“I might have guessed; she has your eyes.” Bette commented.

“I also inherited her red hair but fortunately for me I got my dad’s temperament.” Alyson’s response elicited laughter from all three women knowing the reputation that natural redheads had for their fiery tempers.

“I’m not that bad; besides you have to admit I’ve mellowed with age.” Allyn defended herself.

“Of course you have Mom.” Alyson gave her mother an affectionate hug and winked at Bette as if to say don’t believe it for a minute.

“Darling this is Bette Porter.” The two attractive women shook hands and smiled at each other.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Ms. Porter. I hope that you don’t mind that my mother has asked me to join you this weekend.”

“I don’t mind at all Ms. Cabot. It’s nice to meet you and please call me Bette.”

“OK Bette. Call me Alyson. Please come in and have a seat.”

The three women move to the informal sitting area of the library where several chairs and couches are clustered for easy conversation.

“You know Bette the more I think about this show the more nervous I feel.”

“Allyn you have nothing to be nervous about. The show will be spectacular. The CAC will be the envy of every museum in the country. We are honored and privileged for the opportunity to show your work. You’re quite simply one of the most important living artists of our time.”

“Nonsense; stop it.” Allyn was modest about her work.

“She doesn’t think many outside of the art world will be interested because they don’t know her work.”

“People will be very interested believe me but you’re right Allyn hardly anyone knows your work because it hasn’t been made public which is why it’s so vital that we do this retrospective.”

Allyn was encouraged to do the retrospective just based on Bette’s reputation and what she knew of the CAC but she still had some concerns. Getting assurances was the main reason she’d invited Bette for the weekend and why she wanted Alyson there. Alyson was an astute judge of character. If she liked and trusted Bette Porter, then Allyn would know that she was in good hands. From all appearances it didn’t seem that she had anything to worry about.