Page 78 of Damaged

“Mine,” James says.

I feel a little ridiculous finally getting to Wollman’s Rink for the first time in my life and spending five minutes on the ice. But I don’t want to stay and skate. Nor do I want to stay and try to pull more fireworks from this moment. No, it was perfect, and now we can’t get out of here fast enough.

We skate off the ice, back to the lockers, and start to get dressed. I have to sit strategically with my butt a little lower on the side of the bench so I don’t accidentally flash anyone.

When we’re in our shoes and back in the park, James takes my hand, and we start to walk fast. Impatient to be alone in a warm room already.

We approach Central Park East to get a cab, when suddenly, James starts patting his pocket as he gets a call. It’s8:45, which would be very late for anyone to call me but is probably nothing out of the ordinary for a man as important as James.

But my smile still fades when I watch his face twist in confusion as he looks at the caller ID.

“I should take this.”

“Sure.”

He lets go of my hand and strolls a little so he’s out of earshot while I wait under a park lamp. Christmas has passed, but there’s something special in the air. Winter is back to being pretty. It’s not dreary and unwelcome anymore like how I felt when I watched it snow out the gallery window a few weeks ago. A few minutes before meeting James.

I’m happy. Giddy. But the feeling starts to fade the longer James is away.

He pinches his temples, kicks at the odd small patch of snow. I don’t kid myself. The magic left as quickly as it had come. There’s bad news coming.

James hangs up and walks over to me with his head low.

“Don’t tell me you have to work,” I say.

“A private buyer wants to look at the artifacts. Tomorrow. They might purchase the whole batch.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, but they want to speak with me personally.” James shakes his head. I can tell there’s something else he isn’t telling me. The fireworks are gone, replaced by a cold that seeps in slowly from my bare crotch.

“They want to meet tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“They’re in town for two days only. I should’ve warned you at dinner. It’s a rare evening that some problem doesn’t require my attention.”

“Sounds miserable,” I say, becauseI’mmiserable. I’m as lethargic and defeated as if I were standing in the pouring rain.

“Well, fortunes don’t come free,” James says a little defensively.

“I know. It’s fine, James.”

“Could you also do me a favor?”

“Is this a work thing?”

“They want a photo of each artifact with a timestamp.”

“So, you want me to go into the inventory room and take pictures?”

“You know the code, right?”

“Yeah, I know the code.” I try to hide my disappointment from my tone, but I don’t do a good job.

“When these are sold, you’ll get a bonus.”

“You don’t need to bribe me, James. It’s my job. I’m happy to help. I don’t need more cash.”

---