“Tina, are you ready?” she heard Eric yelling from the front door.
“For what?” she replied.
“We’re going to that gallery opening tonight. The Bette Porter Gallery opening”
“I’m sorry, it slipped my mind I suppose. Work is crazy lately and I’m stressed.” Tina tried to reason with him. “Just give me a few minutes to slip on a nice dress and we can go, okay?”
“I can’t fucking believe you’re not even ready! I told you about this last week and then again this morning. Alright, you should wear that red dress. I’ll be in the car.” Eric said as he slammed the door shut.
“Fuck” Tina said out loud to herself. This was the last thing she wanted to do tonight. Work was so busy lately and she was exhausted. She walked over to her closet to look for the red dress that Eric suggested she wear. As she was searching through her closet her favourite black dress caught her eye. She decided that was what she was going to wear this evening. She quickly removed her sweats and pulled it on carefully over her head so she wouldn’t mess up her already perfect looking hair. She had a meeting today at work so she decided to curl it earlier this morning. She ran quickly into the bathroom to touch up her make up and then back to her room to choose a pair of heels. Black again. It always made her feel sexy. She quickly grabbed her favourite pendant necklace off her side table and put it on infront of the mirror.
“Okay, this will have to do” she said to herself. She rushed out of her room, picked up her clutch and then made her way out to the car where Eric was waiting.
“What happened to the red dress?” Eric asked as Tina opened the car door and sat down.
“It’s at the dry cleaners” she lied. It wasn’t, but she couldn’t be bothered having to explain to him why she was wearing something else. Lately, he had become very controlling and she was growing tired of it.
“I hope we don’t hit too much traffic” Eric said as he pulled out of the driveway.
“I’m sure it will be fine. Besides, no-one is going to notice if we’re a few minutes late, right?” said Tina.
“Tina, do you even know who Bette Porter is? This opening is by invite only. It’s kind of a big deal, so yeah, people will fucking notice if we’re late” Eric’s tone was very sharp and it made Tina feel a mix of guilty and pissed off.
“You know what? I already apologized, Eric. Can’t we just move on and try to enjoy the evening? And no, I have no freaking idea who this person is. Why is she such a big deal? Am I supposed to be impressed by her or something?” Tina snapped back.
“Do you ever listen to me, Tina? I’ve just spent the last year trying to get an invite to one of her galleries or dinners. She only displays work from the best artists. Not only that but she’s smart, and tough, and unbelievably beautif -“
“Oh, so are you interested in the art or something else?” Tina said  interrupting Eric.
“Tina…” Eric couldn’t help but to laugh “Bette Porter is a lesbian, so even if I were interested in more than the art it would be wasted.”
“What?” Tina replied.
“A lesbian, you know, the kind of woman who sleeps with other women” Eric said sarcastically.
“I know what it means, Eric. I’m not five years old” Tina was becoming more and more irritated at her boyfriend’s tone and the way he always tried to make her feel like she was less intelligent than he was.
“Can we please just drive?” she said.
“Fine. Must be that time again….” Eric mumbled under his breath.
Tina shot him a look of disgust and then turned on the radio. They drove the rest of the way without talking to one another.
Twenty minutes later they arrived at the front of a small art gallery.
“This is what you’re excited about? Some little tiny hole in the wall art gallery” Tina teased.
“Maybe it’s bigger on the inside” he replied looking puzzled.
“Yeah, maybe, or maybe your fabulous ‘Bette Porter’ isn’t that fabulous afterall” Tina laughed.
“Tina, let’s just try to enjoy tonight, okay? Just loosen up a little” Eric said.
“Okay, let’s go then” Tina said as she got out of the car.
Eric fed the parking metre, put the ticket on the dashboard, and then locked the car doors.
He walked over to Tina and grabbed her hand and they walked together to the gallery entrance. He pulled the invite out of his jacket pocket as Tina opened the foyer door.
“Welcome to the Bette Porter Gallery folks. Do you have your invitation?” the woman at the door asked.
“Sure do” Eric replied as he handed it to the woman.
“Eric Smith plus one” she said whilst searching the list”…oh, here you are. Okay great. Go ahead” she said as she motioned for them to go through the next door. “Have a nice evening”.
Eric smiled and gestured for Tina to go ahead in front of him. They walked through the entrance into the main gallery. The walls were white and there was art all around. She looked around trying to take it all in. Her eyes stopped on one piece in particular, it was a painting of a woman with green hair. Her breasts were exposed and she was wearing nothing but a pair of boots and some leaves covering her groin. She was fascinated by the piece but she couldn’t understand why.
“Champagne?” the sudden noise startled her. “Champagne, miss?” the waitress repeated a second time.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Yes, thank-you” Tina said as she took the drink and immediately started sipping it. It was a nice, light, fruity champagne. It was ice cold and went down smoothly. It was just what she needed at the end of such a stressful day.
“That’s so nice” she found herself saying out loud.
“See, I told you this night was a big deal. The finest art, the finest food, and the finest champagne. Bette Porter sure knows how to open a gallery.” Eric insisted. “Why don’t we walk around a little and see some more art, unless you want to stare at that same painting that had you mesmerized for the rest of the evening” he teased.
