And so it began. The four women piled in to the small luxury car with Alice sitting up front.

On the way to the first store, Tonya yammered on about how someone did this and that person was seen with this person. Dana sat with her hands in her lap making all the appropriate faces at all the correct times. Alice contented herself with playing with the radio and completely tuning Tonya out. For the first five minutes, Charlotte listened with polite interest but soon after switched to nodding while in her head singing along with whatever Alice had on the radio at the moment.

    So many ways I can love you…Oooh

(So many ways)

So many ways I can blow your mind

(I can blow your mind)

So many ways I can love you

(I can love you right)

So many ways

Show you a real time

Count the ways

               Alice looks at Charlotte. She can tell by the look on the drivers face that Charlotte is no longer listening to the ramblings of the back seat. 

               ‘She really is gorgeous. I wonder what her story is. Why have I not noticed her before? Is she new in town?’ Alice watched as Charlotte tapped her finger in time and her lips moved slightly. ‘Is she singing? She could have anyone she wanted especially if she sung this song to them. Incredibly *****. I wouldn’t mind’ Alice looks up into the rear view mirror at this thought suddenly conscience of Dana’s presence. They exchange a look that makes Alice blush. ‘What am I doing?’   

I need somebody

I’ll take to any extreme

To show you just what I mean

I doubt if you have ever been

With someone like me

‘Cause all I want to do is make you happy

            “I heard Bette is still sleeping with her carpenter.”

            At this everyone jumped to attention. Charlotte is pulled from her silent concert; Alice turns down the sultry sound of the Braxtons; and Dana gets a startled look on her face.

           
            “Who did you hear that from?” Dana asks, it is the first thing she had said since getting into the car.