Chapter 40: The Art Gallery Revisited

Olivia smoothed at the entrance to the Hartley Gallery, her heart hammering out an unsteady rhythm against her ribs. Champagne glasses rendered soft clinking sounds as conversation emerged from all sorts of lips, very low and humbling. The space that a moment ago seemed so familiar and comforting to her now seemed charged with memories and emotions left unsaid. "You okay?" Mark's voice was low and even, a knife through the rising panic. His hand rested lightly on the small of her back, anchoring her like a warm handhold in the sea of her anxiety. Olivia took a deep breath, forcing a smile. "Yes, I'm fine. It's just. been a while." Mark's warm, understanding eyes rose to hers. "We don't have to if this is too much for you. Your health first." But his face was so honest, so free of expectation, that Olivia's heart swelled. She shook her head and squared up her shoulders. "No, I want to do this. I need to." Olivia took a nod of encouragement from Mark before entering the gallery. The