CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE: The Queen

You are cordially invited to attend a special evening of cocktails, dinner and dancing in celebration of Elizabeth Jean Porter’s 18th birthday on the Twentieth of April at the Japanese Gardens, Porter Estate Hollywood Hills CA.

“What do you give to the person who has everything?”

Tina Kennard asked herself that clichéd question for the tenth time as she stared at the simple, yet elegant red invitation in her hands. She sighed as the answer eluded her once again. She was really at a loss and was finding herself becoming quite frustrated with each passing minute.

She slowly lifted up the scented paper to her nose and inhaled deeply. It smelled like her, she smiled to herself. The scent was very strong at first, powerful enough to make you wrinkle your nose and turn your head away.. but after a few moments, it just grows on you.. and soon you find yourself enjoying the smell and becoming completely lost in the fragrance. Just like her.. just like Bette. She exhaled deeply as she withdrew the paper from her face and held it up once more to read its contents. A smile crept to her lips as she looked at the familiar script at the bottom of the invitation. Out of the hundreds of invitations sent out for Bette Porter’s 18th birthday party.. she received the only one that had a personalized note at the bottom. She could actually hear the brunette’s voice as she read the sentences over and over again..

P.S. Don’t forget to give me something okay? I think you know what I want the most… – BP

P.P.S. If you could come wearing that red Vera Wang (the one with the plunging neckline and the slit at the side) that I bought you for Helena’s party, that would be really, really nice too.

Tina laughed a little as she read Bette’s last request. Typical Porter, she shook her head in amusement. I think you know what I want the most. The words swam around her head as her mind once again drifted back to the issue of the gift. How could she say that? I don’t even have the vaguest idea of what she wants, she sighed. Porter should have tried to be her usual pompous self and asked for something insanely out of her budget, Tina mused, that would have pissed her off and maybe then she wouldn’t be so anxious about the gift. Five more days till Saturday – and that isn’t hardly enough time for her to think and prepare for this properly, she shook her head.