Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
K at did her job and did it well all week. But she left the museum at five o’clock each day.
By mid-week, the exhibit was ready to unveil to the public.
And it was fantastic. On Friday, she made a last visit to the display for a final video without workers, boxes, or clutter.
She smoothed a hand over a small table and wished the public could touch and feel all the pieces.
Sadly, not possible. The pieces would be roped off and out of reach.
“Oh my gosh, Kat this absolutely rocks.”
Kat turned at Cassie’s voice and moved toward her for a congratulatory hug. “It does,” Kat agreed.
Cassie pulled back but hung onto Kat’s arm and held her gaze. “And everyone at the top knows. It really sucks that you didn’t get the promotion, but you’re on the radar, I promise. I just hope Blake is good to work with.”
“Me, too.” The announcement naming Blake from Boston as the new associate curator had come only a day after Kat was notified she wasn’t the winning candidate. Old news. She was tired of rehashing it. “How are things going for you?” she asked. “A smooth transition?”
“Lots to learn, but I have a great team. Everyone seems to get along and pull their weight.” She nudged Kat’s arm. “I miss you, though.”
“I miss you, too.”
“Hey, let’s get a selfie. “Our last project and the coolest exhibit ever to open in such a short amount of time.”
They stood in front of the row of live bamboo and snapped several.
“Okay, now let me get some with just you,” Cassie said.
Kat moved around the room and posed, then took photos of Cassie doing the same.
“And that’s a wrap,” Cassie said. “It’s happy hour. Want to go have a drink to celebrate?”
“Absolutely. First, I want to get some video and need to run back up to my desk.”
“Okay, let’s meet in twenty minutes at Chrysanthemum.”
“See you there.” It was a favorite wine bar close to the museum.
But Kat wouldn’t stay long. She was anxious to take a final look at the digital flyer she’d designed to post on her website about the Loft show and the email she’d send soon.
She wanted Nick to take a last look with a fresh set of eyes, too.
Matt had suggested sending it two weeks out, and it was almost time. She couldn’t wait to hit send.
Thankfully, it seemed the details of organizing the show had been turned over to Matt, and Kat hadn’t been forced to see or talk to Pete. Maybe he’d finally gotten the strictly business message. She hoped he wouldn’t say or do anything awkward in front of Nick or her dad at the opening reception.
After a quick happy hour with Cassie, Kat settled in front of her computer with an iced tea and opened the promo documents.
She studied them closely, making sure all the text was clear and legible, every comma was in the right place, and every border was the exact same width.
Then, she took a deep breath and emailed the drafts to Nick along with a photo of her at the bamboo exhibit.
She sent a quick text to let him know to check email.
The man could be lost in his shop and not answer those for hours.
* * *
Nick felt his phone buzz but was determined to finish the bookkeeping in front of him. He’d been interrupted by Sherra from HBTV probably five times today. The good part of that was she seemed excited about how his segments were coming together. The bad part was he had other things to do.
Ten minutes later, he pulled the phone from his pocket and found a text from Kat.
Okay, for this, the other numbers could wait.
He read the message then opened his email.
Wow . His pulse jumped as he stared at Kat’s rough draft of the promo piece for her show.
It was dramatic. It was professional. And whimsical all at the same time.
Her signature combination of colors, light, and movement made an impressive statement.
She’d added a hint of color to her eyes, cheeks, and lips on the black and white photo he’d taken. The photo was already stunning, but the subtle tinting took it to another realm. It had a mystical quality. And it popped against the bold orange-red floral design bordering it.
His first thought was to pick up the phone and call, but she wanted him to proof it first. Tearing his eyes away from Kat’s photo, Nick forced himself to examine the layout and every single word.
She’d obviously spent some time studying graphic design, too.
Heart pounding, he pressed her number on his cell phone.
A moment later, her soft voice came on the line. “Hey.”
“Wow, Kat. This is awesome.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I can’t stop looking at it. Maybe you should go ahead and get some printed yourself.”
“I’d rather not spend my own money when he–”
“I’m serious, Kat. This will stop people in their tracks. Even if a postcard doesn’t get people to the gallery, they sure will stop and look, maybe keep it for future reference.”
“But it’s more like a flyer in size now rather than a postcard. I’d have to resize everything to fit a different format. Not sure I have time for that. The MoMA exhibit opens to the public tomorrow, and I need to show up for a few hours.”
“Right. Well, it’s stunning. And I love what you did with the photo.” He lowered his voice. “That photo is gonna keep me up tonight.” And have him needing a cold shower.
A wide smile lit her face. “I’m glad you like it. You think it’s ready to send?”
“I do.”
“I’m trying to decide timing. Maybe tomorrow morning?”
“I don’t see any harm in getting it out there. Check it off the list, babe.”
“Exactly.”
“That mean we can fit in movie night?”
“Sure.”
“Great. But first, do you have your calendar handy?”
“Hang on a sec.” She disappeared for a moment. “What’s up? Do you have travels to add to my calendar?”
The hopeful anticipation in her voice sent blood rushing to his head.
“I have a proposition. Listen to this—I agreed to do this charity auction thing at the Denver Art Museum June seventh. By then the HBTV filming will be done, and your show will be over. I’m thinking we could work in a vacay.
Maybe you come here for a few days, be my date at the charity gig, then we head up to Estes Park or Vail for some away time. How’s that sound?”
