Her Portrait Is Black and White

Unexpected

Bette walked the length of the gallery, watching as the construction crew put the new beams into place to hang a new of pieces for an up and coming artist. She wanted to make sure this show was perfect as the artist had already had a very successful shows in London, Paris and Milan.
​"Is everything looking okay for you Ms Porter?" The female carpenter and head of the construction crew Candice Jewel asked standing at Bette's side.
​"It's looking good, and the beams will be able to hold the weight of the pieces?" Bette asked, she was dressed in dress pants, and a shirt, her jacket was hanging over the back of her chair in her office.
​"Yes, we've made sure they are very secure, we understand how important this is."
​"Is this your first art show?" Bette asked, as James had hired the company, she wasn't sure.
​"Yea, we are looking to branch out."
​"Okay," Bette turned and at the woman beside her who was dressed in a white t-shirt and overalls. "Erm," Bette shook her head and decided to head back into her office.
Bette closed the door and walked to her window, looking out onto the streets of LA behind the gallery. Her mind was racing. she shook her head, turning back to her desk she saw the photo of Tina and Xavier smiling back at her. She sat down at her desk. She reached out and touched the frame. She then moved her mouse bring her Mac back to live and started on the emails she had to answer. There was a light knock on the door and James popped his head around.
​"You okay Bette?"
​"Yeah, why?" Bette asked.
James came in and gently closed the door.
​"You looked rattled on the floor."
​"Rattled?" Bette frowned, that was never a word anyone used to describe her.
​"Yeah, is everything okay?"
​"I'm fine James, please stop asking."
​"Okay, I'm just concerned."
​"About what?"
​"You,"
​"I'm fine," Bette found herself playing with her wedding ring. Something she rarely did, but right now it was giving her comfort.
​"Why did you hire Candice Jewel?" Bette asked
​"She's an all women crew," James said. "She's very talented and she was right price for the work."
​"They've never done gallery work before." Bette argues,
​"No but everyone needs a first time," James smiled. "I thought you'd be happy,"
Bette shook her head, she wasn't sure what she felt like right now. Bette looked at the email that had pinged in from her London gallery,
​"I've got to look at this," Bette pointed the screen and James knew he was dismissed. He left closing the door behind him.
Bette opened the email and looked at the sale figures for the opening night of another artist the London gallery had hosted. She smiled they had done well. As she was checking the pieces that had sold her cell rang. She smiled seeing the name.
​"Hey," Bette smiled.
​"Hey baby, are you okay?"  Tina asked,
​"Yeah I'm fine how are you doing?" Bette asked
​"I'm okay, done a couple of drawings, Xavier and I have eaten lunch and he is now napping. Greg is here," Greg being one of their new nurses.
​"Good, sounds like you're having a productive day,"
​"I have, how is the gallery looking?"
​"Good, James has hired an all-woman crew to get the pieces into place,"
​"That's good there should be more women in construction."
​"Yeah," Bette sounded distant.
​"Babe," Tina picked up on it at once.
​"Mmm,"
​"What's on your mind?"
​"Nothing, why?"
​"You're distant"
​"I'm fine, sorry love, I am."
​"You don't have to be sorry. I know how stressed you get when you're putting an important show together."
​"I've got to get this one right."
​"I know, I'm here you know, if you need me."
​"I know, I love you," Bette said slowly.
​"I love you too, I'll leave you to it." Tina said, "See you tonight,"
​"See you later," Bette ended the call.
She didn't know what was wrong with her, maybe all the stress of getting things perfect and being a mother and a wife were getting to her. She felt lost. She didn't get enough me time and she knew that. Bette closed her eyes for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she needed to calm herself. She got up again and looked out of the window. Maybe she should go for a walk.
There was another knock on the door
​"Come in," Bette called back and turned as the door opened and Candice walked in
​"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." Candice said slowly, stepping into the room and closing the door.
​"What makes you think you did?"
​"I know about you Ms Porter, or should I say Bette. You're a lady slayer you don't get nervous or tongue tied.  You're a confident woman so I'm guess I'm made you feel uncomfortable."
​"You didn't," Bette insisted. Putting her hands on the back of her office chair.
​"You're an attractive woman," Candice smiled,
​"That's not very professional."
​"No but I always say what's on my mind,"
​"Erm..." Bette shook her head. Flicking her wedding ring with her thumb, as if she was reminding herself that it was there.
Candice walked further into the room.
​"I'm sorry, I've got to get back to work," Bette said licking her lips. she had to get her mind away from this. She had to get out of this situation.
​"I'll leave you too it." Candice turned, and walked towards the door.
Bette found herself checking the woman out and she couldn't work out why. It wasn't like her, since meeting Tina her life had been fixed on her. Bette took a deep breath and got back to work.

****

Bette started to put her work papers away she had stayed at the gallery longer than expected, she had been drawn into a conversation with her New York Gallery about an up coming show and had got behind. She had texted Tina and told her she was going to be late, and Tina had been fine. James had left an hour ago. She knew most of the construction crew had left as well. She walked out into the main gallery and saw the Candice was starting to pack her things away
​"I thought everyone had left." Bette said looking around and seeing that the gallery was empty.
​"yeah I was just finishing one of the displays." Candice smiled as Bette put her jacket on and picked up her briefcase.
​"Thank you, it's starting to look really good in here."
​"Happy to do it, this job is so different, and we are all really enjoying it."
Candice walked towards Bette.
​"Bette,"
​"What?"
​"There is something I've wanted to do all day, tell me to stop if this isn't what you want."
Candice stepped into Bette's personal space and reached up and pushed her hair out of her face before moving in and kissing her. Bette found herself kissing her back. The kiss lasted a few moments before Bette pulled back. Guilt filling her.
​"I can't do this, please." Bette whispered.
Candice nodded and picked up her tool bag and left. Bette stood on the spot an overwhelming guilt filling her. She was trying to process what had just happened. She'd kissed another woman. How was she going to explain this one away?