“Fish-ies!” before Tina could look up from her purse Angie was already across the restaurant. By the time Tina had reached Angie she was already kneeling in a chair staring straight into the glass, practically with her little nose pressed against it.

“Angelica! What have I told you about leaving my side like that?”

“But Mommy fish-ies!” Tina wanted to laugh, because no matter what tone of voice or how stern she’d like to think she was being, she couldn’t help but to enjoy her daughter’s excitement.

“I see them baby, but you know better than to run away from me like that.” She took Angie’s hand into hers and helped her down off of the chair. “Now come on, we’ll see if we can get a table close to the tank.”

Tina turned the chair around and scooted it into the table. Her hair had fallen into her eyes in doing so, but as she flipped it back. In her line of sight sat Dr. Amina Hammad holding a book watching Tina with a sultry smile on her lips.

“Christina.” Her accent was still strong and she still had a small curl of a smile in pronouncing Tina’s name. That same move would’ve made nineteen year old Tina swoon and cling to the table for support. But now, it made her stomach tighten and her mind lose its initial train of thought.  

“Amina.” She managed to croak out before the jarring of her arm indicated that Angie had jumped up and finally shook her loose from the self imposed trance like stare they were having. “My God…it’s been—I don’t—how have you been?”

She smiled as brought up her hand to brush back the long silky locks that had fallen when she smilingly nodded her head. “I’m good. I’m good; life has been kind to me.” She tilted her head to the side catching Angie’s eyes with a wink she made the little girl smile as she hid behind her mother’s knee. “And to you as well I see.”

“Yes. Yes, this is my daughter Angelica. As you can see I’m just an accessory she carries everywhere.”

“Well she certainly takes after you in terms of curiosity.” She stated with a long blink that Tina couldn’t help but to blush over. “Will you join me for lunch?”