The Adventures Of Bette Porter And Sissee Gardner Living Happily Ever After (Part 3, Chapter 5)
PART THREE: SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA

Chapter 5

I worked at home the next morning.

Bette called me about 9 a.m. from her office. She told me that she called Trudy Wilson to put down a bid on the house but when she mentioned $900,000, she was told that there already was a bid for that amount by someone else. She said that couple had started with $850k and the owners stayed at one million. A third bidder had already dropped out with a high of $885k. We discussed the issue at length with Bette doing the math. We decided to up our bid to $950,000 and she said she would call me later.

After a light breakfast, I went into Mary’s bedroom. When she left for college, there was room in her closet for Bette and I to put our dressier clothes in there. I pulled out that red dress Bette wanted me to wear and held it at arm’s length. It truly was a beautiful garment but I thought it was more for a sophisticated cocktail party.

As soon as I put it back my cell phone rang. It was Bette again.

“Oops!” I exclaimed. “Caught in the act!”

“The act of what?”

“I am reconsidering that red dress.”

“You will look dazzling in it.”

“But I want to look like a writer, not a hooker.”

She laughed, “Did I look like a hooker when I wore it?”

“No, my love.”

“I always got compliments.”

“And propositions?”

“At least a half a dozen!” she quipped. “But if you think it’s too hot for you, then wear white. Look like a virgin.”

I pulled out one of my white dressier pant suits. “How about a white pant suit?”

“Sis,“ she said with patience. “This is not a pant suit occasion.”

I rummaged through our outfits as she continued to talk.

“Anyway, the bid is in. Trudy, reminded me that the original price was $1, 300,000 so the owners already dropped the price twice and did not want to go much lower than a million. All we can do is wait.”

“Okay, good job.”

“What are you picking out?”