“I don’t want to hold you up. It was nice meeting you, Tina,” Phyllis smiled, signaling the end of their conversation.

“Nice meeting you, too, Phyllis,” Tina returned the sentiment before turning to Bette. She held her gaze, memorizing the face she had come to love all those years. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I can’t wait,” Bette whispered. “Drive safely.”

Tina turned to go, breaking their gaze at the very last minute. Her car in drive, she checked her mirror to find Bette already gone. Sighing, she headed back to her office, wishing Wednesday would come soon.

Meanwhile in the Planet, Bette had taken a seat at her usual table. She knew her boss had more questions about Barbara, but her mind was on Tina.

“So, about the senator,” Phyllis tried again after they had placed their orders.

“Yes?”

“I heard you received some flowers yesterday. Was it from her?”

Bette shook her head with silent laughter. “Yes, it was from her.”

Phyllis hummed, trying to formulate her next question. “She seems intense. I prefer a more bubbly personality. Like your friend Alice.”

She did a double take, not believing what she just heard. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me the first time, Bette,” Phyllis said calmly.

“Oh.”

“Were you her date for the mayor’s party, then?”

“Yeah,” Bette answered slowly, her mind still trying to wrap around the idea of a gay Phyllis Kroll. “Phyllis…”

“If you want to ask me if I’m gay, the answer is yes,” the blonde jumped in. “I’ve done some soul searching the past year and I discovered I needed more than what Leonard can offer me.”

“Have you…” Bette stammered. “Have you tried to explore these feelings?”

“No,” she answered softly. “Do you think I should?”

“Yes,” Bette’s voice strengthened.

“I’m a little too old for it, don’t you think?”

“Phyllis,” Bette laid a hand on her boss’ hand. “You’re never too old to find yourself.”

“That’s true,” the blonde considered the possibilities. “Where do I begin?”

She wanted to yell out that she didn’t care, but Bette kept her queasiness in check. “Phyllis, there’s no roadmap to being a lesbian. You should do whatever you’re most comfortable with.”

Before Phyllis could answer, the waitress arrived with their food. The meal was eaten with silence, though she took her time to watch the new dean. There was a certain je nai sais quoi about Bette Porter that captured people’s attention.

“Bette,” she began when they both had finished their lunch. “What exactly is your relationship with Barbara Grisham?”

“We’re friends,” Bette answered quickly.

“Come on, even a blind man can see she wants more than that,” Phyllis teased her.

“I didn’t say she only wants to be friends, but friendship is all I can offer her right now.”

Phyllis was intrigued by Bette’s reply. “But there might be a chance of more in the future?”

Bette shrugged. She honestly did not know the answer to the question. “She knows where I am in my life right now but she still wants to try. I can’t control what other people do but I can control my reactions.”

“So you’re neither encouraging nor discouraging her.”

“Something like that.”

“Isn’t that still leading her on?” Phyllis asked.

“Maybe, but a friend is what we both need at the moment.”

The blonde nodded in understanding. She had followed the senator’s news diligently the past year. The tenacity with which Barbara Grisham had fought in her campaign drew her attention.

“Either way, we can expect more media exposure now that news is out about her involvement in CU.”

Bette wondered, for the first time of the day, what Barbara was doing at that moment. “She’ll draw out the crowd.”