Tina smiled and began walking. They made their way around the small gallery, stopping occasionally to look at pieces that peaked their interests.
”Oh, there she is! Come with me” Eric said as he pulled Tina forward. ”Excuse me, Bette.”
Bette stopped her conversation and turned around to greet them both with a smile.
”This is my girlfriend, Tina Kennard” Eric continued ”she heads up development at Alphaville. Tina, this is Bette Porter.”
Tina smiled and reached out to shake Bette’s hand. ”Hi, nice to meet you” she said rather shyly. Eric was right, she was incredibly beautiful and it made Tina feel a little intimidated and she couldn’t help but to stare at her as she and Eric exchanged conversation.
”Bette, we were wondering, uhm, how would Katherine Opey feel about us blowing up that print over there to about five by six feet?” Eric asked as he pointed to the same piece of art that Tina had been smitten with when they first arrived.
”Well, why don’t you ask her yourself? She’s right over there” Bette replied pointing in the direction of where the woman was standing.
”Great.” Eric nodded and looked towards Tina.
”Uh, I think I’ll just stay here” Tina said.
”Okay, excellent!” Eric said as he walked away to talk to the artist.
”So, Tina Kennard….head of development….. at Alphaville” she teased ”are you enjoying the opening?”
”Oh!” she laughed ”sorry about that, Eric likes to show off. Everything is about who you know or what you do for a living. You know what men are like…”
”Well actually, not so much!” Bette chuckled.
”Oh my god, I am so sorry. For a second I forgot. I mean, I know. Eric told me you’re….you know” Tina rambled.
”I’m what? Married to my work?” Bette said jokingly.
”No, I mean, a lesbian. Gay. You’re a gay woman. Oh my god, I’m so sorry, this champagne has totally gone to my head already” she said becoming very flustered.
”Tina, relax, it’s okay” Bette smiled at her once again ”Yes, I am in-fact a lesbian. I have been for a very long time.”
”Great. That’s so great” Tina replied as she began to blush.
”Is it?….Great? You think it’s great?” Bette was having fun teasing her.
”I mean, no, wait. I have no idea what I mean. I’m so sorry. Can we restart this conversation please?” she laughed awkwardly.
”Hey, listen. It’s fine, I’m just teasing you” Bette said as she place her hand on Tina’s shoulder ”Of course we can but right now I need to go and attend to my other guests. I hope you can stay for a little longer though. I’m having a dinner afterwards and I’d love for you to be there.”
”Eric actually had a long day so I will have to check if he wants to stay” Tina insisted.
”Well if he’s not up for it…..I can always drive you home after if you’d like to stay” she said.
”Alright” Tina replied ”In that case, I would love to.”
”Great….I hate to run off but this man over here is demanding my attention and as you can tell, he thinks he’s very important” she joked ”please enjoy the art until it’s time to eat…..and maybe have some more champagne” she said cheekily.
”Okay, I just might” Tina said as she smiled back at her. She watched as Bette walked away from her and toward the man who was demanding her attention. Tina had a feeling that she was the kind of woman that people always demanded attention from. And she was right.
”More champagne babe?” Eric had returned with two glasses.
”Please” she said as she took one and began sipping.
They spent the next hour walking around the gallery. Eric often stopped to talk to some of the artists he admired. Tina found herself spending most of her time watching Bette from a distance. Watching the way she engaged with people, the way she made them laugh, the way her hands moved when she talked. She began to question why she felt so drawn to her and why she couldn’t wait to speak to her again. She had been so kind to her when she could have easily taken offense. ”Why is she being so nice to me, and why am I craving more of it” she wondered. Her thoughts were interrupted when Eric began speaking to her. ”People seem to be clearing out so maybe it’s time that we left”
”What? Oh. No. Bette invited us to stay and have dinner, if you’d like to I mean” Tina told him.
”Wow. Okay, that’s totally awesome.” Eric replied. ”So we just wait then?”
”I suppose so. I am assuming Bette will come and find me when it’s time to eat” Tina said.
”Just you? No us” he joked.
”You know what I mean, Eric” she laughed.
”So did you like her? She’s pretty charming isn’t she? No wonder so many women fawn all  over her” Eric whispered as he glanced over at Bette ”look at her”
”I am. I have been all night” Tina said before she could stop herself. Luckily for her Eric was no longer paying attention to her because Bette had begun speaking.
”So, thank-you for all staying. Now that we’ve got all of the buyers out of the way, if you’d like to follow me…we will sit down and enjoy a nice dinner.” she announced as she walked over to the doorway and opened the door into the next room.
She stood by the door and motioned for her guests to go through. Tina and Eric were the last to make their way over to the next room and Bette smiled sweetly as they walked by her. Tina felt herself starting to blush.
”Okay, great” Bette said as she closed the door behind her. ”Please mingle and enjoy each others company, and more champagne” she chuckled as she looked directly at Tina and gave her a little smile ”and have a great time. The food will be served shortly”
Tina smiled and then took her seat next to Eric. ”You were right, this is a really fun night so far.”