“Oh, I’m sorry.  I didn’t realize that you were having breakfast.”  Tonya had a mischievous glint in her eyes.  “I will go apologize.” 

Before Dana could tell her no, Tonya too, was out the doors and on the patio. 

Dana looked up in the air and spoke, “Are you trying to play a joke on me? If you are, I am not thinking it is going to turn out to be that funny.”

As she drudged out to the patio, she saw all three women sitting at the table, leaving one seat for her between Tonya and Lara.

“Honey, I didn’t know you had a new manager.”  Sharon looked at her daughter inquisitively.

“I am just managing her Subaru account through them Mrs. Fairbanks.  Anything else, well, that will just come with time maybe.”  Tonya’s voice sent a chill up Dana’s spine that was nothing like the chill that was sent up it this morning.

“I didn’t know either mom, but apparently, Tonya and Subaru felt that I needed someone to help me with all of the appearances that I am supposed to do.”  Distain almost dripped from Dana’s voice as she leered at Tonya.

Feeling the tension, Lara got up, “I forgot the juice.”

“I’ll help.”  Dana tried to get up, but was held back by Lara’s hand on her shoulder.

“No, I can handle it.  You stay here with your mother and your new manager.”  Lara was trying to keep her feelings in check.  All she kept seeing in her mind was Dana in the arms of the woman that “The Enquirer” had called Dana’s love and inspiration.

As Lara walked back to the kitchen, Dana excused herself from the table and followed.

“Stop, honey.”  Dana was trying to get Lara to face her and talk to her.  “I don’t know why she is here.  She just showed up.”

Lara set the carafe of orange juice back down on the counter and hung her head as Dana continued.

“I had no idea that she was going to show up and that she and Subaru came up with this idea.”  Dana turned Lara to face her.  “I swear to you, she hugged me and it was not in the least bit reciprocated.”