“Would you ever consider sleeping with a man?”

 Bette sipped her sparkling cider before answering. “well..no” She smiled a little bit, amused at the question. The woman asking it was a happily married republican..a little tipsy from all the champagne she was drinking. The dinner was an “art” benefit or something..really just a poor-excuse to get together with ego-trippers…Bette didn’t know why she was invited to it. “well i would never consider sleeping with a woman…i mean what would you do!” The woman is obviously inebreated and the rest of the guests try and not to notice her. Bette fights the urge to laugh. Her husband…a poor jack of a man with sandy blond hair and skinny legs tries to quiet her…by offering more champagne. Bette rolls her eyes and goes back to her very nicely cooked perogies. However she must compliment the host on his choice of art….very quaint. Bette spent the rest of the actual dinner side-glancing at the very nice Valesquez repilca hanging on the wall on her right.

 The man beside was named Ted. He had a beautiful suit on and a huge rock of a ring on his ‘married’ finger…Bette saw him more than once take it off and play with it. Bette suspected he was as bored as her. She leaned in slightly and commented on how pointless the whole thing was. In return he snorted and leaned in also…commentatin on how more drunk that republican was getting. In fact she had fallen off her seat and now her husband was apologizing to everybody and saying how they must leave now. Bette nodded her goodbyes, not supressing her smile at all. what was really on her mind though was two things. ***** the dinner…she only went because Vaila went too. Bette had to ask how she knew Grant….the art collector who invited everybody. She was also thinking about Fleur….with Angelica. That evening Bette made the crucial first step by knocking on her daughter’s door. Angie called out for her to come in…a look of suprise and suspiscion on her face. Angie was at her desk writing stuff in her notebook…Bette was curious what. she quitely asked if Angie was free tonight…..Angie said yeah…it was her day off from work. “well…um i was wondering if it be alright with you if you stayed with Fleur tonight and make sure she goes to bed, i have a dinner benefit thing” Bette was taken aback at how Angie’s face just glowed…she had agreed heartily. when Bette thanked her and got up to leave, Angie cleared her throat and…..”ummm can i …talk to you mom?” Bette had turned around, her heart beating, and sat down on Angie’s bed. “Yeah…yeah of course, what is it?” Angelica sat on the bed beside Bette…”well…i found my own place, it’s only about forty minutes away from here…and umm i was wondering, after i spend more time with Fleur and take more of an initiative with her..like shopping and tucking in bed and stuff…maybe she could sleep over once a week?” Bette thought the earth stopped spinning. “Wow…of course Angelica…yea…but for a couple months though, i think if you spend more time with her other than ice cream excursion and stuff”  Angelica nodded…”I know, i know…and im applying for this office job, it’s nothing much only some reception work but my friend put a word in for me and he’s pulled some strings..i should start next week”  Bette smiled…”that’s great Angie…this friend, is  he your boyfriend?”  Angelica looked down at her hands…”yeah h eis, well sort of..i think so, he’s really nice” Bette patted Angie on the back..”then im happy for you” Since there was nothing else to say things became awkward, Bette looked down then got up. Angelica called out though and Bette turned around..”mom….let’s make an effort to not fight…for Fleur’s sake” Bette tried not to hear her heart break…”yea let’s do that, and hopefully we’ll not fight for our sake”