“Is this it then?” asked Helena, her eyes fixing on the magazine, “I suppose I should read it really …”

“Don’t …” said Tina, having just finished reading herself, “it won’t help …”

Helena chuckled, “I suppose there’s not much point anyway, after all … I said it all …”

Bette winced again, remembering how she’d been on a mission during her time in New York to get Helena to open up about her break up with Mandy, to talk about their obvious love for each other and Mandy’s inability to commit to a relationship which suddenly involved the full time care of two recently bereaved teenage children …

“Mandy has to know it wasn’t your fault …” said Bette softly, “you could sue?” she suggested,

Helena laughed again … “and have them work to prove it’s all true …” she sighed, “better to let it die a death, what’s the saying … Today’s news lines Tomorrow’s waste paper bins …”

As they all fell silent, secretly in awe of how well Helena was handling herself Lottie’s gaze fell on Lisa sitting alone at their table, she tugged at Tina’s arm,

“Um … babe …” mumbled Tina into Bette’s ear, “I’d better go …” she said reluctantly, indicating where Lisa sat alone, “you should stay here …”

Bette nodded and Alice caught on to what was going on, Lottie thought she looked a little triumphant,

“Talk to you later …” said Tina to Helena, leaning across the table to kiss her friend affectionately on the cheek, Helena nodded, understanding there was no way on earth they could all sit and eat lunch together yet,

Lottie and Tina left them, making their way reluctantly back to have lunch with Lisa,

Lottie was just coming out of a stall in the bathroom, making her way over to wash her hands when she saw Alice standing there,

“Oh … hey …” said Lottie, startled and awkward, although nothing had happened between them she’d still woken up to a half naked Alice in her bed the day before they left for Virginia,

Alice smiled, “How was the weekend?”

Lottie turned on the faucet, “Okay … tiring, and kind of sad in parts …” she added, tilting her head towards Alice to give her a reluctant smile,