“Al there is just one small thing.” Dana said tentatively as she and Alice made their way slowly out the car park hand in hand, Alice not wanting to rush and exhaust Dana.

“What’s that?”

“Dr Shapiro said that I might need a bit of a hand to do some things around the house for a couple of weeks while I finish my recovery from the surgery and before my treatment starts.”

“Yeh.”

“Well he suggested it would be a good idea if I had someone to stay with.”

“Dana I was going to ask anyway. I’m going to take care of you ok? I wouldn’t want you on your own just in case something happened and you hurt yourself anyway ok? We can pick my stuff up after breakfast and head home ok?”

Dana smiled and gave Alice a quick kiss.

“Great.”

Dana felt better than she had for a long time.  The sun was out, there was wind in her hair, she had Alice’s hand in hers and she was heading for breakfast with her friends that she considered family. Despite the C word, life was pretty much perfect!

****

“Hey guys!” Shane said as she and Carmen arrived at the Planet for breakfast.  Jenny, Helena, Bette and Tina were already there and Kit was also chatting away as it was still early enough before the morning caffeine rush.

“Morning!” They all chorused back.

“Have any of you heard from Al today?” Shane enquired

Blank looks gave her a reply.

“Ok well I just got a weird cryptic message saying she was at the hospital and hoped we were all at the Planet coz it’s family day?!”

“You don’t think something’s happened and you know she’s been on the drugs again do you?” Helena said with a straight face, obviously deadly serious.

“No I’m sure that’s a bit dramatic even for Al! Plus she didn’t sound upset on the phone” Shane reasoned

While their friends were speculating on what Alice had meant, none of them noticed the light blue Mini that had arrived outside the café and the driver who helped her passenger out before they headed inside.  They were more than half way towards the table before Tina (the only one facing the door) gasped as her face lit up and a massive grin spread across her face;