So Alice, I don’t mean to intrude but do tell me what’s going on?  First, Starbucks, then, the medicine from the psychiatrist?  Helena’s brow furrowed in concern as she placed one hand over Alice’s own hands as they nervously toyed with the salt and pepper shakers sitting upon the white linen tablecloth.  Just as Alice opened her mouth to answer, the waiter brought their drinks out.

            Are you ladies ready to order, or do you need a minute.  The young man politely inquired.

            Another minute please, thank you!  Helena irritably retorted without even an upward glance at the waiter, who apologized profusely as he walked backwards out of their presence.

            You know, Helena, you sure have a way of making ‘thank you’ sound a whole lot like ‘***** you.’  That’s a real gift, ya know!  Alice joked.  She couldn’t help but be amused by the other woman’s disarming capabilities.  She laughed at the feigned indignant facial response the brunette gave her.  In spite of her current emotional state, the blonde couldn’t help but giggle at Helena’s ability to shift gears so quickly from caring confidante to spiteful *****.  Alice didn’t know what to make of her obvious offer of friendship, but one thing was certain for the reporter, it was good to laugh again.

            Once they realized the waiter wasn’t going to return until he was beckoned, Alice launched into her story about Dana from the beginning, their friendship, Lara, Tonya, the Heart concert, their break, and her return from Palm Springs.  Alice felt so understood by the Helena.  The brunette remained quiet but nodded sympathetically and her encouraging, yet sad smiles allowed Alice to open up to a point that reporter couldn’t stop.  It was like the cracking of a dam suddenly moving to another hole and to another until at last the entire structure collapsed and everything spilled forth.  As Alice recounted the past year, it all came out, not just what happened, but all the inner turmoil and pain of her last few months with Dana and the last few weeks without her.  All of her insecurities and the animosity she felt inside towards Lara, whom she blamed, surfaced.  Alice didn’t even realize she was crying until her hands brushed against the tablecloth directly underneath her and found it to be damp, soaked with her newfound tears.