There was a time when she couldn’t stand Bette Porter (her mother’s little pet project) and no matter what Helena had done to her, Bette had recovered and come back stronger.  Helena brought in Leo to do CAC fundraising, basically usurping a large part of Bette’s responsibilities and Bette dealt with it; Helena tried to keep Bette out of the process regarding the artist, Allyn Barnes’ retrospective, but Allyn requested Bette as the curator for her exhibition; Helena seduced Bette’s estranged lover and they became a couple, then Tina decided she wanted to start seeing Bette again.  Helena had worked hard to get Tina as her prize and she was furious that Tina would walk away from her like that.  It wasn’t that Tina was the love of her life or even someone she believed she’d have a long-term relationship with, but she didn’t expect Tina to be the one to end it.  Helena ended relationships when she was ready.  To make it all so much worse, when her mother should have shown Helena support, Peggy had laughed about the women’s entanglements and treated Bette like a good, old friend, all the while making her daughter feel foolish and misguided.  Bette had been a thorn in her side, but Helena wouldn’t have wished this heart break with Tina on anyone.  Also, all of the hating she threw at Bette had grown old and boring.  She didn’t feel it any more and had recently accepted the fact that she actually respected Bette Porter.

Helena finished her glass and poured another.

* * * * *

Alice had decided to delve into work all night.  She placed a call to the editor at LA Magazine and one to Los Angeles magazine requesting an appointment to pitch an idea.  She had worked for LA Magazine and had a good relationship with them.  Los Angeles magazine knew her work and had at one time offered her a position at their offices.  She called an old journalism friend who worked for Sunset magazine and left a message asking if she had any contacts in the Bay area or central California in the magazine and newspaper business.  She was going to get at least one job out of these parenting stories.