Tina turned up the George Thoroughgood song on the car stereo and winked at Bette over the top of her sunglasses.

“Ready?”

“Im ready. Are you?” Bette replied.

“***** yes,” Tina said, locking her seat belt in place and pulling out of Bettes driveway.

Bette smiled and shook her head, appreciating Tinas full-throttle attitude even though she felt much more wary about their impending social engagement at Tinas boss house. Consummating their relationship seemed to give Tina a blissful sense of invincibility and a new desire for visibility with Bette. Over the past few days, any reticence she had shown about open displays of affection vanished. Any reluctance about being perceived as Bettes girlfriend disappeared.

While Bette was happy about Tinas increased comfort level, her pleasure was tempered by life experience. Being out with strangers was one thing. But Tina had yet to actually tell anyone significant in her life that she and Bette were a couple. Not her family. Not her friends. Not her colleagues. And Bette knew well enough how complicated that process was going to be. Shed lost more than a few friends and, she was certain, several business opportunities over the years by her insistence on being open and unapologetic about her life. She didnt regret her decision. But she knew that her integrity had come at a price, and she wasnt convinced that Tina fully understood how very high that price could be.

“Okay. We dont have to stay long. I need to make the rounds, but that will only take an hour,” Tina said, handing her keys to the valet.

“Hey. This is your show. Im just along for the ride,” Bette said.

“If this was my show, wed be in bed naked right now,” Tina replied, leaning over to give Bette an incendiary kiss.

“I didnt realize that Alphaville produced those movies.”

“Were making an entre into a new niche market.”

“Thats a focus group Id like to be part of,” Bette grinned.

Paul Romans house was spectacular, and every bit the Hollywood mansion Bette had expected it to be. What she hadnt expected, however, was the extraordinary art collection that the Romans had amassed.

“Impressive, isnt it?” Tina asked, wandering through the lobby-like foyer and into the first of several expansive sitting rooms. “His wife buys him a little something every year for their anniversary.”

“I know just the gallery she should be shopping at,” Bette said, looking around.

“Why dont you tell her? Here she comes now.”

“Tina!” Deirdre Roman said, opening her arms to embrace Tina. “You look positively wonderful, Darling!”

Tina hugged the handsome, impeccably attired 50-something woman, careful not to jostle her hostess very full glass of Chardonnay.

“Where is Eric? Ive been thinking about a Lichtenstein and I simply must have his opinion,” Deirdre said, touching Tinas arm conspiratorially.

“WereEric and I” Tina stammered.

“I might be able to help you with that Lichtenstein, Mrs. Roman,” Bette interjected smoothly.

“Deirdre Roman, Bette Porter. Bette owns a remarkable gallery,” Tina said, still slightly off balance.

“Bette Porter,” Deirdre said, nodding. “Yes, your name is very familiar. You just did the Catherine Opie show, didnt you?”

“Thats correct,” Bette beamed.

“Well I would most certainly value your input. Could I trouble you then, Ms. Porter?”

“Only if you call me Bette.”

“Well just be a minute Tina. And Im sure Paul is positively beside himself waiting to bend your ear about something!”

Bette winked at Tina and allowed herself to be spirited away by the older woman. She wasnt surprised at Tinas flustered non-response to the question about Eric, but she couldnt help feeling slightly stung by it all the same.

“Patience, patience,” Bette silently reminded herself as Deirdre pressed a glass of wine into her hands.

Twenty minutes later, Bette and Deirdre found Tina in the middle of a highly animated conversation with Paul Roman and two associates and walked up next to her.

“Paul, are you forcing our guests to talk shop on a national holiday. How gauche!” Deirdre teased, interrupting the group. “Although Im afraid thats what Ive been doing to poor Bette for the past half hour!”

“Not at all,” Bette said sincerely. “I always love to discuss art with a true connoisseur.”

“Dear, you flatter me! Let me introduce you to these lovely people.”

Bette smiled at Tina as Deirdre Roman introduced her to the small cluster of Alphavilles decision-makers.

“And you know Tina, of course,” Deirdre concluded, lifting two glasses of wine from a passed tray that unobtrusively appeared and handing one to Bette.

“Yes, she does,” Tina said, hesitating for only a moment before casually wrapping her arm around Bettes waist.

If Tinas gesture caused any shock or discomfort, it certainly didnt show on the faces in the loose circle gathered around them. The conversation continued, with people wandering in and out of the discussion as the topics changed.

“Do you think they get it?” Tina whispered, her lips close to Bettes ear.

“I think they definitely get it,” Bette replied.

“Im sorry about before. With Deirdre. I couldnt figure out what to say.”

“When in doubt, remember the power of non-verbal communication.”

“Maybe from now on Ill handle introductions by kissing you,” Tina suggested.

“No tongue unless its family.”