Chapter 53: The Art Gallery Revisited

The familiar scent of oil paint and varnish filled Nathan's nostrils the moment he stepped through the heavy, creaking door of the Hartley Gallery. His heart met its questionable quotient as he paused with his foot in the foyer and thought, What am I doing here? This sporadic, illogical visit went against every rational thought and every carefully constructed barrier that had shot up since he left Olivia. But here he was, like a moth to a flame, unable to resist the memories and unsorted feelings. The gallery was quiet, with only a few customers entering from room to room on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Nathan had learned nonchalance as he prowled the space with his expensive loafers silent on the polished hardwood flooring. He kept telling himself he was just browsing, just looking at the artwork, but his eyes scoured the rooms for a glimpse of that familiar style that had once enchanted him. And then, there it was. Hung in a small alcove, keeping it apart from the other flat surfaces