Messages of Love

Valentine's Evening Chapter 2

Bette looked up at the clock, "Fuck!" Bette expressed in frustration.  "James," she called out.  "Where are the caterers?" 

James looked up from his desk where he had been filling out forms with the details of the various pieces that were for sale.  The Olstin showing was sold out and eagerly awaited for by many.  Bette suggested having the showing Valentine's evening because of the title of this series.  "Blooming Love", he shook his head.  Only a woman would come up with a title like that he thought.   "They are on their way, I just got a call from them,"  James sighed.  He loved Bette like a sister and God knows she is the best in the business when it comes to curating a show.  But, seriously, I'm the Gallerist he thought.

Bette walked in waving her hands.  "They're going to be late.  People are going to be showing up in less than an hour.  And you know how some of these eager beavers will show up early." 

"I know, I know.  But the caterers will be fine.  Everything else is ready.  Even your special little surprise for Tina."  He smiled, "Do you ever not go big when it comes to her?" 

Bette tilted her head and raised a brow.  "I'm not going to even answer that."  She smiled, "When is Leah due in?"

******

"The food is amazing," Shane said as she walked up to Bette.  "And the sculptured glass, Wow!" 

"I know, right.  Pretty amazing."  Bette smiled at her friend of over two decades.  "It is hard to believe these started with a bulb of glass."  Bette reached for a bite to eat as the server passed by.  "Have you seen Nat and Alice around.  I saw them walk in awhile ago?"

"Nah, they went over to look at the sculpture that Leah redid after you broke the original last year," Shane gave a hesitent smile. "When you think about it, the shattering of her glass sculpture really embodied what happened that night. I mean the emotional break down you had was rough, but it was also a break through for your reconciliation with Tina."

Bette took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Yeah, maybe, I don't know and right now I really don't want to think about it," she said as her eye caught the sight of Tina walking into the Gallery. Dressed in a stunning forest green backless cocktail dress that highlighted her newly dyed red hair. One of the new things Bette had to get used to was Tina's desire to change her appearance based on her mood. The red hair as she told it was representative of the fiery emotional side that Bette brought out in her. Bette smiled as she thought back on the recent discussion they had when Tina came home with the new hair color. Bette liked the look, it was different, but very appealing.  "I gotta go."  Bette said as she laid her hand on Shane's back, but never taking her eyes off of Tina.

Shane smiled as she followed Bette's gaze.  She was so happy that her friends had reconciled.  The family was just not the same when they broke up.  It seemed to keep spiraling downward as Tina's decisions kept impacting Bette in such a negative and deeply personal way.  But they found their way back to each other and now things seemed to be right were they were supposed to be. 

Tina looked around slowly.  As she turned her gaze back to the center of the room, she saw Bette walking towards her with a brilliant smile that was all for her.  Tina never got enough of that smile.  It could be warm and enchanting yet seductive all at the same time.  When Bette turned on that smile, she could light up the whole room.  When it was directed at you, it felt like you were the most special person in the entire would.  That was the the power of Bette Porter, the power that Tina loved, could never replace nor forget.

"Hi Babe," Bette said as she leaned in for a sweet hello kiss.

Tina smiled into the kiss, "Hi Baby." As she pulled back she slowly drug her hand down Bette's arm entwining their fingers when she reached the end. "The Gallery looks amazing. James out did himself."