“No.  Thank you for your time Dean Porter” Jodie smiled then rose to exit the office.  On her way out the door she mouthed “Bitch” with a bitter-beer-face look.

Bette heard the door close then her phone rang and the name on the caller id put a smile on her face.

“Hey baby” Bette forgot about the memo to answer the phone call.

“Babe, don’t forget to pick up Jasmine’s gift on your way over” She heard Tina’s reminder.

“Yes dear” Bette said into the phone.

“What’s wrong?”  Tina could hear the weight of her thoughts in her voice.

“Nothing” Bette tried to cover.

“Babe talk to me” Tina dropped the script she was reading on her desk to give her full attention.  “Something’s bothering you.  I can tell”

You always do, Bette thought “It’s the offer from the CAC” she let out.  “I’m having second thoughts about taking it.”

“Well what’s the problem?” Tina leaned back in chair.  “I thought you were gung ho about this.”

“I was” then Bette added “I mean I am” she closed her eyes and exhaled “I don’t know.”

“What’s bothering you the most?”  Tina thought she could help narrow the problem down.

“I’m not looking forward to working at the CAC” Bette admitted.

“Okay” Tina had an idea of what’s bothering her partner “How do you feel about doing a show?”

“I get that rush like back in the old days, do you remember?” Bette reminisced over the days of when she owned her own gallery.

“How can I forget” Tina followed Bette into the past “those were the days.  I guess it all depends on the selection.  Do you know any of the artists?”

“No, but I think I’ve found my inspiration for the next show” Bette was happy to have some kind of clarity in her plans.

“Bette” Tina’s eyes widened when she glanced at the clock on the wall “I hate to cut it short but I do have to finish this script before my one o’clock conference call.  I think we’ve found our distributors.”

“That’s great baby.  I only hope they’re not pricks like the last one” Bette recalled Tina’s verbal lashing prior to slamming the phone down on them.