“Do you really think so?”  Bette was touched that Tina had sought the artist’s work out.

“Yeah, I do.”

 “So what did you have for dinner?”  

Bette asked wondering if Tina had requested the perfect table in the corner.  Bette once paid for another couple’s dinner to get them to change tables.  Tina was mortified that Bette had asked them to move and touched at the same time.

“The duck.”

“I knew it.”  

“If it makes you feel any better, I started with oysters.  You know why I had the duck.”

“Any dish that requires cleaning the oven afterwards is not worth making at home.”

They both laughed.

“I had the fish stew on Christmas Eve.  I could it make for you sometime.”

“I’d like that.”  Bette paused.  “We had some good trips to Northern California, Guerneville and the Russian River Valley, Calistoga, eating at French Laundry… ”

“I’ve really enjoyed my trip.  I could totally see myself living in the Bay Area.  It’s beautiful and there are so many places to hike and relax.  The city is so different than L.A., but I think I could get used to it.”

Tina didn’t tell Bette how much she enjoyed being out a San Francisco club where nobody knew who she was or cared that she worked in the movie business.  Nor did she tell her about how she had danced with abandon with a group of cute gay men. Tina would never dream of telling Bette that she had bought a cute dyke, who totally wasn’t a her usual type a drink, had taken her out on the dance floor to see how she moved and after deciding the moves were good enough, brought her back to her hotel room at the Mandarin Oriental.

Bette was alarmed at Tina’s fond declaration for the city by the bay and its environs.

“Are you thinking of moving?”  Bette asked trying to keep the panic from her voice.

“Not in the immediate future.  I wouldn’t do that to Angelica and wouldn’t do it to you. Besides, I need to live in L.A. for work.  Maybe after Angelica graduates from college or I become an independent producer.”

“What about graduate school?”

“Angelica can go to state university or take out loans and you can contribute whatever you want.  I’m not paying for private schools from age 3 to 30.  I thought that preschool you have your eye on is good enough to ultimately get her a scholarship to an ivy league.”

“No, I said it practically guaranteed an Ivy League education.”

Their banter was lighthearted since by now it was an old argument between them and fortunately, Angelica was still a toddler.  Bette was convinced that when the time came there was no way Tina would actually deny Angelica help with her post graduate education, if she chose to do a PhD.

“I didn’t know you were planning on becoming an independent producer.”

“I can’t afford to do it now, but someday, my goal is to only have to kiss ass to get and produce the properties I want to do.”

Tina really didn’t relish spending the next 25-years of her work life clawing her way through the day, fighting to get ahead, fighting to fend off those who wanted her job…. but she did want to provide the best she could for her daughter and give her all the tools she’d need to lead a happy and successful life.

“Come on Ti, everyone in Hollywood isn’t as difficult as Jenny.”

“You’re right, some are worse.”

Tina glanced at her watch.

“Don’t you need to get some sleep?   I have the luxury of sleeping late tomorrow.”

“Thanks for rubbing it in.  While you’ve been on vacation drinking wine all day – I’ve been getting up by 7:00 a.m.”

“You love having Angelica.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Will you give her a kiss for me?”

“Sure, I can do that.”

“Sleep well, Bette.”

“You too, Ti.”
“I’ll see you Sunday.”

“Okay.  Call before you come by.”

“Goodnight, Bette.”

“Goodnight, Ti.”

Tina closed her cell phone, took a sip of wine, and watched the moon wink at her through a wisp of fog.  She suddenly felt very alone in her quaint room.

Bette put down her phone, took note of the empty space beside her in bed and let out a frustrated sigh.