“Girl, it’s all good. Talk to you tomorrow.

Hanging the phone up, Bette walks out to the main gallery. There were a few more guests than usual for this time in the afternoon and Bette walked around the gallery welcoming them. She discussed different pieces of art and artists work that she had shown in the past. There was a 20 something young woman who was obviously there alone and Bette walked over to her and introduced herself. The young woman introduced herself as Jennifer. She explained that she had been an art student when Bette gave a series of lectures in New York and when she arrived in California she tried to look Bette up and then found that she had a gallery.

“Miss Porter ...”

“Bette, please.”

“I just don’t think I can do that Miss Porter, I, I was just so inspired by your lectures a few years ago. Your insightful passion for art was just so overwhelming. The smallest detail was never overlooked in your lectures on a particular artist or genre of work. I found you so incredibly truthful about the work. It was just so different than any of the other lectures that I attended. I wanted to personally thank you.”

“Thank you Jennifer. I would hope that you and everyone who ever attended any of my lectures would come away with some small insight into the passion that I believe it takes to, one, be a good artist and two, have the passion that it takes to endure the life of an artist.”

Bette and Jennifer walked through the gallery and admired the art it’s walls held. The ease with which they discussed their interest in art was uncanny. It was as if they had known each other for a long time. That initial halted repartee’ was now an easy conversation. The late afternoon grew into the early evening and the gallery was empty except for Jennifer, Bette, James and Kristin. Bette and Jennifer had stopped to enjoy one particular painting and they had stood there just talking for some time. James and Kristin walked up to them and were wanting to get the gallery closed up for the evening.

“Bette, is there anything that you would like for Kristin or I to do before we leave for the day?”

Bette was all smiles as she turned to James, “I think everything is ok. Just lock the door on your way out and I will turn off the lights when I leave.” Jennifer had a bit of trouble making eye contact with James and Kristin, she looked at Bette the entire time she spoke.

“Ok, well, I guess we will see you in the morning then?”

“Yes James, you will see me in the morning.” Bette was now a bit perturbed with the intrusion to her conversation.

Bette turned her smiling face back to Jennifer and they went on to discuss the art world.

“Bette looks at her watch and notices that it is getting late. “I would really love to talk with you more about your love of art, would you like to get a bite to eat?”

Jennifer had gotten the invitation she was hoping for. Dinner with the beautiful Bette Porter. “Sure that would be great. I don’t really know my way around. Is there something close?”

“Actually, my sister owns a place nearby. It’s within walking distance. It’s a bar. Well, it is a” Bette was suddenly at a loss for words.