Page 41 of Shame

Someone else approaches and Alex introduces them. I lose sight of my brother-in-law and his girlfriend as Sam shows Hazel some of the Damien Noble work he got a sneak peek at when I first brought him to the gallery.

That was the last time I saw him, I realize with a start. Other than Alex and Damien, I haven’t seen anyone since I found out about the affair.

And Luke.

And a nurse at public health, who advised me not to have sex with anyone until I got the test results back.

But I’ve avoided Sam, and even though I’m glad they’re here, I’m also glad I’m too busy shaking hands to really talk to them.

The next person I see is Zeke Devereaux, owner of The Wheelhouse, and the patron of this show. He looks like a biker, but he knows more about the art world than I ever would have guessed from my past encounters with the kink club owner. I’m grateful for his patronage, and I make sure to tell him that when he brings two guests over to introduce them to me.

“Are you kidding me? I do this kind of thing selfishly. This helps me find the kind of members who can afford to fund the outreach programs Caro loves to put on.”

Zeke’s wife runs daytime programming for people who want to learn more about how to explore alternate lifestyles safely, and she’s one of my most favourite people in the world. “You know I think that’s amazing.”

“Then we have a mutually beneficial arrangement.” He shakes my hand. “And I just boughtDeath of a Marriage, by the way. It’ll be going on display at the club.”

That’s my most expensive piece. I priced it high enough that I thought maybe nobody would want it, and I’d get to take it home.

That was before. When I thought I was in control of my marriage, and when or if I wanted it to end.

Now? I’m stunned. “Thank you,” I say again. “Although it hardly feels like it’s sufficient.”

“Stop.” He laughs, and I apologize again, and one of his guests—an American—comments that it’s a very Canadian back and forth.

Zeke drifts away and I get into a deep conversation with the American about organizing shows from a distance, and it’s only when she gives me her card that I realize she’s a gallery owner in California.

“I’d love to talk about you bringing this show to San Diego,” she says warmly.

I’m bowled over. “I’d love to,” I admit. “But these pieces are all being sold.”

“Some buyers don’t mind loaning their pieces back to a collection for a show, if it increases the value of the piece. Something to think about.”

Indeed. There’s so much to this end of the art world that I still need to figure out. “Thank you, I’ll be in touch.”

Conversations like that slowly spin me from one end of the gallery to the other, and I’m out of breath when Sam and Hazel finally find me near the bar.

“Congratulations,” my brother-in-law says, giving me a tight squeeze. “You made Hazel’s night, too.”

His cheeks pink as she bursts into an excited story about meeting Zeke Devereaux for real this time.

“He’s a pretty cool guy,” I say. Then I lean in. “We should get coffee so we can talk more freely about the kink world without Sam combusting right next to me.”

“It’s fine,” he grumbles.

Hazel claps her hand. “I’d love to catch up.”

We’re picking a date when all the oxygen in the gallery seems to suck towards the door.

My heart lodges in my throat as I turn and see Luke standing in the entrance. He catches my gaze and nods, then takes in the fact that I’m standing with Sam and Hazel.

We’re Prestons. We can’t make a scene.

So when he joins us, he gives me a quick kiss that sears the corner of my mouth and steals my breath.He’s supposed to kiss me. He’s my husband.

Then he plants a hand in the small of my back and rubs a reassuring circle there as I stare up at him, scared to look anywhere else, unable to look at Sam lest he figure out that we’re fighting again, but this time it’s different, this time Luke has gone too far, this time I can’t handle him kissing me.

Why did he kiss the corner of my mouth? Why not my head? I love the way his lips feel brushing my temple.

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