Tina looked at Bette with a slightly furrowed brow and a question on her face while Rachel laughed heartily, “Look who’s talking!”

“What?” Bette responded.

“You’ve got that je ne sais quoi, and you know it, too!,” Rachel riposted.  “I love that bright red trim on the back of your collar — so unexpected!  And the navy blue and grey color blocks in the rest of your suit is extraordinary, too … French?”

Bette nodded, “Good eye … yes, and it was a recent gift.  From a woman who wore an all-leather maternity outfit, no less, when we first met!  The fabric of this suit she gave is really quite luxurious, but understated.  I’m surprised you could pick it up in this dim light.”

“I could tell by the cut, and the fall,” Rachel shrugged, “Plus you wear it well.  I bet you could wear a baggy suit and make it look fashion-forward!”

Bette raised her eyebrows, grinned, and then looked at Tina, who was shaking her head.   Bette.  Bette.  Gives me a ring, then …

Bette coughed slightly, and rubbed her hand up and down Tina’s thigh as she picked up on Tina’s gentle censure, “To continue … did you know when Jay DeFeo was making “The Eyes,” she spoke of seeing through it “from the inside out”?  It really is “eye-catching,” and huge, too” Bette commented.   She nodded at the server, who had checked in on whether she was done with her salad. 

“I’m surprised you didn’t mention the Rose as something you’d choose,” Rachel answered.  She was also done with her carpaccio. 

“Well, the Rose is in a league of its own, of course,” Bette said.  “Everyone who knows her work would probably pick it.  It is the iconic work of her generation, after all.” 

She paused, and then asked, “So you like Abstract Expressionists in general?”

“So-so,” Rachel answered.  “My mom has a collection of some pieces of that style, as well as work from more contemporary styles.”

“Bette is a collector, too,” Tina said.  “In fact we have one by Jay DeFeo, and it’s one of Bette’s favorites.”

“Really?  Wow that’s interesting!” Rachel exclaimed.   Then she narrowed her eyes, looking more closely at Bette.

“Wait a second … are you the Bette Porter?!,” she almost yawped, jumping slightly out of her seat.  “I didn’t connect it when Tina introduced us!”