Gabby ”Hey, Al.”

Alice ”Gabby?  Robin?”

Robin ”We talked and…we wanted to be here for you.”

Gabby ”You and the rest of the gang.”

Lara looks ahead at nothing.

Robin ”Lara?”

Alice ”She’s um…still in shock.”

Robin nods, understanding.  Gabby offers Alice a quick hug before she and Robin take their seats in the back.  As they do, another arrival makes her way to Alice.  Alice is less than enthused to see her.

Tonya ”…Please don’t be mad at me being here.”

Alice ”Um…well…well, you were her manager at one point.  So…you knew her, I guess.”

Tonya ”Lara called me…told me what happened.  I am so sorry.  I’m sorry for a lot of things.”

Alice ”This ain’t the time to get into it.”

Lara ”Congratulations, Tonya.”

Alice turns toward Lara.  It’s the first time she has spoken since arriving at the church.  Tonya smiles.

Tonya ”Thanks.”

Tonya takes her seat at the pew next to Robin and Gabby, introducing herself as she does.  Alice looks to Lara.

Alice ”Congratulations?”

Lara ”She’s pregnant.”

Alice runs her left hand down Lara’s hair, before placing her head against Lara’s right shoulder, prompting Lara to place her right arm around Alice’s shoulders.  As the service begins, Alice and Lara remain seated.  Carmen, seated next to Lara stands along with everyone else.  She momentarily places her right arm on Lara’s left shoulder before joining with they hymnal singing.

The preacher begins with the eulogy, painting a false narrative about Dana.  Tonya is horrified, listening to preacher.  This is not the Dana she remembers.  Internally, she blames herself for letting this happen as well.  Carmen notices Lara going back to her blank expression during the eulogy, reaching for Lara’s left hand with her right as the preacher bemoans Dana lacking domestic partnership.   Carmen whispers to her.

Carmen ”…She absolutely found it.”

Alice raises her head from Lara’s shoulder to whisper back to Carmen.

Alice ”…I know, it’s okay.  We know she had Lara.”

The preacher continues, as Dana’s friends near the back take offense in their facial expressions.

Shane ”…She found love.”

Alice ”We know that, Shane.  That’s all that matters.”

Lara ”…”

The preacher continues on, talking about how Dana could have found a, ”good man,” to take care of her.  Alice is on the verge of no longer containing her annoyance.  She is about to stand, but suddenly feels the right arm of Lara hold her in place.  Lara stands, letting go of Carmen’s hand.  The preacher stops as everyone in the church focuses on Lara, walking down the aisle.  No one is sure how to react.