Chapter 10

Bette rubbed her aching temples as the afternoon’s busy schedule descended upon her. It seemed to Bette that each time she answered an e-mail message, two more took its spot in her inbox.

“I am never going to get through all this,” Bette muttered to herself.

As she began to type a response to an over-eager curator regarding her request for a meeting to discuss a show, her cell phone rang. Bette dramatically rolled her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her temper.

“Porter.”

“Is this how we’re answering the phone these days?” Tina asked with a hint of humor in her voice. “Am I getting you from something?”

“No,” Bette smiled feeling the tension in her shoulders ease. “I could use a break.”

“That’s what I was hoping you would say.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I can’t take it anymore,” Tina’s voice oozed with desperation. “I want to bring my family by your gallery.”

“Oh no,” Bette immediately felt the tension once more in her shoulders. “I have so much work to do and I have meetings galore this afternoon.”

“I can’t just have them sit here with me discussing the finer points of Mom’s performance! I’ll forever have etched in my mind Demi Moore walking away shaking her head at how crazy Mom acted.”

“Tina…”

“I am begging you Bette,” Tina interrupted. “Please take them for a tour of the gallery. I’ll do anything you say, anything you want.”

“Oh really?”

“This is really your fault anyway,” Tina said. “If you hadn’t gotten me so damn frustrated I would have more patience.”

“How exactly are you blaming this on me?”

“Alice logic.”

“Of course,” Bette rolled her eyes. “I should have recognized it a mile away.”

“You have me frustrated, which leads to me having no patience, which is why I need a break from them being at the studio.”

“So you’re just going to drop them off here on my doorstep?”

“No,” Tina smiled hearing resignation in Bette’s voice. “I’ll come too. I just have to get them away from my co-workers and their search for stars.”

“I have a meeting with an artist in an hour Tina,” Bette warned. “I can arrange for Jordon to take them around, but they have to behave themselves since this is for an upcoming show.”

“Done,” Tina smiled as she kissed the phone. “We’ll be there soon, but you won’t know we’re there, see how that works?”

“Unfortunately I do,” Bette said as she closed her eyes to ward off her oncoming headache.

“I’ll see you soon Babe,” Tina hung up before Bette could change her mind.

Tina looked up once she heard her mother’s voice speaking to someone outside her door. As her assistant walked in the room and handed Tina her mail, Tina arched her neck to try to observe what her mother was doing just past the door.

“John wants you to review the top script within the next few days,” Tina’s assistant began.

“Uh-huh,” Tina muttered as she tried to focus on her mother.

“There’s a lot pf people that want it, but he was able to get first crack at the script for you to review. He said whatever your judgment was he’d stick by it.”

“So you say your name is Jada Pinkett-Smith?” Donna shook her hand excitedly. “What movie are you playing in?

“The Nutty Professor,” Jada said hesitantly. “Who are you again?”

“Donna Kennard,” Donna smiled wide. “My daughter heads up the Development Department here, but you might recognize me as an extra in Striptease.”

“Is that movie out already?”

“Oh heavens no,” Donna chuckled. “But if you were hanging around with nothing to do and watched the filming then you would have seen me.”

“Oh,” Jada tried to begin to walk away from the entrance into Tina’s office. “Well it was nice meeting you Ms. Kennard.”

“Oh Sugah!” Donna laughed. “You haven’t even signed my book yet.”

“Book?”

“Mom,” Tina interrupted with a smile. “Mrs. Smith needs to get on the set of her movie.”

“She can as soon as she signs my book,” Donna thrust a pen and paper into her hand. “You’re such a tiny little thing. I feel like I could lean on your head with my elbow.”

Donna smiled as she took her book back and waved to Jada Pinkett-Smith as she made her way down the hall.

“Don’t forget to watch for me in Striptease! If you want me for anything Honey I’ll be right here with my daughter.”

“Mom,” Tina scolded her firmly. “Will you please stop?”

“Stop what Button?”

“Did you see Jada Pinkett-Smith?” Alice asked as she rounded the corner to face Tina and Donna. “She is amazing in person.”

