Dana was the first one to open her eyes the next morning. She and Alice were lying naked in her bed, face to face. She didn’t want to wake Alice up from a peaceful sleep. Dana looked at Alice while she was asleep. She was looking at all of Alice but her eyes never left her face. There was a soft glow radiating from Alice’s body with the morning sunlight glistening of their naked bodies. Alice opened her eyes and saw a smile on Dana’s face.

Alice asked, ‘What are you looking at?’

Dana said, ‘I’m looking at the most radiant woman I have ever known. And she looks really good when she’s asleep.’

Alice asked, ‘You were watching me when I was asleep?’

Dana answered, ‘Mmm hmmm.’

Alice asked, ‘Why?’

Dana said, ‘Because I don’t want a single moment to pass. Because I wanted to hold time still. And because I love you.’

Alice slid over closer to Dana and embrace her true love, body to body, heart to heart. With their arms wrapped around their waists, she said the only words that mattered.

‘I love you, too.’

Neither of them wanted to get out of bed. They just wanted to shut the whole world out a little while longer. But reality kicked in and so did Dana’s plans for the day. Get showered, get dressed, make out, fix salad, go to Bette’s, take it easy, and enjoy the evening.

Dana took a shower while Alice got a 5 gallon bowl ready for all the lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, and cole slaw. She got it all clean and probably sterile. Alice was washing all the veggies when Dana got out and dried. She put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Dana didn’t want to sweat into the salad on the day she got to splurge so she dressed as light as she could.

Dana walked up behind Alice and said, ‘Hello, gorgeous’ and kissed Alice on the shoulder.

Alice replied, ‘Hello, you. How are you doing today?’

Dana said, ‘I am just fine. I’m going to Thanksgiving and I’m going with you. I am just fine.’

Alice asked, ‘Do you want to help me out before we gotta go?’

Dana said, ‘Yes. What else am I gonna do for 5 hours?’