Bette slammed the house phone down in frustration before shouting at no one in particular in her empty house.  “How could this fucking happen…mother fuckers…” she muttered as she stormed to her room to pack. 

She picked up her cell phone and dialed Tina’s number, as she grabbed the suitcase from under her bed.  Bette propped the phone between her shoulder and ear so that she had two free hands to pack.

“Hey you.”

Bette could hear the desire in those two simple words and in spite of the news she had just received, her body responded.  She swallowed hard, dreading what she was about to say.

“T, I have to cancel tonight…I can’t believe this…I thought that…I can’t fucking believe this,” she said, clearly upset.

“Baby what’s wrong?”  Bette had left her apartment only an hour ago and had seemed fine.  Now the brunette sounded…frantic.  And panicked.  Two words that did not describe Bette Porter.

“I have to fly to New York.  I’m catching a direct flight in a few hours.”

“What?  Why?”

Bette told Tina about the conversation she had just had with Peggy Peabody.  Peggy was Bette’s most valued and loyal benefactor.  She had been there for the brunette since she opened the gallery and was always there with support, both financial and emotional. 

The Peabody Foundation was having an emergency series of meetings regarding their latest funding projects, and Bette knew it would be important for her to be present in order to secure her own endowment. 

Peggy was also throwing a banquet that would feature Bette’s gallery as a major hub for famous artists.  The banquet had been planned for months, but Peggy had just decided that she wanted Bette present and as the main attraction.  There would be artists from all over the world, looking for new galleries to explore.

“Baby that sounds like a huge opportunity for you.  How long will you be gone?”

“I’ll get back on the 26th.”

Tina’s heart sank.  Twelve days?  They were just starting out.  They were in the honeymoon phase.  They were supposed to have non-stop sex and annoy their friends because they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.  They were…

On the other hand, this was Bette’s career that she loved.  That she was passionate about.  That mattered to her.  And Tina knew that if the tables were turned, she would want the brunette to be supportive and encouraging, not sound needy and whiny.