“She signed my book,” Donna held it up proudly. “Alice I’m glad you’re here, I couldn’t wait to tell you that I got my big break!”

“What?” Alice asked confused.

“I’m in a movie,” Donna clapped excitedly. “I’m an extra in Striptease.”

“Oh my God,” Alice jumped up and down with Donna, joyous at her news. “That movie is being talked up big time Donna!”

“We’re going to Bette’s,” Tina announced to stifle any additional conversation about Donna being an expert on movies. “She wants to give everyone a chance to see the gallery.”

“Why go to Bette’s when all the action is here with the next big star?” Alice asked as she threw her arm around Donna’s shoulders.

“Oh it’s fine,” Donna said with a smile. “I do want to see Bette’s gallery. I’ve been saving a few dollars from each pay period that Jonathon has to purchase a piece from her gallery.”

“Oh that’s sweet,” Alice gushed. “When did you start this endeavor?”

“A few months ago, I have enough to buy a medium sized gem!”

“Enough?” Tina pressed.

“You’ll see Button, it’s not polite to discuss finances until I make my purchase.”

“Let’s get going,” Tina grabbed her briefcase with a stack of work she planned on thumbing through later in the evening. “Bette will be waiting.”

Bette cringed as she heard Jordon greet Jean-Paul Chamois in the front lobby.

“Bette will be with you momentarily,” Jordon said quickly. She gasped as Jean-Paul whipped her hand up to his lips and gently kissed the back of her hand.

“I don’t mind being left here with a beautiful woman as yourself.”

“Oh,” Jordon placed her hand over her mouth to stifle the brewing laugh from within. “Let me alert Bette that you’re here.”

Jordon walked quickly into Bette’s office and shut the door, smiling at Bette while she began to laugh.

“You’re kidding right?”

“I see you’ve met Jean-Paul?” Bette said as she stood up and smoothed her designer pants with her palms. “Charming isn’t he?”

“A goof is more like it.”

“That goof might be making me a lot of money.”

“He’s waiting for you in the lobby,” Jordon laughed. “Anything you want me to do for you while Jean-Paul is licking your hand?”

“Yes,” Bette said slowly. “Tina and her family are coming for a tour. I’d very much appreciate it if you’d handle that while I handle Jean-Paul and keep them separate as much as possible.”

“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you Sir,” Donna chuckled with her hand on her chest. “I’ve never met someone so charming.”

“Oh please no,” Bette said as she rushed out to the lobby to find Tina and her family standing there.

“And this is your beautiful younger sister,” Jean-Paul said as he kissed Jackie’s hand lightly.

“Oh dear you are a charmer,” Donna said with a smile. “Slicker than a greased hog at the county fair.”

“I’m Tina Kennard,” Tina shook Jean-Paul’s hand while Bette walked up to the group.

“Bette!” Donna embraced her in a hug, knocking the wind out of Bette’s lungs quickly.

“Hello Donna,” Bette hugged Donna back and made eye contact with Tina. “I thought you’d be here later.”

“As luck would have it, we beat traffic.”

“Lucky us Donna,” Bette said shaking Jean-Paul’s hand. “I have a meeting with Jean-Paul about possibly signing his show, so I’ve asked Jordon to give you a tour while I handle the meeting and I’ll join you as soon as I can.”

“Nonsense,” Jan-Paul hissed. “I’d love to show ze ladies my brilliant work if ze are desiring to see it.”

“A tour by the artist of their work?” Donna clapped. “That is a chance of a lifetime!”

“Well then,” Jean-Paul gracefully put his arm around Donna and began to walk into the gallery. “Bette where do you hide ze best art?”

“Best art?”

“My pieces,” Jean-Paul offered a seedy smile. “I want to show ze ladies, and of course ze one gentleman, what real art looks like.”

“Jean-Paul I display them in the back with like sculptures,” Bette said clearly frustrated. “However Jordon can show them while we discuss your upcoming show.”

“Nonsense,” Jean-Paul shot back. “We first do zis together so they can appreciate all that it is.”

Jean-Paul, Jackie, and James walked ahead into the next gallery room leaving Bette, Tina, and Jordon behind.

