“This is amazing!” Dana exclaimed, feeling so happy for Alice she could burst.  “Why don’t I go pour us some champagne for a toast?”

“Good idea,” Alice agreed.  “Take your time.”

Shane wrinkled her nose.  “What?” she said, watching Dana head toward the kitchen.  “Take your – oomph!”

“Shh!” Alice hissed, her hand over Shane’s mouth.  “I need to talk to you.  It’s important!”

“About what?” Shane tried asking, her voice muffled.

Alice’s forehead wrinkled.  “What?”

“Try taking your hand away from her mouth,” Carmen suggested, biting back a grin.

“I knew that,” Alice mumbled, pulling her hand away.

“Jesus, is this ‘Ask Shane for Advice Day?’” Shane demanded.

“What?” Alice asked, looking confused.  Holding a hand up, she shook her head.  “Never mind, I don’t wanna know.  Look, I need to tell you guys something, but promise not to tell Dana, okay?”

Shane looked suspicious.  “Depends on what it is.”

Alice took a deep breath.  “Look, I realized you guys were right.  Dana and I need our space.  I’ve been busy this past week with Kit, and it really gave me time to clear my head.  Dana seemed so much happier when she had time to herself.  And I enjoyed it, too.  I feel so much freer and independent now.”

“Well, that’s definitely good,” Carmen began, glancing at Shane, both of them wondering where this was leading.

“And that’s why,” Alice began, taking another deep breath, “I’ve decided to leave for awhile.”

“What?” Shane burst out.

“I have an old college roommate in Boston who’s been bugging me to visit her for like forever.  I figure now would be a good time, and it’ll give me and Dana some space.  Don’t look at me like that, Shane.  I’m coming back.  Of course I am.  I love Dana, and I plan to marry herjust not immediately,” Alice explained, her eyes darting around the room nervously.

Shane just stared, her expression making it obvious that she didn’t like the sound of this idea.

“Okay,” Carmen began carefully, laying a reassuring hand on Shane’s arm. “For how long?”

“Okay, here’s the thing,” Alice started, biting her lip and giving Shane and Carmen what she hoped was her most earnest look.  “I’m going to tell Dana three weeks, but”

“But?” Shane prompted, not looking happy.

“I kind of told Debbie, you know, my old roommate, that I was gonna stay for six weeks,” Alice replied, looking away.

“And are you?” Carmen demanded.

Alice nodded mutely, staring at a spot on the living room wall so as to avoid Shane’s angry gaze.  She sighed.  “I think it’s what we need.  And there’s this great little upstart ***** and ***** magazine in Boston and they’re interested in having me do a feature on the chart!  Isn’t that great?  So I’ll have things to do while I’m gone.”

“You can’t just *****’ lie to her like that!” Shane exclaimed, a vein appearing in her forehead.  “It’s so wrong!”

“Lie to who?  What’s wrong?” Dana interrupted, giving them a strange look as she struggled to balance four glasses of champagne on a tray.

“Um, nothing.  Just talking about, uh, Lenore,” Alice said quickly, saying the first thing that came to mind.

“Okay,” Dana said slowly, eyeing them all warily.  Shane and Carmen were both looking away, while Alice had an uncertain expression on her face.  “Well, let’s toast to Alice,” Dana said, passing champagne glasses around.

Carmen took her glass carefully, all the while having to resist the urge to give Dana sympathetic looks.  She could tell Shane was doing the same.

Dana lifted her glass.  “To Alice!” she shouted enthusiastically.