ollectors, who had ignored her moments before, were now pressing their

ece! I'll give you five m

nored to represent y

way. "I'm sorry, it's not for sale. It'

. "My deepest apologies for my... unprofessional assessment." He cleared his throat. "I happen to manage this gallery. We have a prime retail

had come for. "I'd be ve

is office, the small hand that had bee

a shimmering kinetic sculpture

room upstairs. He was with a potential investor, discussing a new art fund, but his mind was elsewhere. It

stairs, his eyes scanning the

on the cuff of his

oked

lding a worn-out stuffed rabbit and had the biggest, most serious blue ey

found them noisy and unpredictable. But there was somet

the outdoors after it rains. It was a strange, comforting scent, one that reminded her of the way h

d out her small arms, and wrapped

voice no one but her mother and brothers h

ad

ning bolt. His entire body went rigid.

ing as they turned to stare. The investor at his side

off him. But as he looked down into those trust

nch, a signed lease agreement in her hand. She turned, a

was

ized her. "Ella?" she cal

gazes of the crowd, tracing th

ghter. Clinging

he saw the

lease agreement slipped from her num

ssa

s image from her memory, he was here, just feet aw

ad feared above all

rd, melting into the shadow of a large bronze statue, her h

to do? If he saw he

ng to gently detach the little girl. His voice was str

st his leg, content in the presence of a father she

-