Her workplace was definitely societies away from the art crowd but it was in times like these that she eventually eased into surrender and drowned the nagging feeling that she wasnt suppose to be here. After all, Tina was the type to make the best of what she was given. Art galleries, also, had a way of pulling her differently from the usual splash of color Eric hung at his apartment.

And Eric -well, Eric had to work; and perusing the best gallery owners offered what browsing through the artwork could not. In the end, the owners -the people who chose the art -had all the connections.

Sooner, rather than later, she found herself talking to a number of people, exchanging greetings with them, and then actually throwing narratives back and forth as Eric left her to her devices. Crawling out of her insecurity was a cheerful process, if a tad enlightening because the people here were accommodating despite their credentials and their oftentimes unapproachable wardrobe. Not unknown to her was the fact that the general populace warmed to her charming demeanor, her Southern innocence and the intelligence whetted by the California setting.

As she eased into a rhythm of talk and tell, Eric would pick her up, bring her to another group, flit back and forth in the movement of an enthusiastic boy whose attention couldnt quite keep up with his eagerness to meet everyone in sight. Tina guessed it was one of the many qualities she loved in him and why she had come in the first place: to see Eric at his best. Soon, as with all other things, once she had maneuvered to a sense of comfort within the space, she began the scrutiny of the art and found herselfpiqued.

The moments ceased to drag when in his zeal, Eric grabbed her hand and whispered in her ear, Tina, I swearthis person, youll just love her! Every museum in Los Angeles would love to have a piece of her; the rumor mills been grinding a rumor about the CAC and a hefty position they offered to her, which shes making them wait for. How crazy is that?

It was then that they gravitated towards a slender figure in a dark suit, her back to them, and talking animatedly in a voice that conveyed not only her formidable understanding of the art, but also of her confidence.