Tina: “You’re one to talk.”

Bette: “I know…”

Tina: “Listen, babe, I gotta go. See you when I get home.”

Bette: “Bye, T”

Around 11:00pm Tina steps quietly into the house. Expecting Bette to be asleep, she is startled when Bette greets her.

Bette: “Hey, baby, I’m glad you’re home.”

Tina: “*****! you scared me. I thought you’d be asleep by now.”

Bette: “Nah, just been thinking.”

Tina: “Why are you sitting here in the dark….is everything okay?”

Bette: “Yeah… there are just some things going on at work and it made me miss you.”

Tina: “I’m sorry I couldn’t be home sooner. Did something happen at work?”

Bette feels a lump rise in her throat as Tina asks this question, she wants to tell Tina what happened with Helena, but she is too afraid it will stress her out and she doesn’t want to give Tina any reasons to doubt their relationship. Although she knows she shouldn’t keep this from Tina, her fear succeeds her conscience.

Bette: “No, I mean, we got a new board member that I’m not particularly fond of and to top it off my first show as director is in two weeks.”

Tina: “I’m sorry you’re so stressed. Do you know the new board member?”

Bette: “Not exactly…I know of her. You remember me talking about Peggy Peabody, right?”

Tina: “Yeah, isn’t she the head of some foundation known for giving grants to qualifying organizations?”

Bette: “Well she was, but yeah that’s her.”

Tina:(surpirsed) “She’s on your board….wait how do you know her?”

Bette: “No, she’s not on our board it’s her daughter, Helena Peabody. And I don’t “know” Peggy I’m only acquainted with her because she’s an art connoisseur, of sorts. I had heard of her through many associates then was introduced to her at an exhibit a while back.”

Tina: “Oh….I never knew….so why don’t you like her daughter, Helena, isn’t it?”

Bette: “Well, I’ve heard of her before, too, but nothing good. I couldn’t possibly imagine anyone could be as bad as people described her, but I believe all I’ve heard now after meeting her.”

Tina: “So what’s wrong with her?”

Bette: “She’s just a *****…she’s vindictive and she thinks because of who she is she can have anything she wants.”

Tina: “Well, Bette, she’s got one ***** of a family background. I’m sure she’s not told no often.”

Bette: “I know….I just don’t like her.”

Tina being supportive wraps her arms around Bette and hugs her tightly.

Tina: “I’m sorry you have to work with her. Hopefully she won’t be so bad once she’s been there a while.”

Bette remembering how pursuant Helena was today, thinks aloud. “I doubt it.”

TBC…..