Tina: But please just make sure I get to read the report before you give it back to Oscar ok?

Janice: Yeah sure. Well Ill get right to it.

I walked into my office and closed the door behind me. God this week has been crazy!!! Ive had meetings non-stop mornings and afternoons. Oscars been away for two weeks and Ive been running the show here. My office is such a mess. Papers were everywhere. I sat behind my desk playing with my pen while reviewing the piled up reports that I have on my desk.

I heard a knock on the door and the pen I was holding slipped from my grip. God! I bent down to grab the pen but it was far under the desk that I had to go under it just to reach it.

Tina: Come in!!

I was still looking for my pen under the desk.

Alice: Tee? What are you doing under there?

Tina: Hang on I was just ouch!!! (I banged my head under the table) *****!

Alice: Tee!

Alice walked around my desk. She bent down to look at me.

Alice: Ummm Hey are you ok?

I took her hand to help me up. I showed her the pen.

Tina: Im ok. Im sure thatll bruise!!!

Alice: Let me have a look. Here sit down.

I sat on my chair and leaned back as Alice checked my bumped head.

Alice: Everything is A ok!

Tina: Thanks. So umm (touching the would-be bruised part of my head) what are you doing here?

Alice: If I remember correctly you asked me to pick u up for lunch so here I am the designated driver for today at your service maam.

Tina: Is it lunch time already?

Alice: Its lunchtime so can we get going please?

Tina: *****. Ok alright. Man I have so much to do I dont know if I should go

Alice: Come on Tee! We missed you last week.

Tina: I know but Oscars still away and the place is going crazy by the minute

Alice: Please only for an hour. You still need to eat!!!

I looked around. *****! How am I going to be able to pull this off before Oscar actually comes back from his holiday? I didnt anticipate things would be like this when Oscar asked me to look after the Center when hes away. Now that I know, I dont think Id want to if there was a second time. But I really am hungry and Ive been blowing off the girls more now. I guess a little lunch wouldnt hurt.

Tina: I guess I can get an hour off.

Alice: Good lets go.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Planet was packed as usual but with Kit we know well always get the best tables. I walked into the Planet with Alice next to me. When I think back of all the times I walked into the Planet with Bette, it just seems like it was a hundred years ago. Back then I thought I would never see a day where I would walk here without her. But here I am now, with Alice about to have our weekly lunch together.

Kit: You look great girl!! What you been up to?

Kit gave me a hug.

Tina: Thanks Kit. Ive been busy with work. So wheres Shane?

Alice: She said shell be coming. I wonder what is up. Shes never late.

Kit: Her appointment might have taken longer

I saw Shane walking into The Planet smiling as she approached our table.

Alice: Speak of the devil.

Kit: Hey!

Shane: Hey guys! Sorry to keep you waiting. Hey Tee, how are you? I havent seen you in a while.

Tina: Im great thanks. Did you get held up at the salon?

Shane: Yeah they brought in like three actresses there without any appointments and I had to get my best hairdressers to deal with them. But one was too demanding that she wanted me to do her hair So yeah thats why Im late.

Alice: Which actresses?

Shane: Im not sure. They came with a few studio people though.

Alice: Well, isnt your salon the lucky one!

Shane rolled her eyes at that statement. I smiled. We all know how Shane hated her salon to be known as the celebrity magnet. Although money keep flowing into her pocket through celebrity haircuts, Shane somehow hates the fact her salon is popular for it. I dont know why but it probably was due to her fallout with her Hollywood girlfriend a few years ago.

Shane: So uh guys. Did you get something in the post today?

Kit shook her head.

Tina: Anything special?

Alice: No, why?

Shane was smiling.

Alice: Whats with the smile?

Shane: Wellwere going to New York!!!

Alice: What?

Shane: I got a mail here. Have a look These are the programs for

Alice: Give me those!

Alice carefully took the pamphlets in her hands nodding as she understood what they were for. I noticed the change in her expression. And I knew it was from Bette, must be another show of hers.

Kit: What does it say Al?

Alice looked up to see me and smiled apologetically at me.

Alice: Theyre from Bette. Shes got a new show opening up at her gallery.

Kit: Oh yeah she told me about that. Thats really quick!

Alice: Yeah in a matter of weeks! How come Bette sent this to you and not to me or

Alice shut herself up.

Shane: She sent a few pamphlets for us. So I guess it was just enough to send them to one of us since we see each other on almost daily basis.

Kit: Uh hmm. Not anymore

Shane: Well, you know what I mean

Alice: Ok well were all going right?

Kit: ***** yeah. I wouldnt miss it for the world.

Shane: Definitely. Ive told Dana over the phone this morning. And she said she definitely will go since that would be her first attendance to Bettes in New York.

While all the conversing was going on, I was quiet. I looked at the program Bette has sent from New York. There was a picture of her, smiling on the inside of the program. It says here Miss Elizabeth Porter, Founder of The Porter Gallery, New York. She still looks beautiful as ever. Her smile; that contagious ***** smile. And then there was a picture, which I think was, of the main gallery. It looks so much like her. Every touch and every design that I could see reflected her.

Alice: Tee? What about you? Are you coming?

