“Yeah, you smile so wide people in China can see your teeth. Spare me…” Alice rolled her eyes and went to get more coffee.

“What’s up with her?” Tina asked, watching Alice at the counter.

“Who knows,” Shane answered, shrugging her shoulders, “Dana’s withdrawals perhaps.”

“Dana has only been gone for two days.”

“Well, you know Alice, she’s obsessive-compulsive…” Shane said, finishing her espresso.

“I heard this,” Alice said grimly, getting back to the table. “What is it today? ‘Ganging-up-on-Alice-till-she-drops-dead’ day?”

“No, Al, you know we love you. It’s actually a good thing,” Tina said through laughter, “It means that you’re passionate about everything you do.”

“And passion should never cost you respect, darling,” Bette finished in her best Helena’s impersonation voice.

Alice smiled and they all laughed, enjoying their breakfast and each other’s company.

“Where’s Carmen?” Alice asked after the laughter quieted down.

“Oh, her grandmother asked her to stop by this morning before breakfast. She should be here any minute, though,” Shane answered, trying to hide the fact that she was a little worried. After the horrible ordeal with Eric the two of them were practically inseparable. Shane always felt very protective of her girlfriend but tried hard to appear calm and composed.

They finally saw Carmen walking in and Shane briskly got of her chair to go and meet her lover with a warm hug. “Is everything okay with your family?” she asked with concern.

“Oh, everything is perfect,” Carmen replied and then said to the girls, “My family finally accepted that I’m gay and invited Shane for dinner next Saturday.”

The girls cheered and congratulated them with hugs and kisses, including a couple of very loud ‘yahoo’s’ from Alice. Shane gave Carmen a kiss and everybody continued their ritualistic morning in a much happier mood.

Tina began absentmindedly rubbing Bette’s back, lingering a little longer on the small of her back. Bette was basking in Tina’s closeness, enjoying her affectionate gesture. She casually put her hand on Tina’s thigh and stroked it gently.

Alice looked at them from behind her large coffee mug and said to Tina with mocking disgust, “Could you want her more?”