Chapter 16

Now that she’d turned Jenny’s criminal case over to Maddie, Alex was focused on the dissolution of the Wentworth-Porter Gallery partnership. She called Bette to schedule a meeting but instead of going to the office Bette suggested that she and Tina have dinner with Alex at the Planet.

After they finished their entrees, and the table was cleared they split a bottle of wine and told the server to leave them undisturbed until they signaled when ready for coffee and dessert. Alex started the conversation by asking Bette what she wanted to do.

“Sever all ties with Kelly, and I suppose that means giving up the gallery. What else can I do?”

“Bette you’re an equal partner, your name has given credibility and stature to the Wentworth-Porter Gallery that all of Kelly’s millions couldn’t buy. You love the gallery business, you’re an icon in the artworld and you have clout. Why would you give that up when you’ve done nothing wrong?”

“What I did wrong is not listen to Tina. She didn’t trust Kelly and warned me about making a snap decision, but I argued. I guess I was so eager to get back into the gallery business I got caught up and fell into her trap.”

“Babe, I just didn’t trust her around you and I was right about that, but I agree with Alex getting into the gallery business wasn’t a mistake. It’s what you love.”

“Alex, do you think I have any legal standing if Kelly made me a business partner as part of a personal agenda?”

“Bette, I don’t doubt that Kelly Wentworth came to Los Angeles with an agenda. Maybe she’s gay or bisexual or just wanting a dalliance into an alternative lifestyle. Maybe she realized she’d made a mistake in college by rejecting you and wants to rectify it. Whatever the reason she came after you is irrelevant. You signed on as a business partner. You invested your knowledge, your reputation, and status which has proven its worth. The Porter name and your connections is what attracts clients of high caliber. From what you’ve told me of Kelly’s sexual proclivities, she’s already in breach of the moral’s clause. This isn’t about ‘buyer’s remorse’ Bette. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re the victim here. She’s bad for business and now that she’s set her sights on you the business is in jeopardy. Your business partner is a sexual predator that made inappropriate sexual advances towards you. Her actions put the business at risk. She’s created a hostile work environment where you are not able to function in your full capacity as a partner or feel safe in her company.”

Bette was introduced to Alex Corbin by a mutual friend Coleman Alt when she needed a lawyer to negotiate the purchase of her first art gallery. Bette and Cole dated briefly when they were freshmen at Yale before they both admitted their same sex attractions. Bette was crushing on her art history professor Danica Palmer and Coleman was more turned on by the pictures in Bette’s art books depicting the male form than his girlfriend. They broke up as lovers and came out but remained best friends for years after they finished school. Coleman went on to Yale law school and became a medical malpractice attorney. Bette completed her master’s in art and art history at Yale, and of course Danica was her first lesbian lover.

Alex came highly recommended, as she specialized in both transactional and litigation business law which was exactly the legal expertise that Bette was seeking. Alex aptly negotiated the purchase of the real estate which became the Bette Porter Gallery in West Hollywood, California. Over the next eight years Alex’s legal team was retained to write employment agreements, art consignment agreements, buyer’s agreements and was called upon by Bette on a few occasions to handle lawsuits against artists or their agents for violations of the terms of contracts.

***

Before owning the gallery, Bette earned her reputation as a highly regarded and sought-after art consultant. Her client list of wealthy art aficionados and eccentric collectors was impressive and grew by word of mouth. She procured rare and exceptional paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures; each unique and carefully selected to decorate homes, businesses or to enhance a client’s private collection.

Bette traveled extensively to find prolific emerging artists. She had a keen sense of aesthetics that contributed to earning icon status in the artworld, but her gift was matching the art to the right buyer. The excitement of making discoveries developing relationships and helping young artist to grow their careers fueled Bette’s drive. She visited local and national art fairs and exhibits and networked with art gallery owners, curators, and artsy types from all over the country and abroad. What separated Bette from the rest in her field was her open-minded approach to art, her willingness to challenge the status quo and her avoidance of following trends.

Tina walked into the house after a long day of meetings with lawyers to find Bette and Angie in the kitchen belting out the chorus to the popular Mexican song Cielito Lindo playing on the stereo while preparing all the fixings for their Taco Dinner. “Ay, ay, ay, ay Canta y no llores, Porque cantando se alegran Cielito lindo, los corazones.” Logan was in his highchair shaking his rattle and repeating “ay, ay ay” as he too joined in the festivities.

Tina loved coming home to her beautiful family, especially on evenings like this when they put Angie in charge of what they would have for dinner. She usually opted for simple things like tacos, or pizza or burgers or mac and cheese; things she could do mostly by herself, and she was closely supervised when needing the stove or oven. Since Bette had taken to cooking also, making meals together had now become a shared passion between them.

Tina joined in the singing and Bette twirled her around a few times while Angie and Logan laughed at their parent’s silliness. Once karaoke was done and everyone got a hug and smooch from Tina she went upstairs to shower and change out of her business suit into comfortable yoga pants, a tank top and her favorite fuzzy slippers.