I looked at her, then at Shane and then at Kit. I dont know if I could. And I dont know if I wanted to. All this time without any news and then I would attend her show? This was the fourth time she had invited us to fly to New York to visit her as she launched her show. And all the three previous times Ive said no. She didnt say anything about inviting me to the show personally and If I were to go I dont know if shed really want to see me. I know its been three years but Im just not ready yet to face her

Tina: Umm no I cant. Im pretty busy with work, what with Oscar being away

Shane looked at me and shook her head but smiled nonetheless.

Shane: We should order lunch. Im starving!

Alice: Lets!

The rest of lunch was great. Ive missed the girls so much. This was supposed to be our daily lunch but since everyone was busy with work our daily lunch turned to weekly lunch. We talked on topics from Shanes day at work and how shes been doing the last week, Kits Planet progress and how the Kitty Kat nights (where she stand in as the DJ for the night) have been great for her and of course Alices gossip columns.

But throughout the conversation, no one touches topic on Bette. This is how things are now. No one really talks about Bette. Well maybe not in front of me. And if that mater slipped, they would surely be able to change the subject. I actually dont mind talking about Bette but even when I told them that it was ok, theyd just brush it off aside and talk about something else. I just wish theyd talk to me about it but I didnt want to push it. I didnt want the girls to be uncomfortable about being with me while talking about Bette so I just let that one slip. I know how much they love Bette. In fact, Bette was their friend first before me. I only knew them through my relationship with her. And I guess its only fair to just let things be for them.

I had an enjoyable lunch with the girls and stayed there longer than my one hour I had promised myself. But as they say, all good things must come to an end.

Tina: Im sorry guys; as much as I love hanging here I have to get back to work.

Kit: Awww ok well, will see you next week when we get back from New York then ok baby girl?

Tina: Ok Kit.

Shane: Bye Tee.

Alice: You sure you dont need dropping off?

Tina: Yeah Al, Ill be fine. Ill get the taxi you can stay here longer.

Alice: Well, ok! See you soon!

Tina: Bye guys!

I knew when I walked out of The Planet; the girls would talk about Bette and her new show. I wish theyd include me in those topics. I miss Bette; I miss talking to her, I miss talking about her, I miss listening to her talk, and I cant believe Im saying this but I kinda miss having her rant about her ***** days at work.

As I got home that night I looked at the pamphlet that Bette has sent. Bette is more popular than ever now. Her name was always mentioned in art magazines. Article headings from Art Director turned Gallery Owner, or The Return of the Gallery Owner to Single, ***** Gallery Owner. Bettes star is shining brightly now. And Im so happy for her. Shes achieved so much in the three years she formed the gallery in New York. And she has been through a ***** lot; especially when she bailed from the CAC to venture into something unknown.

I remember an article written about her entitled Directors Prospects Turned Sour. I still couldnt imagine what she went though. A week after that article came out, she left the CAC. And I didnt even get to say goodbye or ask her where she was going or how she was doing I didnt know until Alice had to break it to me. She must have gone through ***** at that stage in her life. I know she cheated on me but having the whole world turned its back on her wasnt something Id wish on her not on anyone for that matter. I wish I was there for her. But that was a tumultuous times for both of us, especially me. After the cheating I just couldnt face her. We tried to work it out but it just wasnt going anywhere. We both fell back into our comfortable space and then we didnt talk and so the bubbles burst yet again for the second time.

I looked at the pamphlet again and noticed for the first time how much different Bette is now. Sure she was smiling and all but what is it? What is that that I see? Something was missing. The sparkles in her eyes had gone. Is that sadness? Is that sadness in her eyes?

I placed it on my bed. I walked over to the cabinet near the bathroom and pulled out a box where I keep all the clippings and articles from newspapers and magazines that keep me closer to her and give me the connection that I so needed to feel now that I dont have her here. Pulled it open and threw the contents on my bed. They were pamphlets and programs from Bettes last shows that I skipped. Pictures, pictures, pictures I need Bettes pictures

I looked over a few photographs of her. Yes most of them are of her smiling and looking very happy and cheerful. But what caught my eyes most is the fact that none of them had the twinkle that she used to have in her eyes. The joy, the feeling of elation and content; they are all missing!!! I got up and took another box out from the cabinet. Another box containing pictures of Bette when we were together and some memoirs of our partnership the past years.

I took one of Bettes. She looks so happy in the picture much like the one in the brochure. God how Ive missed that smile and I could even hear her laughter now. I love the fact that she seems so strong on the outside and how she puts up a front for everyone to see and keeps the soft sweet side of her just for me. I love how she can be so romantic when you least expected it, I love how she can make you feel like a princess and I definitely love how she could turn my bluest day brighter.

I looked at the photo again and again. Theres the twinkle in her eyes and yet when I compared it with the one on the brochure; it was totally gone. No happiness reflected in her eyes, no contentment nothing! Just a feeling of emptiness and sadness. Is that it? Where has it gone? Where have the twinkles gone? Why? What has happened?

I placed them on my bed. Spread them out so I could see more clearly. When I thought I couldnt see any more of this, I dug deeper into the box to find something that would state otherwise, and found a small chest. I know whats inside. I held it in my palms. Then my whole life flashes right in front of me in a second. So fast I couldnt keep track until it suddenly slowed down To the memory of that one day. One particular day. One of the most special days where it played an important significance as it slipped on my finger… to have and to hold in sickness and in health til death us do part…