“Do me a favor will you Lara?” Dana asked as her spirit is lifted.

“Anything.” Lara responded.

“Please type a response to as1219 for me. I can’t move my arm with this tube.”

“Sure baby … what do you want me to say.”

“Tell her thank you for the wonderful message and that she has helped me more than she’ll ever know. Just hearing her words reminds me of how strong I can be when I set my mind to it. I just have to put aside my fears. I can beat this thing.”

Lara types the response to as1219 for Dana as she continues to talk. She was happy to see Dana slowly coming out of her funk and it also took her mind off the chemo.

“Yeah … remember all the fears you had when we first met?”

“Are you kidding … I was afraid to even talk to you.”

“You were so cute though and that whole mission with your friends to figure out if I was gay or not … I can’t believe you couldn’t tell.”

”Well I wasn’t the only one. You had us all baffled.”

Dana had never told Lara the whole story of Bette’s mission to “ascertain the disposition and intent of one Miss Lara Perkins.” They reminisced together about the first time they met.

Lara was the sous-chef at the country club where Dana practiced. Dana ate lunch in the dining room at the club almost every day. Lara noticed her but was too shy to approach her because of her celebrity. She decided to get her attention in an unusual way.

She prepared a lunch for Dana. When the waiter set it in front of her Dana told him that she hadn’t order it. He gestured to Lara who was looking on from afar and explained that Lara Perkins the sous-chef had prepared it especially for her. Of course Dana being Dana thought the waiter said ‘soup-chef’ and when she repeats it he just smiles at her indulgently not really wanting to correct her. As the waiter walks away Dana steals several glances at Lara and smiles with a goofy look on her face then turns her attention to the plate to enjoy the healthy vegetable platter.