“Well if there is ever anything I can do for you; you need only ask.” Leigh said.

“Actually there is something I wanted to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Not many people know this yet but I am in the process of making the transition from Dean at CU to art gallery owner again. What I wanted to ask you is if you would consider having your Los Angeles premier at the ‘new’ Bette Porter Gallery?”

Leigh can’t believe what she just heard. She is thrilled for Bette and honored that she wants to be the first to show her work in Southern California.

“Are you kidding me? Oh my God Bette. That is so fantastic. When did all this happen? Where’s the gallery? When are you opening? Yes! Yes! Yes! I would be honored to show at your gallery and doing my Los Angeles premier at the Bette Porter Gallery would be amazing. Does James know about this? When is all this happening?” Leigh was firing off questions and not giving Bette a chance to answer.

Bette laughed at her friend’s enthusiasm. “Take a breath and I’ll tell you.”

“Yes, of course. Sorry. So tell me.”

“Well first of all, I have Peggy Peabody to thank. I guess she’s appointed herself my guardian angel. She contacted me a couple of months ago and offered me some ‘compensation’ for lack of a better term. When she found out the extent of the damage Helena had wreaked in my life she wanted to do something. She asked me to look at it more as her wanting to do something for me out of affection rather than viewing it as a payoff. So she gave me three choices. One was part ownership in an art gallery, the second was $500K in cash, and the third a four story building in an up and coming beach community.”

“Your gallery is partly owned by Peabody Foundation? Bette I don’t know if that would be such a good move for me to have my work be associated with them again given our history.”

“No Leigh. I didn’t choose the gallery. I chose the four-story building which has a storefront. The gallery will be housed on street level. Tina and I are moving our family to the upper floors. It’s a new concept that they call live/work space. It’s really ideal for us. I can own a gallery again without it taking me away from home. If Tina needs me all she has to do is yell for me and I’m there.” Bette says this jokingly and Leigh laughs with her.”