“Jess wake up. You are gonna be late for school again.” Bette said to her 7 year old daughter. Bette turned and went back in the bathroom to finish getting ready for work. Jess rolled over in the bed and pulled the covers back over her head. A few minutes later Bette returns half dressed and she pulls the covers off of Jess and pulls her out of the bed.

“I don’t want to go to school today.” Jess said as she slowly moves out of the bed. Bette pulls Jess’s uniform out of the closet and lays them on the bed. “Well that is just tough because you have to go to school if you want to miss school next week to visit your Dad in New York.” Bette walks over and Kisses Jess on the forehead. “Now get dressed and then brush your teeth. If you hurray we might have time to stop by The Planet for a quick breakfast before school” She said with a smile and then turned to finish getting dressed. Jess hurried to get dressed she loved eating breakfast at The Planet.

Bette’s Car

“Zoe is going to pick you up from school and she is going to stay with you until I get home tonight.” Bette pause and look at Jess with a stern look on her face. “Why can’t I come to the gallery after school. I promise I won’t get into any trouble. Please!” she begged with a puppy dog face. Bette smiled “I have a really important meeting today and after your last fiasco I can’t afford for anything to go wrong. That reminds me you need to apologize to Amanda.” Bette said. The car pulled into the school driveway. “I don’t know what you’re talking about” Jess said. Bette sternly gave her a glance like only a mother could. “You know exactly what I am talking about.” Jess opened the door and got out. “Jess if you don’t you won’t be able to got to Dad’s.” Jess sighed and said okay as she shut the door.

The Bette Porter Gallery

James is at the door waiting for Bette with a stack of papers and the phone. “Alice is on the phone she says it is important and she is not going to hang up until she talks to you. He hands the phone to Bette. They walk into her office. Bette half way listening to Alice on the phone. She nods in approval of her schedule to James. She sits down at her desk flipping through the stack of papers the James had just sat down in front her. “Alice. Alice hold on I don’t know what my plans are for next week. She isn’t leaving for another 2 days. She’s missing a week of school so she can spend more time there. She will be gone for 2 weeks. Whatever Al, listen Can I call you back later I am swamped today. Okay Talk to you Later.” She hangs up the phone. “James can you let me know as soon as Mr. Fox gets here. I really want to make this deal happen.” “Yeah sure.” James walks out of the offices and closes the door behind him.