Rrrrrrriiiiiinnnnng.

Hello?

Alice?

I sit up, wide awake. Dana?

Alice, we need to talk, she says. I can see her mouth in my mind. The way her lips move as she forms the words. Oh, those sweet, beautiful lipsAlice? Are you there?

Yeah, Im here, I reply, snapped back to reality. Then, remembering Tina in the other room, I tell her, I cant talk right now, though. Can we meet somewhere later?

I guess, she answers in that soft, sultry voice, but we have to talk about what happened.

I know, Ill call you laterwhen I have a chance, I heard myself saying.

Okay, Ill talk to you later. Bye Al.

Bye, I say, hanging up the phone. I cant deal with her right now. Dana is my best friend. We promised we would never sleep togetherand shes engaged.
Shaking my head, I regain my senses. I better go check on Tina. Ill make some coffee first; she may be ready to talk about what happened. Walking to the kitchen, I notice the matrix boardand see what Tina wrote last night. She was so hurt she couldnt even speak when she got up and went to the boardwriting her name. I wonder if thats all that happened or if theres something more.

After making the coffee and pouring a cup for Tina, I walk to her door to see if shes up.

Tina, I call through the door. Tina, are you up?

I open the door and walk in. Handing her the cup I sit on the bed next to Tina.

Tinahoney, are you alright? I ask, knowing full well shes not.

Huh? Yeah, Im fine, she replies, trying to be strong. Does she really believe her own words?

I dont think A knock at the door interrupts. Who could that be, I ask, as I stand and walk out of the room. I hear the bedroom door close as I open the front doorBette.

Where is she Alice? she seems agitated.

Where is who?

You know who. What did I say to make her angry? Wheres my wife? she retorts.

I dont think she I begin as she pushes past me. She walks down the hall, stopping at Tinas door.

Is she in here, she asks, looking at me. She tries to open the door, but it doesnt budge. Tina must have locked the doorgood for you Tina. Then Bette knocks soundly on the door. Tina, she says, almost yelling. Then she quickly calms down and, leaning against the door, says, T, open the door. We need to talk.

How dare she come here and think Tina is just going to open the door like nothing happened. She, Miss High-and-Mighty, who told me that monogamy does exist. It might be forgivable if she had done something else, but adultery!

Turning back to me, her anger began to return, What did she tell you?

Nothing, she didnt have to. Its written on the board, you adulterous

Alice, she regains my attention.

Nothing, I finally tell her, but she added a name to the board.

She turns to the board. Approaching it, she puts her hand over Tinas name. Tracing the line back to her own name. She paused. I think she sees it nowthe newly added line coming off her name.

To Be Continued…