Dini rolled her eyes. OMG, was Ayala seriously going to get all sensitive on her? Hadn’t they been friends too long for that?

Another meeting, another awkward confession, Dini thought wryly as she pulled her car into Ayala’s parking lot, checked her sheitel in the mirror, and reviewed one last time how she would explain the existence of the CT volunteer club to Ayala.

She walked into the building and went up in the elevator, taking a deep breath to still her nervousness before knocking on the door. Why did it seem like every time she’d gotten together with Ayala recently, it had been either to apologize or be apologized to? What had happened to their old, uncomplicated friendship?

“Hi, Dini. Come in.”

Dini shot a quick glance at Ayala as she walked inside. Granted, Ayala had never been the effusive type, but was it just her imagination that her greeting was more frigid than usual?

“Hello to you, too, partner,” Dini said as she took off her jacket and sat down on the couch. “Wow, I’m not used to your place being so quiet.”

Ayala squinted at her. “What do you mean?” she asked guardedly.

Dini rolled her eyes. OMG, was Ayala seriously going to get all sensitive on her? Hadn’t they been friends too long for that?

“I mean that it’s morning. Your kids are in school. In the past we always met in the evenings, because you worked during the day.” She flashed her an amused smile. “Why, what did you think I meant?”

Ayala shrugged, turning slightly pink. “I don’t know. That my kids are too noisy?”

Dini stared at her. Ayala, insecure? What in the world had happened to her? “Ayala Wexler, seriously? Your kids are too noisy? ’Cuz mine are so quiet and well-behaved? I’m offended.”