“The gala. I know. We need to go shopping tomorrow.”
“No. Well, yes. Of course the gala.”
“And you definitely need a dress,” Rafi said. “I’ve already picked out the perfect—”
He was stopped by Graham’s upraised hand. “May I?”
“Actually,” Kari said, “there’s something I need to explain—”
“Best let him get it over with,” Rafi said. “He may never start again. Then I’ll have to tell you. And that way leads to ruin.”
“Tell mewhat?”
“Your retrospective is not in the exhibition hall.”
“You already told me that.”
“I did? When?”
“Last night.” She saw how nervous Graham was. Kari reached over and took his hand. “Graham.” She held her other hand across the finished meal. “Rafi. You two dear men are why we’re sitting here. In the studio of my new home. Whatever it is you need me to do . . .” Pause for a big breath. “I agree in advance. I’ll do it.”
A very different Rafi began, “The retrospective is all about you. We’ll be shunted off to some drab corner and left to molder.”
“I won’t let that happen.”
Graham said, “We’ve added another condition to your attending.”
Rafi said, “One that really was just for us. We demanded a booth in the hall. And not just any booth. Ours is directly across from the hall’s main entrance.”
“There’s a six-year waiting list foranybooth,” Graham said.
“The directors shrieked so loud, they set the dogs to howling in Barbados,” Rafi said, smiling at the memory. “But in the end, they agreed.”
“That’s how much they want you to attend,” Graham said.
“Our plan was to showcase your two recent works,” Rafi said. “Justin’s and Indrid’s.”
“Marked SOLD, of course,” Graham said. “Then we’d use the rest of the space for other artists. But now . . .”
Kari said, “You want to sell my works. The ones I’ve held back.”
The two men did not respond. If either breathed, she could not tell.
Kari released their hands and rose to her feet. “Come tell me which ones.”
But as they walked with her along the rows of the paintings, she found the distance growing between herself and the work. She had brought the paintings as an anchor, a reassuring link to all she was, what she had accomplished, and who she wanted to become.
Now, though, she felt as if they belonged to a different era. What Indrid had said came back to her in a rush of clarity. She was entering a new phase of life.
It was time to let them go.
They selected five.
Kari said, “Take them all.”
Rafi staggered over and leaned against the opposite wall.
Graham said, “Allof them?”
