Just then, Bette’s iPhone shook.  Tina had sent her a message asking if she and Angelica could FaceTime with her.

"Will you excuse me, Lauren, I have to take this call," Bette said with a smile as she texted Tina back. Lauren shook her head, following Bette’s retreating figure with her eyes as the brunette exited the kitchen area with her cappuccino cup, and headed to her office.

After she finished her cappuccino, Lauren rinsed the cup out, and loaded it in the dishwasher where she’d seen Bette load the dishes they’d used earlier for the late lunch Bette had quickly prepared.  Even though Bette had explained that she and Tina had food packages and assorted food in readiness to enable them to prepare meals quickly for guests, Lauren was still taken aback by the excellence of the food, and everything, really, about their home.   Everything in good taste, high style, and all put together beautifully.

She walked into Bette’s office just as the brunette was saying, "Well, I was missing you a lot, so I’m glad I was able to ride today.  It was exhilarating to be outside …"

"Yeah, that was some ride you took me on," Lauren interjected.

"Who’s that?" Tina asked, her eyes narrowing onscreen, her eyebrows knit together.

Bette answered, "It’s Lauren, baby.  She joined me on the ride this morning."  She pursed her lips, and swiveled the screen around so that the camera would pick up Lauren’s figure. Lauren waved as she saw herself reflected on one corner of the screen.  Bette swiveled the screen back to face her as Tina said, "You met last night, right?  At the Hunt Ball?  You just met and you’ve already taken a long ride in the country together?"

Bette nodded her head and took a sip of her cappuccino, remaining silent, knowing she’d have more to explain about all this to Tina once the blonde got home.  Lauren walked over  and leaned slightly over Bette’s shoulder.

"Um… well, it was my idea, and afterwards I gave Bette a ride back to the city.  I was asking her for some advice about this gallery that I want to open," Lauren added.

"You did, huh?," Tina asked, with a slight edge.  Bette pursed her lips and rubbed her chin.

"We haven’t gotten to any specific details, yet, Tina," Bette said with a sigh.