“Does this mean I’m not giving them a tour?” Jordon asked trying to hide her smile before walking off to sit back at her desk.

“I’m sorry.”

“I thought I had some time to get him out of here,” Bette seethed quietly to Tina. “Him coupled with them is not a good idea Tina.”

“It isn’t my fault,” Tina walked ahead dragging Bette by the arm with her. “We can’t leave them alone for long periods of time.”

“Zis is my favorite piece,” Jean-Paul stood in front of an overpowering piece of a naked woman. “Look how beautiful she is.”

“She’s naked,” Donna said averting her eyes. “Graphically so young man.”

“Ze female body is to be celebrated no?” Jean-Paul smiled at Donna while he continued to talk. “Take you for instance, you’re beautiful and yet you cover yourself with zese clothes you have on.”

“Young man!” Donna put her hand on her chest and felt herself beginning to blush. “I’m married and even more importantly, old enough to be your mother.”

“Bullshit,” Jean-Paul smiled. “I like ze older women who have lived and know a good thing when zey have it. It’s not the age of ze body, it’s how you use it.”

“Ok,” Tina stepped in between Jean-Paul and her mother. “That’s enough.”

Tina turned and looked at the graphic sculpture in front of her. She gasped and then averted her eyes as well, looking at Jackie and James who stood there stunned.

“You should love zis piece,” Jean-Paul said to Tina. “It is a woman, the essence of what you love the most.”

“This is not Bette,” Tina said waving her hand wildly in the air without looking at the sculpture in front of her. “I can guarantee you that.”

“A woman is a woman,” Jean-Paul argued. “If you’ve seen one you’ve seen a million that are ze same. It’s when you have a special one, like zis model, that you celebrate it. As you should celebrate what you have.”

“That’s enough Jean-Paul,” Bette broke in quickly. “We have a meeting to discuss your show.”

“What do you think of zis piece?” Jean-Paul asked Donna. “Your honest opinion is appreciated of course.”

“She needs…”

“What?”

“She’s a little too,” Donna hesitated not sure what to say. “Naked for me.”

“Look around, zey are all naked and glorious.”

“I can see,” Donna said as she looked at Bette. “Do you have any fruit in a basket like I had shown you back home?”

“I’m not sure I do,” Bette said with a straight face.

“I’ve been saving for a piece from your gallery,” Donna started to walk while linking arms with Bette. “As you know I’m a fan of fruit.”

“Zat is just wrong,” Jean-Paul said from behind the group. “Fruit can be painted by anyone, you need something original.”

“What about this one?” Donna came to rest in front of a smaller picture of a woman holding a flower. “It’s not fruit, but it could go with my sailboat and fruit I bought at Target.”

“Target?” Jean-Paul sounded horrified. “Bette I wait in your office for a moment before we speak.”

Bette rolled her eyes as she asked Tina to have Jordon come back to begin the tour.

“You should look further if you want to purchase a piece, don’t settle on the first thing.”

“I like this one though,” Donna smiled. “It’s speaking to me.”

“Saying ‘run now’,” Jackie said in a low voice to James. “She can’t afford a damn thing in this place.”

“I know,” James bit his lip in an effort not to laugh. “Dad will flip if she buys something from here.”

“Donna,” Bette once again tried to talk Donna out of the painting while Tina approached with Jordon. “I think you’d do well to look around before we talk about specifics.”

“Bette,” Donna turned and looked Bette straight in the eyes. “I love this piece and would like to purchase it. How much is it? I think once in one’s lifetime they need to splurge and just start livin’ Darlin’.”

“That piece is expensive Donna.”

“I’m sure it is Honey, but I’ve decided long ago I was buyin’ one so I put away money for this. I know it isn’t from Target, but a picture this size has to be comparable to the bigger ones they sell.”

“The portrait is $150,000,” Bette said watching the look of horror take over Donna’s usual kind expression.

“As in dollars?”

“Told ya,” Jackie whispered to James and Tina as they stood there rooted to their spots in the gallery.

“Pardon my expression but holy h-e-double hockey sticks! I want to follow you out that window Darlin’!” Donna said as she was shaking her head. “Let’s keep walking until we find fruit for about $150.”