“No,” Helena shook her head, “that’s not what I mean.  It lacks something.  It lacks ambience.  Soul.”

            “The soul comes from the art, Helena,” Bette rubbed her forehead tiredly; “you should know that.”

            Helena’s eyes blazed, for just a moment before she continued in a voice forced to a level tone.  “Of course, I do understand that.  But setting…it’s important to create a sense of place that calls out the best in the work.  Don’t you think?”  She arched a brow at Bette.

            “Um, yes, of course,” Bette nodded slowly, not sure where this was going but fairly sure she wasn’t going to like it when she got there.

            “I want Doyle to design the space.  And I want Candace to build what Doyle designs.”

            Bette’s heart thudded in her chest.  Of all the things she did NOT want, it was Doyle and Candace working together.  That was just way more potential drama than she was willing to invite into her life, especially right now.  “I…I….”  She didn’t know what to say except ‘no’ and she was fairly sure that was not what Helena wanted to hear, not unless she could give her a plausible explanation.  And by now, she was simply too tired to think that quickly.  She was also unwilling to divulge a certain secret that she’d held mute for many years.

            “It will be Perfect!”  Helena clapped her hands and smiled with childlike delight.  “Doyle has a magnificent sense of how to bring out the best in a blank space.  I’ve seen it.  And Candace?  Well, she knows how to make it happen, how to make it real.”

            “Yesss,” Bette agreed uncomfortably.

            “Wonderful!”  Helena beamed.  “I can’t wait to tell them.”

            “But….”

            Bette’s protest went unnoticed.  Helena was walking out of the space and back into the gathering space, her step light on the new floor.  But as she exited the hallway, a figure stepped into her path.

            “Helena,” Windwalker nodded her head slightly.  “I thought perhaps this would be a good opportunity to get better acquainted.  May I buy you a drink?”

            Bette watched Helena nod and take Windwalker’s arm, resting her hand lightly in the bend of her elbow.  She shook her head at the way everything this evening was becoming unpredictable.  And that tended to make her very edgy.  These types of affairs were bad enough when you knew what everyone was going to do.  She could be prepared for that, knew which card to play and how to play it.  But this Open House was turning into a whole new game for which she had no aces up her sleeve.  Instead of relaxing into the flow of events, she was becoming more nervous by the hour, which made her feel vulnerable.  She followed Helena out into the banquet room, looking around anxiously for Candace.  The anchor in her stormy brew.