On Monday Bette stayed at the loft relaxing and organizing her notes from the visit with Allyn and Alyson. She crafted several emails to Michael then went for a long walk. New York was such a great walking city unlike Los Angeles where she drove everywhere. Bette was experiencing pure joy having almost forgotten what it felt like. She was happy, unburdened and stress free for the first time in months. She flashed her Porter smile at strangers as she walked down the streets of lower Manhattan and they smiled back. Life was good again.

***

Peggy Peabody was already gone for fifteen months of her two year sabbatical when Bette finally had the opportunity to meet her daughter Helena face to face. Having had Peggy’s assurance before she left that Helena would give the same consideration to the arts projects as any other Bette expected the meeting with Helena to be an informal chat about how the funds would be allocated.
Bette mostly wanted to meet Helena out of curiosity about Peggy’s daughter. Although Helena had already expressed to Peggy that she had no interest in being friends with Bette at least she hoped that they could work together. Bette was on her way out on Tuesday morning when she received a call from Michael telling her there was a change.

“She what? She fucking canceled on me an hour before the meeting?”

“I’m sorry Bette. Her assistant said it couldn’t be avoided but she can see you tomorrow.”

“OK what time tomorrow?”

“10am.”

“Did her assistant say if Helena had taken time to read the proposal?”

“She wasn’t sure. She said she left it on her desk and she made sure to let her know that you were coming into town specifically to talk to her about it. I asked to speak to Helena myself but she wouldn’t take my call. She loathes me and she really hates that I’ve come to Los Angeles to work with you.”

“Why would she care? She told Peggy she didn’t want you assisting her.”

“That’s just her way. She’s acting like a petulant child. I’m getting the feeling that she begrudges you anything that has to do with Peggy. She found out that I arranged the lease for Tina’s condo and when she heard you were flying to New York on the Peabody jet she questioned my authority to do these things without Peggy’s knowledge.”