Lara lifted her head to look at Dana in the eyes, “But supposedly she is ‘you love and inspiration’”  A tear escaped Lara’s eye as Dana’s stomach sank.

“Where did you hear that?”  Dana knew, but needed to hear what Lara thought.

“Let’s see, I think I read about you two in the Enquirer.”  Lara’s eyes became filled with doubt and fear.  “I didn’t think it was true, but when I saw her hugging you, I have, had, my doubts.”  Lara tried to escape her captor, but to no avail.

“Stop.  It was nothing like that.”  Dana’s arms were braced on the counter on either side of Lara.  “Yes, she was my so-called liaison at the tournament.  But that was it.  I had no idea that she and Subaru would do this.”  Dana put her hands on Lara’s hips, moving her back and forth trying to get a smile. “I love you, and no one else.  Why would I jeopardize my relationship with you for someone like that?”

Lara knew Dana was right, but had an uneasy feeling about this woman who had thrust her way into their lives without a moments notice.  As Dana started to act a bit goofy, a smile finally appeared on Lara’s face.

“I know, it’s just with all the emotional ups and downs we have had over the past few months, I just thought the wrong thing and I know it was wrong.”  Lara finally wrapped her arms around Dana’s neck.  “I love you too.”

As the two women embraced, neither noticed a shadow on the wall that had been listening to their conversation, making her own plans for the couples’ future.  Before being noticed, she went back to the table and sat down in her place.

Not long after, Dana and Lara finally emerged from the kitchen with the juice to see Sharon and Tonya sitting and laughing.

“What’s so funny mom?”  Dana wanted to know what Tonya and her mother had been discussing.  “And don’t tell me ‘nothing’, because the last time you did that, I ended up at a surprise lunch at The Planet.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I was telling your mother about the tournament and how the photographers somehow kept taking shots of the two of us thinking that we were together.”  Tonya said without hesitation.

“Yes, well apparently I didn’t find it as amusing as you did.”  Dana’s anger was beginning to rise as Lara grabbed her hand to calm her.

“Yes, it is kind of funny how you ended up in a lot of pictures with Dana, Tonya.  Isn’t it going to be funny when the newspapers and tabloids find out that they were totally wrong and that Dana and I are together and not you two.  I guess they will have to print a retraction or just the truth this time.” 

Dana couldn’t believe how Lara handled herself.  She put Tonya in her place, but not so rudely for her mother to become upset.  Although it did upset Tonya a bit Dana noticed.  She could see Tonya’s blood pressure rise in her face.

“Sharon, would you like some juice and coffee?”  Lara went on like nothing bothered her and nothing did.

“Yes, please.  You know, all this talk about pictures and tabloids is making me think a bit.”  Sharon‘s mind was working well, although her body had a ways to go before it would be totally mended.  “Dana, we don’t have a recent picture of you, I wonder if you would mind if we went and got a portrait done sometime.”

“Sure, that sounds great mom.”  Dana was surprised at her mother’s request.

“Well I have some wonderful shots of her right here Mrs. Fairbanks.”  Tonya pulled out a folder full of pictures of Dana playing tennis and off the court.  “Subaru got these to me for promo shots.  If you would like one of these”

Sharon cut Tonya off in mid-sentence, “I would love one, but I would still love to have a formal portrait done.”  Sharon turned to Lara and Dana , “Maybe one of the both of you.”

Dana was enveloped in a feeling of joy that her mom would think of that.  Little did she notice Tonya’s blood pressure rise once again.