IS THIS LOVE

CHAPTER 96

Bette have just shook hand with a customer who has just bought a very nice painting. He has been coming in every other day for a couple of weeks. Its obvious that he has money to spend but the painting wasn’t cheap. So he has been coming in – looking at the painting, asking questions and going away again. Her father would say that it was like landing a very large fish – waiting patiently – not rushing her actions and very slowly reeling him in. Today he come in and instead of going over to him James and Bette had left him alone – just gave him time alone with his thoughts and his wallet. He went away and James boldly said that the $10 bet that they had made was his. So this afternoon when the customer came back and he was holding his cheque book Bette smugly knew she had landed her giant salmon.
James walked back in after a trip to the dentist and saw her shaking hands with her customer – his face was a picture of disappointment.
“We will have the painting delivered to your apartment by the end of the week “ Bette assure him as she walked him out of the building. When Bette got back James was making some fresh coffee
“I think you owe me $10 Jamesy “
“I cannot believe he came back – after this morning I thought we had lost him “
“I would like to say that I was always sure we would land him but I wasn’t sure. This morning was a calculated gamble – it paid off – so there is the cheque for
$18,000 to go into the bank and I would like my $10 “
“You have a cheque for $18,000 in your hands and you still want $10 ?”
“Yes “
“You want $10 from me – your hand working but poorly paid assistant ?”
“That would be the motivation behind a bet yes James”
“Gee “
Bette smiled “As you are covering for me this weekend I will let you escape “
James grinned “Thanks Bette “
“You are taking advantage of my kind disposition “
“Your what ?” James asked looking up from setting up the coffee machine
“My kind disposition – and you would be well advised to watch what you are saying giving that I have just let you off with that bet “
“Okay – you have a very kind disposition Bette “
“Kind of you to say so James – I was wondering if we should think about taking on another member of staff – someone to do more of the dull stuff “
“Really ?”
“Yes – the antique area is taking up more of our time and there are times when the two of us are rushed off our feet. I wondered about maybe someone we could use on a part time basis – I would like to take more weekends off to be with Tina “
“The gallery is doing well – there is no point working so hard if you cannot enjoy it”
“I know and I want a normal life with her “
“How is standing up to this Helena and Emma nonsense ?”
Bette crossed her arms and sighed
“She is fed up with it – as hard as we try we keep getting dragged into it. I don’t want for her to have to choice between her mom and her job “
“You think it will get to that ?”
“I think it is heading towards a ultimatum scene – Peggy has done it before – told Helena that she had to give up an unsuitable woman “
“Really – when was that ?”
“Before I started the gallery- she was 22 and thought she had met the love of her life. Peggy hated this girl and to be fair to Peggy – she had good reason to dislike her. But you cannot tell anyone that the person they love is bad for them because they simply will not believe you. Helena just got sulky when Peggy said that she didn’t like her girlfriend. In the end Helena went off travelling around the world and when she came back six months she had her tail between her legs “
“The difference is Helena isn’t 22 any more – she’s 30 next week – I think that is significant “
“You do ?” for once Bette wasn’t dismissing James crazy theories
“Yes – suddenly when you are 30 you realise that you are growing up and that you do have to stand on your own two feet “
Bette made a sound of exasperation “That isn’t good “
“You think ?”
“She is 30 next week – she is besotted with a woman 27 years older than her – she is getting more and more cavalier with her work according to Tina – so yes – I think its all going to come to a head “
“Is Tina the golden girl in Peggy’s eyes ?”
“Yes “ Bette nodded “Tina totally deserves a full time job but it worries me that Peggy is going to promote her and demote Helena”
“Leaving you in the middle of a really shitty situation “
Bette nodded “Peggy has been really good to Tina and I – but in the past she has never left anyone in any doubt that Helena is her daughter and her pride and joy “
“And if Peggy picks Tina for a high powered role at Helena’s expense it would put you and Emma in tricky positions “
“Don’t “ Bette said shuddering
James set the coffee machine going and walked over to the CCTV screen that was beside the reception desk.
“I don’t want to worry you boss but someone has just walked into the ground floor and is heading for the stairs and it’s a strawberry blonde of much wealth and little restraint “
“Oh fuck – really ?”
“Yes boss “
“As much as I love Peggy I really don’t want to have to have the usual conversation which is me defending Helena and Emma “
“Then don’t – that’s not the only thing you have in common with her – she probably wants to settle the bill for the yacht painting. Don’t mention the two of them – get on with your job and your life with Tina “
“There are times James when you are right “
James picked up a big marking pen “I shall circle the calendar “ he remarked “I will get on with packing up that painting “
“Okay “
Bette was locking the cheque away in a strong box when Peggy entered. Bette still had her head down and waited for the one liner that always heralded the entrance of Peggy. When it didn’t come Bette looked up – Peggy was looking pensive
“Hello Peggy – are you okay ?”
“Yes darling – I have just come over to say how much I just love my painting “
“Has my hanger been over ?”
“He was at my office at 8am – very impressive – a very helpful man “
“And is the painting looking good ?”
“Good ? Its beyond perfect – I love it – I think I will be spending more time in my office looking at that picture. Its haunting “
“I did panic in case it was too painful for you “
“No -but thank you for the concern. He was a very fine man – he would have liked you “