“I think so. We know that she is watching one or both of you since she sent you that picture of the two of you from LAX. I think if you show the two of you together enough, we’ll draw her out.”

“Shane, doesn’t that sound a little too simple?” Alice asked.

“Maybe, but sometimes the simplest plans work best. We can’t ignore the picture she sent you of Dana and Michelle, so we need to stage the fight, but it’s more important to show her you guys making up and moving forward together. It’ll piss her off and she’ll react.”

“I guess. I don’t know.” Alice said.

“Unless you guys have a better idea, I think this is the best we are coming up with right now. Do either of you have any other ideas besides just ignoring it and hoping it will get better?”

Dana wasn’t looking to the fight aspect of Shane’s plan, she knew she was in for hell with that. Alice wasn’t too keen on the making up aspect. So Alice and Dana looked at each other hoping the other would have an answer, but both just shook their heads.

“Fine, so when should we do this?” Alice said, realizing she didn’t have much choice if she wanted this to end.

“I would say now, but all of us talking then you guys having some public fight might look too forced. Alice, there are no hearings tomorrow, right?”

Alice shook her head in response.

“Good, then I say the two of you should accidentally run into each other tomorrow morning, maybe at the park across the street. What do you think?”

“Sure, but I’m not setting my alarm, so don’t expect this run in to happen too early. Maybe about 11?” Alice asked, before letting anyone reply she turned to Dana and added, “Don’t think this changes anything. It doesn’t and any reconciliation we put on for this chick isn’t real. Just make sure you remember that.”

“OK” was all Dana dared reply. After Alice left, Dana shook her head and looked at Shane, “Do you have any idea just how ugly it’s going to be tomorrow?”

“Yes I do Dane.”

“I guess I’m supposed to say thanks, but right about now, I don’t feel like thanking you. I’m sure I will if it works.” Dana said dejected and dreading the next morning.

“That’s fine. I’m not asking for any thank you’s, just for this bullshit to end.” What Shane didn’t say was that she was also hoping that by forcing Dana and Alice to actually do this, she would be forcing a conversation that Alice would be too hurt to have and Dana would be too scared to instigate. Maybe, if they really have the venue to get it all out and truly have the fight they need to get past this, Alice will be wrong, the reconciliation will be real, even if not immediately, it will give them the chance for it to one day be real.