Chapter Six

Sinuous lines defining the curvature of a hip with a distressed color of pink for a belly button were painted on a black canvas. On a rainbow color canvas hard lines defined a breast. Body parts painted, photographed, and layered were hung in creative frames or lay rolled up in corners or stretched across sections on the floor. Bette stood in front of one piece at a loss for words. A meticulously detailed blue eye was painted on a large canvas with a broken, silhouetted, mirrored image of a woman as the reflection of what was seen by the eye. The single image invoked the solemn solitude of the broken self image of what we all see of ourselves in the mirror at some point in our lives. Bette finally coming into her own understood this piece with more poignancy now then she would have before LA.

Bette had left Simones studio inspired and had come up with an opening for her gallery. La Puissance D’une Femme would be a tribute to woman who have found their power from within. She wanted to have a mix from paintings and photographs to video installations to live performance art. She was still working on the latter not having found much done by women.

Bette wasnt much older than Simone and having gone to school straight through to her masters Bettes experience seemed limited compared to Simone. The young woman of twenty-two had been on her own since the age of thirteen. Shed been in and out of foster homes till finally she requested an orphanage where she could finish high school and then won a scholarship in art to a school in San Diego. Not only that, Simone carried herself with the assurance of a thirty-something rather then a twenty-something. It was one of the things that attracted Bette.

But, Bette was at stage where she wanted nothing to do with relationships. Thus, she shrugged off her attraction to Simone as a symptom of Bettes love for the young artists work. Bette had set her focus on nothing other then getting the gallerys first show off the ground.

Bette stood waiting for Randle across the street from her gallery. She was smiling from ear-to-ear, a smile shed been wearing from the time she arrived at the gallery earlier that morning and found the new name of the gallery on its translucent doors.

A convertible sport’s car rolled up in front of Bette and she quickly jumped in and kissed Randle on the cheek. She laughed because he literally blushed.

I didnt know that men could blush.

Am I? Well, it must be the sun.

Now who said you could change the name of the gallery.

This is so much more ballsy so much more more Bette Porter.

They both laughed and he accelerated off to their lunch meeting at the caf.

Randle and Bette sat at the same table they had the first time they meet only this time Simone, their waitress, was almost a part of their meeting stopping over whenever possible to chat. Three had become very close. For Bette they had become her family and was vaguely aware of Simones long glances and frequent touches or Randles disgruntled looks at Simone having caught her playing her game. Yet, when theyd all had a drink and relaxed amongst each other it was like theyd been friends all their lives. It was an openness she hadnt quite experienced back in Philadelphia where there always seemed to be such a formality to things especially in her ivy league circles.

Simone, dont you have work to do. Randle cajoled. Simone throw him a feigned evil eye.

Ignore him. So, are you coming with us to San Francisco to check out that videographer.

Im trying to switch shifts to get the time off.

Ill pay as a consultant. Would that help?

Thats how youre spending my hard earned money.

Bette glared at Randle. I only use you for your connections not your money. He grabbed at his chest with both hands.

Aaaggghhh. That hurt.

Simone grabbed his arm. Dont worry, I know CPR. But Ill have Waldo over there help with the mouth-to-mouth.

They all laughed. Simone left the check on the table and walked off to attend to other tables. Randle paid the discounted bill leaving a hefty tip. He knew Simone hated when he did that, which was exactly why he did it.

Outside Bette bid Randle a farewell with a kiss on the cheek so she could kick up her heels and take a walk on the beach. Never noticing the combative look that had passed between Randle and Simone while she walked across the street, kicked off her shoes, to enjoy her solitary stroll down the shoreline of Santa Monica beach.