Shane: Well I think Ill get out of your hair Im sure you have plenty of work to do and Ive overstayed my welcome.
Bette: Shane no”no, before you leave I need to know how you knew I took those shots?
The reason Im asking is I only see what I see. I never take the time to critique my own work. I guess Im a little too close to be objective but for you to just look at them and know those were mine, that was a little strange”how?
Shane: Well James commented on the detachment versus the intimacy. You are the only person I know who ALWAYS seems somewhat guarded even in your closest intimacies; like youre afraid to give too much of yourself away. Like I said lately thats changing, you seem more open. I guess thats what prompted me to tell you that I think youre beautiful on the inside and out. Seeing you in this new light Ive developed a new theory. I think love makes you more beautiful.
Megan Freeman: (standing in Bettes Opened doorway) We all know Bettes one of the most beautiful women in LA shes apparently being properly loved by a better woman than me.
******
Oh my God, Megan Freeman. What are you doing here? I havent seen you in years. Before Megan could respond a slow smile crept onto Bettes lips. Megan was still the tall curvaceous green-eyed beautiful brunette she remembered from her frisky past. Shane found herself starring at the striking woman too.

Megan: Well Im back in the states, back in LA. I heard a nasty rumor that you didnt have your gallery but that you were doing really progressive things here at the CAC. So I thought Id come check it and you out for myself. I heard another awful rumor that you; Ms Love Em and Leave Em are happily married. You know I always thought that was an oxymoron. Whos happily married? I mean, is it humanely possible to be happily married? God your wife is luckiest woman in the world, and I can say that because Im speaking from experience if you know what I mean.

Bette turned a few shades red while the embarrassment of the comment washed across her visage. Megan I think everyone knows EXACTLY what you mean. Bette needed desperately to change the subject and looked at Shane who stared at Bette. Megans comments werent lost on Shane who really didnt need any images of these two doing anything remotely sexual to play across her mind. Shanes head already began to shake to avoid the impending images from taking form. Megan this is my dear friend Shane. Shane this is Megan a talented artist I had the privilege of working with several years ago.

Megan: Hi Shane. So Bette, you dont consider me a dear friend; you only consider our working relationship and thats it?

Bette was truly at a loss for words she didnt mean to offend Megan but Megan was a force of nature. She was an artist with tremendous talent and an enormous ego to match. She was also extremely sensitive. As Bette remembered she didnt intend to have a strictly physical relationship with Megan but she couldnt give her everything she wanted of her at the time. The chemistry was definitely there but Megan wanted more. Megan wanted, everything. Bette was focused on her career, and Bette deliberately or not, viewed relationships as liabilities to her career at the time. It wasnt that Bette wanted to be seen as the Love Em and Leave Em heartbreaker she became she simply knew that when someone loves you your life isnt totally yours anymore. All decisions are joint decisions and her career; be it a success or a failure couldnt be run like that. She simply wasnt ready to settle down and she was very honest with Megan about that at the time but it didnt assuage the pain of their break up. Bette hardly considers their encounter a relationship they had a whole lot of ***** but they never really did relate very well to each other. Outside of admiring Megans talent as an artist and her talents in the bedroom Bette really unfortunately didnt know Megan that well as a person. It was Bettes encounter with Megan that made Bette take a long hard look at herself and how she dealt with the women in her life.

Bette: Megan I didnt mean to offend you. Of course you and I shared much more than just a working relationship. I didnt mean to imply that we were never friendly.

Megan: I know things have changed. I dont intend to waltz in here and disrupt your life. I would like to talk to you about showcasing some new pieces and just getting your honest feedback on them. Im here to actually set up an appointment to steal some of your valuable time to do so.

Bette: Youve got new pieces? Id love to see them. Ive actually just got back to work”today. Ive been out for a pretty long while but how about Wednesday for a lunch meeting. Just let me check with James. [buzzing James”Am I free for a Wednesday lunch meeting?]

James: Yes but you have to be back by 2:30 theres a new artist on the roster Simone Lennox that Franklin wants you to meet with. Hes been talking with her on the phone but shes been asking for a face- to -face meeting with you for about a week or so now. Franklin was planning to mention it to you on todays conference call but now that youre back—well youre back. By the way, he keeps asking me about the other photos who should I tell him the artist is?

