“Tina, after the whole Tonya mess, I wanted to see where Alice and I might go but I was just too afraid to mess up our friendship and then I met Lara, she was a chef at the club and things were really good for a while, but then Alice met Tasha, and at first it was fun, ya know we’d all hang out and stuff but little by little I started to lose interest in Lara until finally we broke up.  It was good…but I knew I had to break up with her when I was around Alice especially, when I started to get so freakin’ jealous whenever I’d see Alice and Tasha together.  Then, when they broke up, I gues I didn’t want to miss my chance, so I finally got up enough nerve to ask her out.  It’s been the best month of my life…but please don’t tell her that…”

Alice came barreling into the living room.

“Don’t tell who what?”

Dana and Tina stared at Alice a bit stunned at her timing, but Tina recovered quickly.

“Nothing Al, Dana was just filling me in on Carmen and Shane.”

They all turned toward the door as the bell rang.  Alice rushed toward the door.”

“Talk about timing, huh?”

Shane and Carmen came in with their hands full.  Carmen had made Paella and Shane had brought a ton of dessert.  They stood before Tina.  Shane gave a shy smile and gestured her hand first toward Tina and then toward Carmen.

"Carmen, this is Tina.  Tina, this is Carmen.”

Carmen and Tina looked at each other for a moment and then gave each other the warmest of smiles.

Carmen shoved her bowl at Shane and walked toward Tina and gave her a very tender hug.

“Tina, I can’t tell how wonderful it is to finally meet you.”

“Believe me, Carmen, the pleasure is all mine.  It’s so nice to meet the woman who has finally captured my friend’s tender heart.”

The women parted and looked at each other sharing a very tender smile.  Alice, of course interrupted.

“I’m starved.  Who’s ready to eat?”

Everyone smiled and agreed that they were starved.  They went into the kitchen, made their plates and then sat around the living room and enjoyed their meal.  Shane apologized for forgetting the wine so they all drank some homemade lemonade Tina had made earlier.  The dinner and then dessert was wonderful.  Kit came soon after they ate and they all sat around sharing stories of days long since gone but not forgotten.  Alice and Dana were adorable trying not to be too obvious when they touched or stole glances and Shane and Carmen were loving and caring toward each other, just like an old married couple, which to Tina was beyond surreal.  After several hours Tina could no longer keep her eyes open. 

“TK you better hit the hay.  Remember you have a big day tomorrow.”

Everyone looked at Tina and Dana asked.

“Yeah?  Tina what’s up tomorrow?”

“Um, ah…well… Bette and I, are going for a drive and um, lunch.”

“Really?”

“Wow…”

“That’s nice.”

“You go girl.”

Tina giggled at the mixed reactions and slowly stood up.

“Well thanks, I think…but guys I am really beat so, as much as I hate to end this amazing evening, I better say Good Night.”

Tina made her way around the room to hug everyone and finally made her way into the bedroom.