A soft light sparkled in her eyes as she nodded. “It sounds wonderful.”
“Think you could get away?”
“I can put in for the time off. I sometimes have to work a few hours on the floor during the summer since it’s our busiest season, but if I schedule early, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Nick cleared his throat. “I…I’d like to introduce you to my parents, go out for dinner or cook out…something like that.” He’d only ever introduced one girlfriend to his parents, and that was back in college. He wanted to show off Kat. Wanted to make her an official part of his life.
But she’s out of your league, a voice whispered in his ear. In his head, he compared his parents’ modest home to Kat’s parents’ house. Would she also make those comparisons? While he held his breath, he held her gaze and waited for her response.
“I’d love to meet them, too,” she said.
The air whooshed from his lungs, and guilt washed over him. She’d never given him any reason to doubt her sincerity. He had to stop this knee-jerk reaction to her family’s wealth.
* * *
Kat walked into the museum feeling lighthearted on Monday morning.
She was basking in a post-email glow. Already, she’d had at least a dozen responses to her show opening document and a bump in her website hits over the weekend.
Nana and Mia predictably were the first to gush over the promo piece, but others had chimed in with high praise as well.
She could hardly keep a silly grin off her face.
At Nick’s suggestion, she’d printed twenty copies of the flyer. They weren’t the same as a high-quality printed postcard, and too big for most bulletin boards, but she’d thought of a few places she could pin them. Two went to the studio yesterday. Next up, the MoMA breakroom.
She put away her things then took two flyers to the breakroom. A couple of people were there getting coffee, no one she knew well. “Hey,” Kat greeted them.
Both nodded. Adam, who she only knew in passing, picked up the flyer she left on the table. “What’s this?”
Kat gave a nervous laugh. “Just a little self-promo.”
He looked from the paper to her. “Very nice. Congrats.”
She gave a breathless, “Thanks,” and tacked the second one to the bulletin board. “It’s open all month. Hope you can stop by.”
“Maybe. Can I keep this?”
Kat grinned. “Of course. I’ve got more.” Maybe she’d leave several on the tables. She could always make another trip to the copy shop.
Back at her office, she discovered an envelope on her chair that hadn’t been there when she came in.
She opened it and found a thank you from Amy, a gift card to the museum cafe, and a notice that the entire team would be treated to lunch in the breakroom today in honor of the opening of the bamboo exhibit. Not bad for a Monday .
She sank into her chair and opened email, hardly even remembering what tasks had been on her plate before they’d switched gears.
With the new boss not on board yet, she expected to be in limbo for a few days.
As exhibit coordinator, she’d spend most of her time this week making sure all parts and pieces were working in the exhibit and in their proper place.
A little before noon, she texted Nick.
—Hey, the flyers have been a big hit.—
—No surprise there. :-)—
—I’m heading off to celebratory team lunch.—
—Have fun.—
Kat texted back a smiley face and heart shape then locked her phone in the desk drawer and headed for the breakroom.
Noise and laughter reached her before she got to the entrance.
Inside, she was shocked to find the room transformed.
Balloons floated from each table. One table was covered with food, and a fancy coffee bar was set up along one wall.
Already most of the team was assembled, including some of the display builders.
Cassie waved and hurried toward Kat. “Hi, come join the fun.”
“Wow. This is unexpected.”
“But totally deserved. Go get yourself one of those flavored mocha-latte-things you like.”
Didn’t really seem like a lunch beverage, but Kat wasn’t passing up the opportunity.
She got a vanilla-caramel latte then moved through the food line, a salad, pasta, and dessert bar obviously catered by the restaurant.
With the camaraderie around her, it was hard for Kat to feel annoyed about the lost promotion opportunity.
Not everyone was lucky enough to work in such an awesome environment with great people.
She stopped counting the number of people who complimented her on the flyer she’d pinned to the bulletin board.
“Who took that pic?” Cassie asked. “It’s gorgeous.”
Kat was nearly bursting inside. “Same guy who sent the fabulous flowers for Valentine’s Day.”
Cassie’s eyes went round. “Very nice. My, my, I’d say that boy’s a keeper.”
Kat grinned. “Come to my opening reception and you can meet him.”
“It’s on my calendar.”
Kat was still smiling when she returned to her cubicle an hour later with a fresh latte in hand.
She set down the drink and retrieved her cell phone.
After all, she’d earned a light workday.
One glance at messages and she sat up straight.
A missed call from Matt at Loft. Hopefully to let her know the promo had gone out.
It was all falling into place. She listened to the message.
—Kat, it’s Matt at Loft. Sorry I missed you. Call when you get a chance.—
“Absolutely.” Practically bouncing in her chair, she pressed call-back.
“Hey, Matt!”
“Hi, Kat. Do you have a minute to talk?”
“Sure. Hey, I sent out some info about the show over the weekend. Already getting some positive responses.” She gave a little laugh. “This is so much fun. It’s going to be hard to get through the next couple of weeks. My head’s in the clouds.”
“Kat, listen…about that…”
Kat’s body went ice cold. There was something in Matt’s voice. She gripped the phone tighter. “What’s up?” She could hardly breathe as she waited for him to continue.
“I’m not sure how to put this. I’m afraid I got the dirty job of giving you some bad news.”