy wanted to think sincere, but she'd been wrong before. Perhaps, this was the time to get things straight. "Linda, you told me you were from Georgia."
Linda's head snapped up. She stared hard at Sandy.
"Please tell me it's not important, Linda. Tell me you're not hiding anything. Tell me you decided to anglicize your name and lie about Georgia just for the hell of it."
"I just told you how strongly I feel about you, Sandy. I thought we were friends. What's with the third degree? You're looking at me suspiciously. What are you accusing me of? You think I'm in some Cuban gang or something? I can't handle all this!" She got up and ran to the window.
Sandy followed her. "I just mentioned Georgia. I didn't say anything about Cubans. Boy, you're really touchy about something. Calm down Linda. You know you did tell me you were from Georgia."
Linda was steamed. Her voice shook, "My father's from Georgia, he's up there now, okay? Mom's Cuban and lives in Tampa. So, I'm half Cuban, okay?" Then angrily, "Does that bother you, Sugar?"
Sandy jerked backward and her mouth dropped open. "Linda! You just spat out 'Sugar' like it was the ugliest word in the world." She put her hands to her face, turned and hurried toward the stairway.
Linda hesitated for only a moment, and then ran after her. "I'm sorry!" She caught her at the top of the stairs and turned her around. "I'm sorry, Sandy. We're still getting to know each other." Linda reached out and took Sandy's hands.
"Be fair, Linda, you put yourself in the middle of all this. I didn't accuse you of anything. We all know Tampa Cuban-Americans are involved in this. The questions are there whether we like it or not."
"I know. I'm hyper about it. Let's go back to my desk and talk."
"Half of Florida is Cuban-American. You can't be hypersensitive about that."
"It's just I'd rather be a Georgia peach, but that's not going to happen either."