The third Big Gulp diet coke of the day announced its presence, making Alice squirm in her seat as she sat outside The Planet. She’d been crying and hadn’t showered or changed her clothes since the day her world ended. Was that only three days ago? For such a small car, the Mini was surprisingly comfortable. Without realizing it, she’d moved into it. She couldn’t bring herself to go home and she didn’t want to talk to anyone.

Dana spent that same time keeping up appearances, getting in her workouts and letting Lara be there for her in between. On the third day, she left for first stop of the U.S. Open series, as planned. The morning she left, she was sure she spotted Alice’s blue mini down the street, but it was gone by the time her car passed on the way to the airport.  Had Alice stayed, she would have seen that Dana’s face was etched with grim sadness. She knew she was causing unspeakable pain for Alice, yet she remained convinced that this would spare her an even greater heartbreak down the line.

The knock on the mini’s window nearly gave Alice a heart attack. She was lost in thought, trying to decide between risking a trip to the ladies at The Planet or going back to the grunge fest that passed for a restroom at the gas station. The Planet would be a welcome change but that meant being in the same building with Lara.

“Alice? It’s Helena Peabody. I didn’t mean to startle you.” She brushed her hair back from her face as she stooped awkwardly to look into the window.

Fucking hell. Alice looked at Helena with panicked, teary eyes. She made no move to open the window. Helena maintained her best poker face as she took in the scene before her. Alice was emotionally unglued for some reason and her car was littered with empty fast food bags, glasses and used tissues. She obviously didn’t want to be seen, having parked across the street and two blocks down. As luck would have it, Helena had decided to walk the three blocks from her last meeting for a quick bite.

“Alice, roll down the window,” Helena said gently. She hoped that the door was unlocked as Alice shook her head, unable to find her voice and tell Helena that she wanted to be alone.