Secret: My Roommate is a billionaire!!!

Lina had returned to Vancouver hoping to turn her photography into a full fledged business and Iva had thought they'd use the Victorian house to get started because it had a good address and was easy to get to from anywhere along the river.

Then, when she returned to Toronto she'd leave Alina to continue after helping her make contacts and schedule gigs. Alina had already made up a flyer and business cards. She hoped to do not only weddings, but family portraits, wedding anniversaries, birthdays, and set up a daily stand at the bridge to snap pictures for romantic couples kissing on the bridge---or all those smiling families with unruly children.

Kissing was a tradition on the Vancouver Country bridge. Practically an institution that dated back to horse-and-buggy days. Couples would furtively pause halfway through the bridge and steal a kiss

at a day and age when chaperones were the usual order of courting.

Iva and Lina were toddlers when the first couple took their wedding vows on the bridge. All traffic stopped and the interior of the bridge was packed with family and curious spectators.

Couples came from all over New Brunswick to tie the knot. Alina wanted to capitalize on those, too, including traditional weddings in churches and backyards.

She and Iva had it all planned out. With Iva's computer skills, she'd do the photo-shopping on the images, pop them into frames and voila, The Kiss would be born---an instant gift or souvenir.

"I had originally thought we could use the guest suite downstairs in my new---old---house and the closet for a dark room," Iva said. "If you want to do old-fashioned developing." She made a face. "But

nooooo, Mr. Otto Bergmann, some dude who inherited one of the best Victorian homes in town from his dear old dead granny, just had to show up."

"In your bathroom no less." Lina made an ugly-face, which set them to giggling as they tried to outdo each other. Face-making was a pastime of their childhood, when they were bored to tears all summer.

That and blowing the biggest bubbles with pink Bazooka bubble gum.

"My brother has been working on a sign for my photography business," Lina said once they stopped laughing.

"You mean to like, literally hang out a shingle?"

Alina widened her eyes. "Of course. Like a real business."

"That's perfect. Have you decided on a

name?

"How about Lina's Magical Moments?"

"Just use your full name," Iva said.

Lina paused, "Alina Nora Alexander's Magical Moments?" Alina swayed her head in a way that meant she didn't agree.

"Hell no! I mean use 'Alina', your name, instead of 'Lina', your nickname,"

"Oh. Well, then, what do you think of Alina's Magical Moments?"

Iva waggled her eyebrows. "Folks might mistake you for an escort service."

"You would think of that, Iva!"

"Well, maybe I'm scarred by my canceled honeymoon. I'm certainly missing my magical moments." There was a pause as Iva's voice choked for a moment. "Good grief, I feel like such a baby crying

again."

Alina leaned over to hug her. "Hey, it's going to take time, honey. Give yourself a break. It's barely been a week."

"It will be much easier when I can full-on hate Noah. I'm getting there, but not quite yet."

A flush intrigue crossed Lina's face.