Peggy jumped as the door slammed shut.  “Now THAT is an entrance!”  Bette sat down and throwing a thumb toward the door, said, “I just ran into your daughter.”   Peggy threw her head back and let out a boisterous, hearty laugh. “Yep, that’ll do it.  No need to explain any further,” she said, taking her seat behind the enormous elephant tusk desk.

“So, Bette Porterstill fighting I see.”

Bette cringed at the site. “Um, yeah, I’m sorry, but your daughter makes it very hard”

Peggy began nonchalantly flipping through the portfolio.  “I don’t give a ***** about thatI’m not talking about her, I’m talking about this ***** masterpiece; it arrived yesterday; very impressive, Bette, very impressive indeed.”  For the first time all day, Bette could feel her tension began to ease.  “Oh, you, do you really like it?”

Peggy, looking over her glasses, smiled.  “Yes, I really do.  There’s no denying your eye for talent.  But, what confuses me is why you sent this to me?  I’m sorry, Bette, but there is nothing I can do for you.  I no longer sit on any of the gallery boardsin fact I’m off to Italy tomorrow morning for holiday.  R&R if you catch my meaning.”  Peggy winked as she closed the portfolio and began making her way over to the wet bar.  “But, I’ll tell you what I can help you with”

Bette began to slump in her chair as she thought, “Here is comes.”

“I can help you reclaim something more important than a failed career.”

Bette looked at her watch and said, “I’m sorry but its way too early for me, Peggy.”  Laughing once again, Peggy turned and said, “Oh, I’m not offering you a cocktail, Bette, I’m offering you inner peace.  Something you so clearly lack, or so it would appear.”  Peggy fixed her cocktail and swaggered on over.   Taking a seat and leaning in close, she said, ”Listen, I was supposed to go on a retreat of sorts, something I try to do at least once a year for some rather god awful reasons that I’d rather not disclose if you can believe it.  In any event, that’s neither here nor there; the point is I’m penciled in for next week.  Fortunately for me, I’ll be in Italy ***** my brains out, but, why let it go to waste when you, you can so clearly benefit from the experience?“