The closer we got to the date, the more excited I became. I invited everyone from the fashion world I could think of, including Thea. After what we had been through, she was still nice to me and promised she would come. In our time out of each other's lives, she had left Tigre Designs and was now starting her own design company. Already she had sold designs to Kathy Lee and Jaclyn Smith. "Not too shabby," I told her and she laughed, which triggered a deep hoarse cough and I remembered her cigarette habit of about a hundred a day.

She said she'd see me at the show and was glad I was still designing. "If I had a choice," I said, "I'd be a straight housewife in New England." Again this set off a laugh filled coughing fit.

*****

I hadn't met Harvey or seen his artwork and I was eager to meet him over pizza and beer, which Greg was out getting. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

I opened the door to a six-foot man with a shaved head wearing a dark new suit. "Harvey?" I asked.

"That's-a-me, babe." He said strolling in, inspecting my apartment. Referring to the walls he said, "Looks like Greg's been pissing around here." And for a moment I felt pissed on. He sat on the couch before I could say anything. "Greg's not here." And boom, Greg came in with a six pack of Bud and a hot pizza.

"You two meet?"

Before I could say anything Harvey said, "Yeah, yeah." This was not going to be easy, I thought, as I listened to Harvey and Greg ramble about.

Finally, I asked to see Harvey's book, which he eagerly opened, revealing sculptures of cocks and balls and paintings of the same. "Pretty intimidating huh Fran?" Harvey said, grinning like someone's ten-year brother who just put itching cream in your underwear.

"Intimidating? No. Ridiculous? Yes."

"Hey Babe, I didn't insult your little pencil drawings."

"Greg, I don't think this is going to work."

"Well, we don't need her." Snapped Harvey.

I watched Greg turn and wonder to himself what would come out of his own mouth. This was one of those moments that would define Greg for me and probably for himself. Suddenly, I thought of the framed picture I had of the two of us on my bedroom mantle.

Would he stand by me or sell out to show his work? Silence. Harvey and I both stared at Greg. I could tell Greg resented being put in this position, and was clear to the kind of position it was...exactly. Finally, he said, "We're not doing it without Fran, Harvey. If you want to go forward without her, you're on your own. Fran and I are a team."

I wanted to cry. My baby had grown into a real friend, one that I could count on. I turned to Harvey, "Look, I didn't mean to insult your work, I just...well, I just don't understand it. You'll help me and I'll help you understand my work maybe...if you want."

"Yeah," he said. "You know I've lost friends showing them my artwork. I don't get it."

Greg said, "Buds for all!"

I looked at Harvey and saw that he didn't get a lot of things. Maybe that was something to be afraid of.