“Yep, right.”

“What?  Don’t you see it?”

“Yeah, yeah, I see it.”

“Look at her left hand, see how the palm is up, but the fingers are curving ever so slightly in.  She wants you closer, but she’s not giving up all her secrets.”

“Well, her ***** is hot, that’s for damn sure.  Don’t you think?”

“Yes, Al, it’s hot.”  Bette rolled her eyes.

Bette turned to the next sculpture and walked toward it, turning back once to take a final look at what she was already thinking of as ‘her sculpture.’  Alice trailed behind her and thought, *if that doesn’t look like Tina, nothing does.  Same body type, same pose.  Bette, you idiot.  Get a clue, girl.  It’s calling to you for a reason.*

“How’s Tina?”  Bette asked offhandedly as they moved in the direction of the next sculpture. 

“She’s doing okay.” 

“Does she ask about me?”

“Sort of.  You know, ‘have you seen Bette, lately?  Is she doing okay?’”

“Wh – what’s her tone?  Is she still angry?  Just asking to ask?  Does she want to know anything else?”

“What else is there?  I mean, it’s not a secret that you’re making your way through the women of West Hollywood.”

“That’s not true, Alice.  It really isn’t.  I’ve gone out with a few women, but I’m not looking for anything permanent.  Would Tina rather I jump into another long-term relationship as if ours didn’t matter?”

“I don’t know.”  Alice pursed her lips, unwilling to continue this conversation.

“The reason I’m…dating is because I have to do something.  You know you’re the only one talking to me.  Shane suddenly has this bizarre moral standard—married women who stray outside of the marriage are evil incarnate, while the woman said married woman cheated with is beyond reproach.  I really don’t know what’s going on with her, but she hasn’t said a civil word to me since Tina left.  Dana’s on tour all the time…”

“Don’t I know it.”

Bette didn’t comment on Alice’s last statement since she was on a roll, talking through her own situation, so it didn’t much matter.  “Marina?  Well…”

“I know.  And Kit is so wrapped up in Ivan that she can’t think straight.  Get it?  Can’t think straight?” Alice commented and then chuckled softly.