Would you please tell Tina something for me? Tell her I had nothing to do with Bette getting fired. That was the boards decision, not mine. Tell her that despite what she may think I would never do something like that to her. Will you tell her that? The softness in Helenas voice and the calm, kind sadness in her eyes caused Alice to feel even guiltier.

Sure. Alice nodded. She would tell Tina exactly what Helena said. Not that it would make much difference. Helena simply nodded, entered her car and drove away.

–

Dana was getting bored. She had been waiting for Alice two hours now. They hadnt decided an exact time to meet and Dana had been there early. But still, she really wanted Alice to turn up now. Kit was still busy and Lara had to work. Just as well, Dana thought. She did not like the weirdness between them. She could feel that there were more to Laras interest in her than friendship and that made her uncomfortable.

Dana had been single almost all her life. She was not used to the attention of two women at the same time, and she was not sure how to handle it. She was completely in love with Alice. No doubt about that. But as their friendship turned into a romantic relationship they had lost one of the things Dana treasured most. The ability to talk about anything. Since they started dating they spoke in a different way. It was just like they could not tell each other everything like they used to. Not because of embarrassment, but simply because there are things you do not normally talk about wit your significant other. If Dana had dated someone else, she could easily have discussed that person and Lara with Alice. Just to get it out of her chest. And maybe get some useful Pieszecki advice. But now she could not bring up the subject with Alice, for obvious reasons. She sometimes missed the way they used to interact as friends. She missed their friendship. Not that Alice was not great romantically. She really was, and Dana would never want to lose that. She realized she could not have it both ways.