Luke had called a couple of times since then, once to confirm they were looking for the notes and papers, and another time when Tina had told him they’d found a contractor, after entertaining various bids for the job, who was highly recommended by her colleagues in the set design world. She’d been on set each time, however, and so although warm, there had been no particular moment that came up wherein she’d been able to talk at length. 

As if reading her mind, Matt said quickly, “That’s not an issue with us, Tina.  I hope you don’t misunderstand why I paused just then.  It’s just that I didn’t realize when we were first interacting with you that you had a partner, since we’ve only met with you, and no one else.  And it’s just your name on the property papers, etc.” 

“But, really.  We would be the last people for whom this would be an issue,” he paused, again “If…if know you what I mean.” 

Tina smiled, “Umm… yes, Matt, I do understand.”   So Luke is gay, she thought.  Explains why they were not able to find out much about his personal life, when they were researching things, before the negotiations. But he obviously was discrete.  Matt didn’t have to say anything, so Tina noted. She’d be discrete about this, then, and would share it only with Bette.
 

She continued, “Whenever Luke can come by, we’d both love to see him.  We really would be interested in knowing his insights about the property, and his grandfather’s intentions when it was built.   The property does belong to both of us, even if it’s just my name on it and it is very much something that we will call home, whenever we get the construction done.” 

“Yes, of course, Tina. I’m sure you and your partner will be able to create a beautiful home in that duplex.  It’s a lovely building.” 

After a few more pleasantries, they hang up.  Matt was such a sweetheart. And she was certain Luke and Bette would hit it off.  Bette had been so passionate about this reconstruction project, going to great lengths to research the paints to be used, the doors, the lights, furniture, etc.  She’d even consulted a lighting designer about how to update the duplex with built-in lighting, to enable her and Tina to create moods with different light combinations.  After agreeing with Tina where the art would go, she’d already gone over with the contractor specifics about walls wherein she was planning to hang particular art pieces in, with the lighting designer how the lighting would go, and had worked out with the contractor where she wanted niches carved out for the sculpture she wanted to display.  Meanwhile, Tina had consulted with various special effects artists she’d worked with about how to integrate high-tech touches around the duplex, integrating these with the modern-era look of the building.