“Don’t you worry ‘bout a thing.  I know what I’m doin’, I’ve done it a hundred times already.  I do want to get together with you sometime next week outside of the Monday shoot.  Go over your text.  I think there are a few minor points that need some tweakin’.”

“So it wasn’t exquisite?”  Bette laughed a little too playfully for Tina’s taste.

“Oh, it was.  I just think it could be more exquisite.  Why don’t we get together for a workin’ dinner and read over it next week?”

“No,” Bette said immediately.  “I’m leaving the office at 5:30 these days—another commitment.”  She looked across the table at Tina and smiled.  “I’ll have James call you and schedule an appointment.”  Bette recalled where the last working dinner got her—in the arms of Candace.  She was not going to put herself in that situation again.

Disappointed, Margaret straightened. “Well, I’d better get back to my lunch date.  I’ll see you on Monday, Bette.”  She bent and kissed her again.  “It was nice meetin’ you Miss Kincaid.”

“Kennard.  Tina Kennard.”

“Right.  Bye, now.”

Margaret Hannon was barely away from the table before Tina said, “What’s up with her?”

“What do you mean?”

“She was practically hitting on you right in front of me.”

“No she wasn’t.  She’s friendly and southern.  That’s her way.”

“Bette, I’m not blind. And you didn’t help matters any.  I mean I could have been anyone—a client, a friend, anybody with that introduction of yours.  It was…I don’t know–insignificant.”

“Tee, I’m not sure how I should be introducing you.  What should I have said?  If one of your colleagues had come up to the table, how would you have introduced me.”

“I would have said, ‘this is Bette.’”

“And from that, they would have known the significance?  Of course they would have—you’ve probably given all of your co-workers a blow-by-blow about what an ***** I am.”  Bette played nervously with the ball of white rice in the bowl, separating the grains with her chopsticks.

“No,” Tina answered, and then hinted at Bette’s reasoning. “I just don’t hide you.”

 “I’ve never been one to discuss my personal life at work.  That’s not who I am.  The people who work the day-to-day at the CAC know about you, but in the workplace, it’s about business for me.  They know that my home life is not their concern.  Now, Margaret has only been into the offices once or twice.  There wouldn’t have been any reason for her to know.”