"Bahh…New Yorkers!  What do they know?," Sandrine exclaimed, pretending to be dismissive.

Bette laughed, "I know of a few who would say the same about the French!"

"Well … in the interest of Atlantic peace," Martin cut in, "Sandrine here thinks that beautiful interiors go with beautiful exteriors…."

"Not always!," Bette responded.  "But of course, you are more than welcome into our home.  Tell me what you think when I get home!  I think there are a couple of rooms that are locked, though, because we had such a crazy morning schedule today, and we weren’t sure …"

Sandrine waved her hand, "No problem, Bette.  We will happily wait for you, then we can get a proper tour of everything!"

Bette smiled warmly.  "Okay, then please do make yourselves at home.  I will see you soon.  Can you please hand me back to Christy?"

Christy switched to audio, and put the phone against her ear, as she stepped aside to let Martin and Sandrine in while she and Bette spoke.

xxxxxxxxxxx

Bette shrugged her coat off as she stepped through the front door.  She was re-slinging her croc-skin workbag on her shoulder and turning to the coat closet to hang her coat when she heard Martin call down from the second floor studio-type room, "Bette?"

"Hi Martin," she called back as she finished hanging her coat, then walked quickly to her office, unlocking it hurriedly while she asked, "Did you manage to see the house?"  She dropped her bag on the couch in her office, and shrugged off her suit jacket, slinging it over the back of the couch.  She’d texted Tina earlier to tell her about Martin and Sandrine dropping by unexpectedly, and were waiting in their house.  Bette assured Tina she’d be rushing home as soon as she could, as the blonde was caught up in a location shoot in Red Bank, New Jersey ’til late.

Martin was saying, "… Sandrine is in the powder room right now but she will have a ton of questions for you when she gets out."

Bette laughed as she climbed the staircase to join the couple.  "Well, I’ll try to give her some answers," she paused as Sandrine came half-running out of the studio room.

"Bette!," Sandrine half-shouted excitedly. 

"Oh my lo…," Bette started to say.

"Martin was right!," Sandrine exclaimed, as she opened her arms to give Bette a hug. "You are gorgeous!"