When she returned Angie and Bette had the table set with a Mexican themed tablecloth. They had bowls of ground turkey, shredded lettuce, mild salsa, avocado, sour cream, pico de gallo, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese, and corn and flour tortillas in the warmer spread out so everyone could self-serve. They had fresh fruit in the fridge for dessert.

Tina warmed Logan’s baby food while Bette put the finishing touches on a small pitcher of frozen margaritas for her and Tina and lemonade for Angie. She poured Angie’s drink in a margarita glass rimmed with salt like theirs which made her feel very grown up. They blessed the food and gave thanks, then settled down to enjoy the dinner. As usual they allowed Angie to monopolize the conversation.

***

Later that evening after the kids were fed, bathed and put to bed Bette and Tina sat outside in the gazebo. After settling comfortably in their cushioned paradise, they sipped on sparkling water and shared the events of their respective day. Tina went first.

“Bette Porter.” The brunette answered her cell on speaker as she needed both hands to hold Logan in place while she changed his diaper. He’d already squirted her hand and now kept turning his butt over whenever she tried to fasten the stretchy tape on either side. He thought it a big joke and laughed every time she flipped him back.

“Bette, it’s Alex. Did I catch you at a bad time?” A female voice sounded in the room.

“Hey Alex, no it’s fine. I’m just changing a poopy diaper and my little man wants to play.”

The voice on the phone distracted Logan from wiggling. He laid still which allowed Bette to finish getting the diaper on. She pulled down the onesie and fastened the snaps then pulled up his pants. She blew raspberries on his tummy which made him giggle but he took advantage of the closeness of his mother’s head to grab a handful of loose curly hair. Grabbing hair, jewelry, a nose or ear … just about anything that came within his reach was his new favorite thing.

“Sounds like you’re encouraging him.” Alex’s infectious laughter made Bette laugh too.

“I can’t help myself. He’s such a character.” Bette said smiling down at the little boy that held her heart.

“Listen if you’re busy I’ll call back later, or you call me.” Alex offered.

“No. I can multi-task. What’s up?” Bette asked her lawyer as she pulled Logan’s socks back on.

Another of his antics was grabbing his feet and removing the socks.

“I called to let you know the district attorney has agreed to file charges against Jennifer Schecter.”

This news came as a surprise to Bette since Alex had told her it was a no-go two months earlier.

“I didn’t realize you were still actively pursuing my peeping tom complaint. Didn’t the DA say we couldn’t make a case with just my word against hers?”

“Yes, but he also said he would reconsider if we presented collaborating evidence which I now have.”

“What evidence?” Bette asked.

“We have a copy of cell phone video that Schecter recorded from a vantage point that proves she was trespassing on your property outside the kitchen window. It is date stamped the night of the gallery opening when Kelly came to your house. As further proof you can see her reflection on the window glass holding the phone. Bette she’s got the entire encounter recorded including Kelly’s aggressive move to kiss you and you pushing her away. It shows Kelly knocking the champagne glass off the counter and you bending down to pick up the shards. The audio isn’t audible, but the video is crystal clear. It’s all there in living color exactly as you said it happened.”

After being away for six weeks in Bridgeport, CA coming home to Angie with Logan was a joyous occasion. The couple cocooned in their home for the first month as they adjusted to family life with an infant and six-year-old. Naturally their friends wanted to barge in to see the baby but were held off. The request to respect their wishes without exception came as a shock to everyone especially Alice for whom intrusion into the most intimate aspects of their lives had become the norm, but Bette and Tina held their stance. Boundaries and protecting their privacy were things the couple had discussed at length during their stay in Bridgeport. Bette and Tina took full responsibility for listening to unsolicited advice and allowing interference from well-meaning family and friends but in retrospect could see how detrimental it was to the health of their relationship. From now on they were intentionally putting themselves and the needs of their family first and foremost.

***

Angie was beside herself with excitement. She couldn’t get enough of her little brother which their parents encouraged but her enthusiasm had to be tempered. They taught Angie that Logan wasn’t like one of her dolls. She had to be super careful to love and care for her baby brother safely. They had rules about feeding and picking him up which she was not allowed to do unless strictly supervised by one of them.

As Logan grew older, they gave Angie a bit more leeway especially at playtime. Her favorite pastime was laying together on Logan’s playmat. Him on his back, she on her tummy with her elbows bent and her head resting on her palms looking down at him and making faces or talking to him. They were adorable together. Logan soon recognized her voice and started reaching out for his sister and smiling when he saw her.

As his personality formed, they noticed he had a mischievous streak which they discovered when he first pulled Angie’s hair and she squealed ouch. He laughed then reached for her neck to pull her into a cuddle, but the minute her braid was within reach he grabbed it again. It became a game that had them both laughing hysterically especially when Angie would exaggerate her squeals or blow on his tummy.