Ellen dropped by the store...

after she got off work. Maricel was already off to the BMV on the bus. Ellen looked around the shop warily as if Maricel might jump out and bite her.
"She's out getting an Ohio ID." I said. "All is clear."
I gave Ellen a cup of coffee and she inspected the back door again as if it might have changed since early this morning. I handed her a book I knew she'd been looking for from the bunch we'd priced earlier.
"Thanks." Ellen said and she didn't say anything else. Not very Ellen-like.
"You mind letting Ellen out of the pod, I'd like to talk to her." I said.
"What?" She said sharply.
"Just what exactly are you mad about?"
"I don't know." Ellen said. "Are you sure that girl isn't playing you?"
To give myself credit, I didn't get mad.
"Playing me for what?" I asked. "My millions?"
"I don' t know. Girls will do almost anything to get in the country."
"She was born here." I said. "She's a citizen, she doesn't need me to get in the country."
"Oh." Ellie looked deflated.
"We've been talking for more than a year." I said. "We have a lot in common."
"We have a lot in common." Ellen said. "That doesn't mean I should move in with you."
"You shouldn't move in with me." I said.
"Pretty people aren't like us." Ellen said.
"What, I'm not pretty?" I said. "I'm crushed."
"I'm trying to keep you from getting hurt." She said. "I was right about M...."
"No, no, no!" I covered my ears. "Not to be spoken in my presence. Not to be spoken in my presence."
"Well I was right about her, wasn't I?"
"I knew you were right about her. I just didn't care. I thought she was the best I could do. But I was mistaken. You need to adjust your attitude."
"Do I?" Ellen asked with a big old frown on her face.
"I love her, Ellie Mae. When you say mean things about Maricel, it hurts my feelings."
"You love her?" She said doubtfully.
"I love you, too. But not in the same way." I said.
"Just the one time." Ellie said with an unexpected smile.
"There actually is a difference between love and sex." I said.
"You remember that." Ellen said. "Okay?"