Chapter 7

Alice smiled as she primped in front of the bathroom mirror. She was going back to the club tonight with a gorgeous woman on her arm to be the envy of every woman there. Who knew Bette Porter could be tamed? Who knew that Alice would have the privilege of calling Bette hers? It was a great feeling, and she could not wait.

At her own apartment, Bette was preparing herself to go out on the town as well. She felt good. Work was caught up to a point where everything was running smoothly. Going out tonight was a reward to herself for doing so well. It worried Bette a little that she had yet to run into any serious problems, but she just wrote it off as really good luck. “Perhaps,” she thought, “Alice is that luck.” She smiled at this idea, realizing she really enjoyed this woman’s company. She could be a bit talkative and gossipy at times, but it contrasted her own style nicely.

Bette touched up the last of her make up, gave herself a once over in the mirror, and then grabbed her keys to leave. Just as she had her hand on the doorknob, her cell phone rang. She figured it was Alice wondering where she was, so she didn’t take the time to check the ID.

“Hey, Al. I’m on my way out the door now. I…”

“It’s not Alice,” a male voice answered.

“Robert? (Bette’s assistant) What’s up?” The concern that crept earlier was coming back.

“Uh, boss, we have a huge problem. It started small and I didn’t want to concern you too much, but it’s spiraled out of control. You should get down here.”

Wednesday, May 20, 1998

Sunday had marked the beginning of Bette and Alice’s third week as a couple. This was the thought in Alice’s mind as she picked up her cell phone to call her girlfriend. They never made it to the club on Friday. Some urgent matter with the gallery’s opening kept Bette in the office until well after 2 in the morning. Alice had been so disappointed and upset she had not called Bette since. Now at 6:15 PM five days later, she was even more upset that Bette had not called her either. No apologies, no lame excuses, no concerns for their relationship… nothing.