“Oh … how do you come by your interest in heart diseases, Gia?” Tina asked, trying to be casual.  She snagged a champagne flute from a waiter who was passing by carrying a tray of flutes.

Gia laughed, in an attractive mellifluous tone.  Bette was smiling as she tweaked Tina’s nose, “Gia is a well-known professional women’s beach volleyball player, Tina.  She’s been in the “Got Milk” campaign, and has long been a well-known advocate from the sports field for women’s health.”

Tina smiled wryly, “Oh, I’m sorry I’m not all caught up in the world of sports.”

Gia laughed again in that attractive voice, “Bette was completely in the dark about sports as well, when we first dated.”

Oh, an old girlfriend?  Tina turned to Bette, and with her eyes asked, Is she….?

Yeah, the Brazilian, Bette answered with a look and a small smile.

Meanwhile, Peggy Peabody and Marissa Wheeler had walked over to join them.

Bette kissed Peggy on both cheeks and quickly introduced Gia as Tina smiled at Marissa, and after a beat, gave her a hug and a kiss on each cheek.  She was congratulating Marissa when Bette also turned towards her, and after a quick glance at Tina, gave her a kiss on each cheek.

Peggy tapped Bette’s forearm, sighing, “Oh dear, I think I’ll have to chit-chat with those people over there.  Help Marissa raise some money.  They look like a sorry bunch, don’t they?  I think it will amp the glamour quotient up by several degrees in that group if you could please join me, Bette.  May help loosen their purses and wallets.”

Bette smiled and shrugged her shoulders as Peggy tugged her forearm.  “I promise you Tina I’ll have her back to you before you know it,” Peggy told Tina, as she pulled on Bette’s arm.  Bette turned around to blow Tina an air kiss as they walked away.

Gia and Marissa exchanged kisses on the cheek, as the three stepped to form a loose semi-circle.  Tina thought, Hmmm… everyone seems to know this b-i-t-…

Marissa was explaining, “Yeah I was so honored to be asked to be one of the honorary chairs for various related charities, so I asked the other chairs about just pulling a big event together for the charities.  This all came together at the last minute, and we were lucky that so many people showed up.  All the singers who came and sang tonight, all the spokesmen and women who dropped everything to come, such as yourself ….”