Bette: Ill meet with Simone at 2:30, which means Ill be able to meet with Megan for lunch Wednesday. James Ill think of a way to tell Franklin about the photos. Thanks for the heads up. [looking at Megan]

We are on for a lunch meeting Wednesday. Ill be happy to look at your portfolio. Im happy to hear youre working again. Im really excited about seeing your new work.

Megan: Im happy to be working again. Im excited to see you again too. Well Id better let you get back to it. Ill meet you here Wednesday if you dont mind. I hear that this Simone”Simone Lennox is awesome. Will you be featuring any of her work too?

Bette: We can definitely meet here and if things go well hopefully the CAC will be able to feature Simones work too. Some of her work is being considered along with several other new artists for an upcoming show.

Megan: Shes really good Bette I think youll appreciate her laid back attitude too. I cant wait to catch up with you Wednesday. Shane it was nice meeting you. I take it youre the sweet, silent type?

Shane: (smiling) It was nice meeting you too. I guess you could say that.

As Megan leaves Shane stands looking at Bette who hasnt peeled her eyes from the doorway that once held Megans frame.

Shane: Bette, Bette, Bette”I thought I was bad. I have no idea how much of a heartbreaker you used to be do I?
Bette: The operative phrase, used to be. I dont miss it, at all. I have Tina and thats so much better than any thing else thats out there. Youll see Shane when that special one finds you. Youll just know it and all the others will simply pale in comparison.
Shane: Bette I hope youre right about that. Wow its getting late. I really need to get to work. I have a kind of strange request that Id like to ask.
Bette: Ok
Shane: Im no pervert or anything, but
Bette: Ok any request that starts out like that causes me extreme concern
Shane: No, wait its something James said earlier about the shots you took the photos and how they would translate to the ones you took of Tina since
Bette: Oh since Im the guy that took those shots you want to see them. I dont know Shane I understand why youd want to see them but Id definitely have to ask T if she would feel comfortable with anyone seeing them. They are really private but I really appreciate your interest in my work. I mean Alice has always kind of supported my efforts and of course Tina encourages me, but I never really thought to share this with you. Today youve really surprised me. Are you really into it as much as you seem to be?
Shane: You know what Bette I surprised myself but it was something about your work that did look interesting it looked refreshing it immediately reminded me of you and I guess thats why I was attracted to it.

There was an awkward silence as the ladies stood there looking at each other not knowing if what was just said was appropriate or not. Neither wanted to read more into it than they should have. Bette finally just does what she always does to diffuse any awkward situation”she smiled. Shane of course smiled back and pulled her into a loose embrace. Im glad youre back to work. Im so happy for you and proud of you for not rushing it. Im thrilled youre working on your own talents too you ARE beautiful inside and out and you are talented. Im so blessed to have you in my life Bette. With that Shane walked away before Bette could respond. She was speechless. After she somehow found her composure she whipped out her cell and quickly dialed Shane.

Shane: Hello?
Bette: You cant say such sweet things and leave before someone can reply.
Shane: (laughing) God didnt I just leave you? Are you one of those needy chicks Bette?
Bette: Ha Ha very cute, very funny. No Im not actually. I just wanted to say as usual thanks for being such a sweetie and for being there and to remind you that Im the blessed one. Shane you are going to make someone a very happy woman one day.
Shane: Thats sweet to say. Call me tonight and tell me how the rest of your day goes. Dont push yourself too hard try to knock off early or something.
Bette: Will do, bye.

Bette was sitting at her desk smiling at her phone and thinking of all the events of her morning. Being back to work, Megan the blast from the past, Shane simply being such a sweetheart and Tina. Tinas comments about Shane really concerned Bette. She hated to see Tina fall back into a pit of insecurity and she knew whenever that happened she was partially to blame due to her affair with Candace. Shoot, now that Megans back I have to tell Tina. What can I do to help Tina not feel so insecure? Bettes thoughts were interrupted when Franklin knocked.

