Dana sighed as she watched Alice close the door behind her. She knew
it was unfair to just show up like this and then effectively end any
conversation by asking to sleep. She knew Alice would need more of an
explanation at some point. Later. Already she felt herself drifting off
to sleep.

Alice sat down at her desk. Almost immediately, she stood back up.
‘Not going to get much done here with sleeping beauty in the next
room,’ she reasoned. She checked her watch: 7:03am. Alice did a double
take, “Seriously? She’s been here eighteen minutes? Unbelievable.”
Sighing, she decided to go wake up the Planet.

THE PLANET

Not surprisingly the radio host had the gang’s table to herself. Not
even Kit was in evidence at 7:30am on a Sunday morning. “Who are these
people?” she wondered taking in the healthy looking patrons quietly
eating grapefruit, sipping OJ and reading their papers. “It’s a whole
other world in here on Sunday mornings,” she marveled. She noted that
at least she was dressed the part in her sweatpants and t-shirt. “Maybe
they’ll think I’m on my way to the gym,” she smirked.

“Hey Alice,” a voice greeted her softly. Lara was in early to prep
for the brunch business that would arrive later. She had come out front
to pour herself a coffee and nearly walked into Alice.

“Hi Lara.” Alice coughed, too startled to remember to hide her
discomfort. Lara hated that every time she saw Dana’s ex- girlfriend
she looked trapped. She tried a small smile and offered to get Alice’s
espresso. “Here’s one good thing about not being with Dana anymore”,
she thought without much satisfaction, “At least I don’t have to dodge
Alice so much.”

Lara had hated witnessing how it clearly hurt Alice that they were
together. She shuddered remembering some of Alice’s more odd behavior.
Strange that she seemed more sympathetic to Alice’s problems than Dana
did. Dana just seemed angry and in denial.

Exchanging another shy smile, Lara handed Alice her coffee and waved
off the reporter’s money. “I don’t know how to run the cash register
anyway,” she admitted. Alice smiled uncertainly as she thanked the red
head, she felt like she should she say more. She wanted to say
something. Lara nodded toward the door, ” I have to get back to work
before the kitchen gets crowded.” She hesitated, “It wasit’s goodto
see you feeling better Alice,” she offered finally, heading for the
kitchen.