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Marge laughed, then im
mediately sobered. "Im sorry. I know its not funny. "
Elizabeth actually smiled. "Im glad my humiliation is amusing. Maybe Ill get hit by a bus later and you can really crack up. "
"Youll be okay, Elizabeth. Dont you worry. "
The bell above the door jangled.
"Oh, good," Elizabeth muttered. She forced a fake smile.
Kim walked into the gallery. She looked pale and skittery; her gaze darted nervously from side to side. She was dressed in black lambskin pants and a black cashmere turtleneck sweater. Surprisingly, a scarlet pashmina shawl hung draped over one shoulder.
"Welcome to Eclectica," Marge said.
Kim waved a hand dismissively and headed for the back wall. In front of Elizabeths work, she stopped.
"The artist is right there," Marge said loudly.
Elizabeth came out from the corner. "Hello, Kim. You missed the group. "
Kim snapped open her purse, digging through it. "And I so wanted to spend more time with them. " She cocked her head toward the wall. "Are these your paintings?"
"Yes. "
Kim looked at them. For a split second, her gaze softened, and Elizabeth saw the longing in her eyes.
She knew how it felt, that longing. For years, shed been locked inside herself, unable to imagine a way out. That was where Kim stood right now.
"Ill take that one," Kim said, pointing to the seascape.
"Sorry, the store has a policy against mercy purchases. "
"What do you mean?"
"Well, as you and I knew would happen, I bombed today. The only thing less in demand than my paintings was the tofu-flavored ice cream. And Marges hors doeuvres. "
"But whats a mercy purchase?"
"Thats when a friend feels sorry for the artist and buys a piece. No thanks. But I really appreciate the gesture. "
Kim looked at her. "You think were friends?"
"Of course we are," Elizabeth said quietly.
Kim smiled suddenly, and the change in her demeanor was remarkable. "Take that painting down and wrap it up. And dont you dare call it a mercy purchase. I want to hang it in my living room. Every time I look at it, Ill remember that its possible to start over. Youd sell that hope to a friend, wouldnt you?"
It was a lovely gesture; there was no way for Kim to know that it only made her feel worse.
Elizabeth took the painting down from the wall and carried it to the register.
To Marge, she said, "The price on this was wrong. Its--"
"No way," Kim said, barreling up beside her. "Shitheel left me loaded. Let me do this my way. "
Elizabeth longed to feel good about this sale, but she couldnt quite make it over the hump. The painting hadnt sold because of its beauty. "Okay. "
When Kim was finished paying for the piece, she turned to Elizabeth. "Will you be at the meeting this week?"
