“That’s the problem, Jen,” Carmen snapped, “nothing about you feels honest these days.” She stormed past Jenny, locking the bathroom door behind her.

Alice sat at Dana’s side, holding her hand. She finally allowed herself to think about the events of the past day and how quickly they had descended upon them. The enormity overwhelmed her and Alice slowly lost her composure, fighting it as hard as she could. She thought about stepping out of the room for a moment, but didn’t want to leave Dana’s side, for even a second.

“Baby, don’t cry,” murmured Dana. Al’s hushed sobs had penetrated the recesses of Dana’s consciousness. She reached for Alice’s tear-stained cheek. “Come to bed…” Dana patted the sheets, unaware of her surroundings, and drifted back to sleep.

The gesture broke Alice’s heart. She knew she couldn’t hold it in anymore and slipped into the doorway, unable to move any farther from her wife. As the tears flowed, Sharon appeared from nowhere, enveloping Alice in her arms, holding her as they both wept.

“I’m here,” Sharon reassured her. “My girls are not alone, do you hear me? Your family, every one of us, is here for you.”

“She did everything right,” Alice managed in a halting whisper. “Her whole life, this pregnancy, everything. She’s the best person I’ve ever known. She doesn’t deserve this. Any of it.”

“No, she doesn’t,” Sharon agreed, “and neither do you. No one deserves this.”

Kit made two critical decisions before agreeing to let Riley bring her home. The first was to induce vomiting before the tequila made its way into her bloodstream. Riley didn’t flinch, standing by her side, rubbing her back as she wretched it out of her system. The second was to find the nearest meeting. To her surprise, Riley made a few calls and a dozen people, all musicians and roadies on tour with her, appeared fifteen minutes later. Though Riley was the only one who knew about Dana and Alice Fairbanks’ tragic loss, Kit had never before been to an AA meeting where she felt so comfortable and safe.

The reading of Charlotte Hampton’s last will and testament was not without fireworks. With the exception of a few charitable gifts and a generous provision for Lindsay and her children, Lara was named as the sole heir and beneficiary. Helena was appointed as an executor of the estate, along with Lara and Charlotte’s attorney. Lara’s parents were purposely cut out and Charlotte did not mince words, either in the document itself or her letter to them, which Lindsay was asked to read aloud.

“I gave you the opportunity to fix what you broke when I brought Lara home to us and you threw it away,” she’d written. “I told you the truth about myself and you disappeared. I know you’re going to fight this because you’re desperate for the money, but I’m on record here and with the court as being of sound mind. Additionally, no one knew the contents of this will and I never discussed any of this with Lara.” The rest of the letter was directed to Lara, asking her to find room in her heart to forgive Charlotte for not speaking more forcefully for all those years.

Several hours later the cheerful late morning sun made its way through the window of the hospital room, oblivious to the dark day its inhabitants were facing. It gently nudged Dana awake. Even before that, she was vaguely aware of the pain that shot through her with just the slightest movement. Her eyes fluttered open to find Alice standing beside the bed, watching over her. Al’s face was tight with anguish, her sad eyes swollen from crying.

Before she could say a word, Dana understood. In a blinding flash she knew that their baby was gone. The wail that followed could only be described as unearthly, born of a pain pushed from the very depth of the soul, uncontrolled and uncontrollable, haunted and haunting. Alice crawled onto the bed and cradled Dana in her arms, knowing that she could offer little comfort.

The emptiness Dana felt was a vortex that sucked every ounce of strength and fight out of her instantly. Even as she retreated into herself, Alice sensed her withdrawal and knew she was powerless to stop it. For the first time Alice wondered if they would get though this and the thought sealed her own isolation. Despite this, she knew she had to stay strong. Her only goal now was to stand with Dana in her renewed fight against cancer.