“Logan’s coming.” I hoped my cheeks didn’t look as hot as they felt. I hated inconveniencing anyone, and I had no idea what to do about Jenna’s car. Was the battery just dead? Maybe Logan had cables and we could jump it?
Norman nodded. “Good. Come here. Let me show you something while you wait.”
He led me to one of the folding tables near the back wall, currently buried under a small avalanche of portfolios. Thick binders, battered black cases, manila envelopes. He spread his hands over the mess. “You’re interested in curating.”
It was a statement, not a question. “Yes. Absolutely.”
“Well, these are submissions for the opening. Student work, upcoming artists. Some promising, I think. Obviously I already have our main attractions targeted.” He flipped open a binder on top and handed it to me. “What do you see?”
The binder belonged to a sculptor from Lethbridge. Steel, stone, a lot of angst. I stared at the pictures for a long moment. “Strong material sense,” I said slowly. “But it’s all . . . I don’t know. It feels a little performative. I don’t know if that’s the right word. Like he’s making them for people to display at the top of their driveway to feel fancy.”
His mouth curved. He took the binder back and shut it, then pulled out the next. “And this one?”
We went through a few more. A painter from Saskatoon obsessed with empty interiors, a printmaker who used wheat as a recurring motif, a photographer who played with overexposure. I gave gut reactions. What else could I do? I had zero information on these people. Norman pushed back on some, but most of the time he was quiet which was actually so much worse.
After a while, he nodded. “You have a good eye. Instincts will sharpen with time, but they’re sound. I’d like you to talk to someone.” Norman began restacking the binders and folders. “Her name is Alison Kerr. She’s an associate curator at the Glenbow. Brilliant, a little intimidating, excellent at her job. She consults on some of our programming. When we go to the Palliser, I’d like you to meet her. It’s a little selfish, though. She’s always complaining there’s no one in Calgary under forty who understands both practice and theory. I’d like to prove her wrong.”
My stomach flipped. “I don’t know?—”
“You don’t have to impress her, my recommendation alone will do that. I only want the two of you to be connected.”
It felt like I might physically levitate. I swallowed hard. “That would be amazing. Thank you.”
“Good.” He closed another portfolio just as I heard the familiar rumble of a truck outside, then the slam of a door. A moment later, footsteps echoed in the empty building.
“Honey, I’m home!” Logan called out.
Hilarious. I rolled my eyes.
Norman’s mouth tipped up. “It seems your chariot awaits.”
I scooped up my bag and thanked him as he assured me it was fine to leave my car there overnight if needed.
Logan stood just inside the front doors, cheeks pink from the cold. He was in grey sweatpants, Adidas slides, and a hoodie. His hair was mussed, like it had just dried after a shower. He lookedrelaxed. A little sleepy maybe? Completely the opposite of his suit on campus, and it was disarming.
He held up his keys. “Heard someone needed a tow fairy.”
I stopped in front of him. “I really appreciate you coming.”
“I live less than ten minutes from here. Not a big deal.”
We walked out together. The temperature had dropped, and Jenna’s car sat sadly in the lot, a little blue lump under a fresh dusting of snow.
Logan headed straight for it, rubbing his hands together like he’d been waiting for this moment. “Alright. Pop the hood.”
I walked to the driver’s side door and opened it, searching for any kind of lever. I’d seen my dad pop his hood before but had no idea how to do it. Finally I gave up. “I don’t know how to do that. Don’t mock me.”
His mouth quirked. “You think I’d mock you?”
“I know you would.”
He grinned. “Driver’s side. Down by your knee.”
I bent over and searched. Sure enough. The hood thunked open with a sad little groan.
Logan propped it up and leaned in. “Battery terminal’s loose,” he murmured. “But I don’t see anything else obvious.”
I stood beside him and took in the car innards. “Hm. Yeah. Me either.”
