Chapter Thirty-Five Before—Poppy
| Thirty-Five |
Before—Poppy
The doors were going to open any minute, and I felt like I was going to be sick.
Bennett and Isabel wanted to come and wait with me, but I needed the time alone to gather my thoughts.
I took another walk around the gallery, stopping to look at each piece, telling myself that everything was going to be fine, trying to silence the voice that asked What if.
What if everyone hates it? What if no one buys anything?
What if I’m the laughingstock of the art world, a poser, at a vanity exhibit bought by my famous husband?
My soul was exposed, laid bare, between these four walls, and I suddenly had the urge to turn off the lights and turn everyone away.
The artist liaison, Elena, came up to me and put her hands on my shoulders. “Breathe,” she said in her lovely Greek-accented voice, and I looked into her eyes, the warmth in them a balm to my shattered nerves.
“I don’t think I can do this,” I said, my voice cracking with emotion.
She nodded, then smiled. “Everyone feels the same way before their first show. It will be fine. I promise. Deep breath in, then out. Copy me.”
I mimicked her and inhaled deeply through my nose, then exhaled through my mouth. A few more times, and I felt myself centering.
“I’m going to open the doors. Okay?”
I nodded and took another deep breath.
Bennett and Isabel were the first in the door, and they headed toward me. Isabel pulled me into a hug and whispered in my ear, “You’re brilliant. It’s going to be great.”
I gave her a weak smile. Bennett grabbed my hands.
“Congrats! We did it!”
I swallowed a retort and pulled my hands from his.
“I need to find Elena,” I said, and moved away from him and into the crowd.
Just when I was feeling ready, he had to remind me that this was his doing.
I wiped the perspiration from my forehead, fighting a wave of nausea, and retreated to the back of the gallery.
I grabbed a bottle of cold water from the fridge and downed half of it in a long swallow. I didn’t want to do this. I couldn’t.
“Poppy?” Elena came over to me. “Sweetheart, I’m going to introduce you. Are you all right?”
I nodded, even though I was far from all right.
She took my hand and led me into the crowd.
I stood next to her as she tapped her glass with a spoon and the room quieted.
“Good evening. Thank you so much for coming tonight. I’m very excited to present Poppy Morningside’s first solo exhibit here at Stone and Sky.
These pieces represent years of work, and each one is available for acquisition.
If you’re interested, please come see me or a member of our team.
Tonight is about celebrating a new talent, so let’s give her a very warm welcome. ”
Everyone clapped, staring at me, and I realized I was supposed to say a few words. I cleared my throat.
“Thank you for being here tonight. This body of work means a lot to me, and I’m so grateful to share it with you.”
There was an awkward moment when no one knew whether I was finished, but Elena jumped in.
“Without further ado, please have a glass of wine and soak in these brilliant pieces.”
I gave her a grateful look. Conversation started up again as everyone began to walk around.
I mingled, feeling outside myself, uttering hello and thank you to people I didn’t know. Then I spotted Henri, and a sense of relief filled me. He came over and gave me a hug.
“Sorry I’m late, doll. Victor was stuck in a deposition. This is amazing! How’re you feeling? You look a little pale.”
“So glad you’re here! I’m freaking out. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I don’t want to hover, but I can’t leave.”
“I overheard Bennett bragging to someone about how he arranged all this.” Henri rolled his eyes.
“Seriously? I didn’t even want this.”
“Why am I not surprised that he ignored your wishes?”
He grabbed a glass of wine from one of the roving servers and put it in my hand. “Relax. Take a sip.”
“Thanks.”
“Silver lining, I think one of your pieces just sold.”
“What? How do you know?”
He tilted his head in the direction of Elena. “That man there just pointed to your money series.”
“I need some air.”
He grabbed my arm and we walked outside and moved away from the door, so we weren’t visible to those in the gallery. “Cig?”
I nodded. He lit one for me, and I took it, dragging deeply. I didn’t smoke anymore, only occasionally when I drank, but right now it was exactly what I needed.
“Do you think we can stay out here all night?”
He laughed. “Why not? Artists are known to be quirky. Might make you more intriguing.”
“Ha.”
We finished our smokes, then returned. Elena approached with a smile.
“Half sold already. Congrats, darling.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really!”
I saw a few friends from the city and went over to talk with them. The next hour flew by, and I was starting to feel good. Validated. When it was over, all but four pieces had sold. I was overwhelmed with relief and gratitude. Once I got home, I saw that Bennett was alone in the living room.
“Where’s Isabel?”
“Outside by the pool. Talking to Brad.”
“Quite a night, huh? I can’t believe how well it went.”
“Yeah,” he said, his tone clipped.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“Come on, Bennett. I can see you’re upset. What’s up?”
“Well. Your speech. You could have thought to thank your husband. After all, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have even had a show. And what’s with her introducing you as Poppy Morningside? You’re a Cromwell now.”
I exploded. “You can’t let me forget it for a minute, can you? I never asked you to do it. In fact, I told you I didn’t want you to. But you insisted. And guess what? It was my art that sold. Are you so egotistical that you can’t even let me have one night that’s just for me?”
His mouth dropped open. It was the first time I’d ever yelled at him. Our first real fight actually. I stared at him, watching a series of emotions play out on his face like a slide show. He looked at me with apology in his eyes.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I don’t know what got into me.” He shook his head. “Watching the way all those people were admiring you…it made me suddenly insecure. Afraid of losing you.”
I looked at him in confusion. “Why would you think that? It’s insulting. As though I’m only with you because I haven’t made it yet.”
“That’s not what I mean at all.” He stood and tried to pull me into an embrace, but I pushed him away.
“No. I’m not melting in your arms this time. We need to discuss this.”
“I’ve lost a lot of people that I love. It has nothing to do with you. Something I need to work on. I just lost my head. I’m so proud of you and you deserve all the accolades for tonight. Please forgive me for being an ass.”
“I do, but—”
“There’s the star of the night,” Isabel called out as she came in through the French doors. “Brad sends his love.”
“Come join us,” Bennett said.
And that put an end to the conversation.