Bette walked through her gallery an hour before opening night, checking and rechecking ever detail from the caters to lighting to artwork.

Bette approached Toni, who was making last minute adjustments to a video installation that the artist requested.

“Toni, can we make this work because we only have an hour till opening.”

“No worries. This is the last change and I’ve got this covered. She’ll love it.”

“I’m sure she will. The rest of the gallery looks great. I just hope the critics will agree.”

“Blow’em.”

“EEEwww.”

“You know what I mean. It’s everyone else that needs to like it. Listen since I’m still here, I may need to use your office to change. That alright?”

“No problem.”

Bette continued her walk through and could find nothing that needed changing. Everything was running smoothly. She returned to her office to call Simone.

“Hello, may I please speak with Simone.”

They put her on hold for what seemed like eons.

“Hello?”

“It’s Bette.”

“Hon, I can’t talk right now. Listen I don’t know if i’ll be able to make it tonight. Two other waitress — yeah, no, yes ma’am — Sorry Bette. I’ll do my best to make it. Gotta go.”

Dial tone. Bette looked at the receiver then set the phone down.

Maybe she was being selfish she thought, but she really needed Simone’s support.

Bette sat back in her chair and leaned her head against backrest rubbing her temples.

Toni walked through Bette’s open office door.

“Bette?”

Bette looked up slowly. He fatigue, worry and anxiousness written on her face.

“Are you alright?”

“Simone doesn’t think that she’ll make it tonight. I was really hoping she would.”

“My other half had to leave town this morning. He had another emergency with his family he said. It’s starting to make me wonder.”

“Really? Was he always this close to his family?”

“No, that’s the problem. Anyway, I should change.”

“Oh, yes. I forgot.”

“You don’t have to get up. Relax. You need it.”

Bette smiled. Toni laid out her clothes on her sofa then entered the bathroom. Bette laid back in her chair again and closed her eyes listening to the running water. She started to dose off when Toni came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.

“No sleeping on the job.”

“You said that I should relax.”

“Two totally different things.”

Toni walked over to the sofa and started changing.

“I over heard one of the artist saying that you were able to get several major buyer’s and magazines to come to the opening. It should be a big night.”

Bette turned in Toni’s direction. She’d only ever seen Toni in her construction clothes. Now, she stood naked and Bette never realized that Toni had such a beautiful body. It had her staring.

“So, do you?”

Toni turned catching Bette’s stare. She smiled obviously not minding Bette’s gaze.

“Sorry. I can be a bit of exhibitionist sometimes. Want me to go into the bathroom?”

“No. I –” Bette turned away and started reading whatever was on her desk. “Randle was able to get some major conniessouirs who he’s done business with to come to tonight.”

“Is he still trying to get in your pants?”

Bette laughed and turned toward Toni again. This time she was dressed and elegantly in a simple red dress that fell in all the right places. Toni took her breathe away.

“What? Do I have something in my teeth?”

“No. Just — I never seen you in anything other then your carpenter clothes.”

“Well, this old thing. It works.” Toni shrugged her shoulders suddenly self concious. Bette stood up and walked over to Toni.

“You look wonderful. Your hubby shouldn’t be leaving so much.”

Toni tried to laugh, but only a sarcastic sigh escaped. Then she sat down on the sofa and put her head in her hands.

“Toni, what’s wrong?”

“He’s lost interest. Even worse, I don’t think that he’s in love with me anymore.”

“Toni.”

Bette took Toni into her arms and held her, comforting her. Toni looked up at Bette apologetically.

“Sorry… this is your night and here I am blubbering.”

“It’s alright.” Bette and Toni starred a moment too long at each other. Toni jumped up.

“Let’s get this show started. Randle should be walking through that door at any moment.”

The night went off without a hitch. Several paintings were bought and orders were made with some of the artists. Bette tired and elated laid on her sofa in her office. Her eyes closed she didn’t see Toni enter.

“Sleeping on the job again?”

Bette sat up and smiled. Toni had been by her side the entire night knowingly giving her the support that Bette needed.

“I thought everyone had left for the night. I was going to give you ***** in the morning for not saying good night.”

“Come on. We’re a team.”

“All the artist keep coming to me saying what a wonderful job you did.”

Toni leaned against Bette’s desk.

“I made some appointments for more work. It was good. You did a ***** of job bringing this all together too.”

Bette stood and walked over to Toni.

“Thanks for being there for me tonight. I was scared as ***** it would –”

“No way it would’ve tanked. But, I could tell you needed someone to lean on. Been working together alot lately, I guess I could sense it.”

Bette took a step closer to Toni. Toni stiffed, but didn’t move. Bette leaned in and kissed her.

Simone watched Bette make her move. She stood in the doorway and didn’t say a word, shocked. Then blotted knocking loudly into the wall before scurring off.

Toni grabbed Bette by the shoulders and pushed her back.

“What are you doing?”

They heard the bang and turned to see Simone’s back as she stormed off. Bette stepped back further, embarassed, ashamed.

“I’m sorry.”

“I think I should go.” Toni got up and walked out the office quickly.

Bette sat behind her desk, picked up the phone and called Simone. She got her voicemail.

“I’m sorry.” Was all Bette could muster and hung up.