Dana returned Alice’s smile, “But Al, this is what I want. This right here,” Her hand moving back and forth between the two of them, “this is what I have wanted for such a long time. I just never would have done anything about it, I was too scared of losing you. I never would have imagined that in a million years you would feel the same way. I just, I don’t know how to say this.”

This time it was Alice’s turn to give the reassurance, “It’s ok, Hon, you know you can say anything to me.”

Dana smiled weakly, “I’m just not your typical type. I mean, I’m not confident and funny and all that. I’m justI guess I’m just me.”

“Dana, that is more than I have ever gotten or thought I’d ever be able to get. You have no idea how special you are. You are more than all of them combined.” She leaned in and kissed Dana softly, their lips barely touching. “But I am so late for my morning meeting. I have to go.”

She started walking, well actually running towards her Mini. “Pick me up at 7:00pm. Don’t make me wait!!!”

And now she was going to make Alice wait. She her hair was still wet and she had no idea what she was going to wear. She ran into her bedroom and started pulling shirts out of the closet, looking at them and tossing them onto the floor. She finally settled on a simple pair of black pants and fitted sweater. Casual and easy. This is Alice, and she’s seen everything I own.

She had her hair done in record time. It wasn’t necessarily the best job of styling she’s ever done, but she had no time. She put on only the bare minimum of make up, grabbed her purse and the bags and was out the door.

She arrived at Alice’s with two minutes to spare. Alice’s neighbor Penny was leaving as Dana to the gate, so she didn’t need to get buzzed in. She took the stairs up to Alice’s door two at a time. When she got to the door, she knocked and waited, then knocked and waited. Then she heard cursing coming from behind the door.