“Of course, I do Daddy. I still have all of them.” Bette said proudly as she flashes a Porter smile; another trait that she’d inherited from her father along with undeniable charisma.

Physically Bette resembled her mother. Both could be described as exotic beauties with similar facial features and body style. But while Maxine was fair complexioned with piercing blue eyes, and straight brown hair Bette was mocha-skinned, with dark chocolate brown eyes and unruly curly brown hair due to her biracial heritage.

“I thought you would have sold them when you sold your gallery in New York and moved to California.” Melvin said, the wonder apparent in his tone.

“No Daddy. I would never sell them. It’s all I have left of her.” Melvin had no idea that Bette had preserved her mother’s artwork in a private collection. “As a matter of fact, I was going to wait to tell you until I closed the deal but just this morning I made an offer on a space in Santa Monica. I’m leaving the CAC to open my own art gallery. I will have a permanent exhibit where I can give tribute to my mother’s legacy.”

Now, it was Melvin’s turn to be caught by surprise. “You know Elizabeth I never agreed to your choice to pursue a career in the arts, but I admit after you sold the gallery in New York and moved here you’ve done very well for yourself. I don’t understand why you would leave such a lucrative position at the CAC to go back to owning a gallery. From what I’ve read about you in the trades you’re at the top of your game in the art world Elizabeth. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted. Why throw that away? Opening a gallery … at this late stage I can only imagine it’s for sentimental reasons.”

“Daddy, I’m not throwing anything away and I’m not just being sentimental. This is as much for me as for my mother. As for the timing or this ‘late stage’ as you put it … I couldn’t be in a better position than now to open my own gallery. Moving to California and ultimately landing the job as the Director of the CAC, has certainly established my credentials as a major player in my field.