Franklin: Bette it is FANTASTIC that youre back and not a moment too soon.
(Franklin pulled Bette up from her chair and pulled her into a hug.) We really missed you. I dont know how you do it. A lot of these artists are so temperamental you make your job look so easy. Now I know it isnt but please dont ask for a raise or anything. There are two artists in particular I want to bring to your attention. James showed me some negatives and proofs of an artist that I have to insist that we add to the roster of the new artist show. Who is this guy where is his portfolio? Why are you holding out on us? He is the best of the photographers in the bunch.

Bette: Well Franklin Im glad to be back and Ill reserve the right to ask for that raise at a later date. Youre right some of the artist”most of the artist are a bit temperamental but most of them are worth the hassle some arent. Franklin the photographer that you and James are referring to well they prefer to keep their identity concealed and they feel that it would be a conflict of interest to showcase their work here it really is more of a hobby than anything.

Franklin: A conflict of interest could you get them to reconsider Bette I dont understand. The work is too good to be considered a hobby waita conflict of interest; are you telling me you know the artist personally”youve got to get them to reconsider please.

Bette: Franklin I am the artist and it would be very unprofessional to showcase by own work here and its laughable to even talk about those shots as my work without sounding a bit pretentious.

Franklin: Okay not this show but Bette we will show that work here at the CAC but we cant consider you a new artist really youve been around the art world too long for you to be considered a rookie. Believe me Bette those shots were amazing and Id love to showcase them here in our next show please consider it. I may have to insist.

Bette: Ill consider it. Thanks for the positive feedback it means a lot. Thanks. Two artists, I was the mystery photographer whos the other artist youd like to discuss.

Franklin: Simone Lennox she is really talented painter shes amazing. Did you see her portfolio?

Bette: I did you could actually see she gets consistently better and her body of work is amazing she must paint nonstop.

Franklin: Yes well she wants to meet you. Shes spoken with several artists whove worked with you in the past and she doesnt want to meet with me shes insisting on meeting with you. She passed on her own show at MOCA in order to participate in our show just to work with you. I think she wants an individual show at a later date here.

Bette: Well I think we should definitely consider doing that because she has the work to support an individual show. Well see how the new artists group show goes first but I dont think that will be a problem. Megan Freeman was here earlier and she has some new work she wants me to review. She told me Simone has a very good attitude and that well probably work well together.

Franklin: Megan Freeman, wow shes back in the states. She was absolutely brilliant a few years back. She fell on some hard times when her dad passed away they were really close. I heard shed gotten mixed up in the drug scene for a while but if shes back here maybe shes back on the right track.

Bette: I didnt know that her father died or anything about drugs. Megan and I were close at one point but as you can tell that was a really long time ago. I do know if shes working again shes probably getting back to a good place.

Franklin: Well I wont keep you. Its so good to have you back here. We missed you. I missed you.

Before Bette made back to sit at her desk there was another knock at her door. When she turned around there was a beautiful gardenia being held by an even more beautiful hand.
Please forgive me for being such an insecure jerk. Wow I knew gardenias were pretty but I never knew they could speak. Tina slowly came around the door smiling.
Tina: Bette baby Im so proud of you for not rushing and for coming in here at the right time. I love you and sometimes I just wish I were around more for the big moments in your life you know. I feel like I let you down when Im not around when I know that you need me.
Bette: T I know that feeling all too well”I was late to Dr Wilsons office and I hate that, when you found out alone that wed lost our son. So I do know what you mean. But Tina my goal is to be there whenever you need me but if for whatever reason Im unable to be there my hope is to love you in such a way so you know youre never really alone. Youre in all my thoughts, my dreams, my wishes, and my prayers so please dont ever think that I dont need you. If for whatever reason Im not with you, you should know I want to be with you because I love you Tina Kennard now and forever.
Tina: Ahhh baby, Thank you. I needed to hear that. Thank you.

James: (buzzing through) Megan Freeman wants to know if youre free for drinks tonight. If not, she can wait until Wednesday for lunch.

Tina: Megan Freeman, Bette”Megan Freeman, Its always something or should I say someone?

Bette: Tina I promise this is work related. There is no one else on this planet that is of any interest to me. James, tell Megan Wednesday lunch is the best I can do. Im leaving to be with my wife right now.

Tina walked over to Bette and wrapped her arms around her in a loving embrace. Babe lets go home.

TBC