Urban Renewal

�Diane? Hello! Diane? Are you in there?� Claire pounded on Diane�s door. Finally, she heard footsteps approaching the door, and a shadow crossed the peephole. The locks clicked and the door slid open.

�Hi, Claire. C�mon in,� Diane said, looking sleepy.

�Oh, Diane. I�m sorry. I didn�t mean to wake you.�

�No, it�s okay. Thanks for coming over,� Diane said, and gave Claire a hug.

�Diane,� Claire said, after they stopped hugging, �I need to get right to the point. Danny called me.�

Diane�s face fell, and she looked mortified. Claire continued, even though she knew Diane was uncomfortable.

�Danny said you got really close to having a glass of champagne on the sly last night.�

Diane exhaled. If Claire didn�t know better, she would have thought Diane looked relieved.

�Look, I am on my way to a meeting. After last night, I need some extra fortification. I thought you might like to come.�

Diane thought for a moment, and said, �Yes, I think I would. That sounds like a great idea.� Diane pulled on a simple blue sweater and changed into her Levi�s, pulled on her boots, grabbed her coat and purse, and ran out the door with Claire.

Claire had a very nice golden Explorer with leather interior. She kept it spotless. When she started the car, the CD started playing.

�Oh, I love Faith Hill,� Diane said, looking for the jewel case. Claire popped open the compartment under the elbow rest and handed it to her. �I love your car, too.�

�Thanks. And it�s not a car. It�s an SUV,� Claire made an admonishing face toward Diane.

�Whatever.�

�Diane, was that you listening out the door when I was dragging Harry out last night?�

�Yes, it was.�

�What Harry said at the end��