Page 142 of Fresh Canvas
I took a deep breath. Val gave my leg a gentle squeeze that I felt in my chest.
“Kendra, we were in the closet at the gala because I had a strong suspicion that a Felix Andreas painting, Lake Attersee, had been forged.”
Kendra’s jaw dropped with an audible pop, likely for the first time in her life.
I slid over a manila folder with the evidence we had printed off Val’s printer that morning. Kendra’s eyes grew larger with the turn of each page.
I continued, “Val was the first to hear of my suspicion and encouraged me to keep quiet until we knew more. Turns out, Lake Attersee was in fact stolen and swapped with a forgery. And we also know of another attempted thievery of a Cormac Padraig, but the real one is still safe in the archives. Val and I also found the location of the authentic Lake Attersee, but authorities will need to get involved to get it back.”
Kendra’s dark lipstick gaped open and closed for a full minute. “How…” She cleared her throat. “Excuse me. How did you uncover all of this?”
Val went on to explain our private investigation. My heart pounded as he approached the culprit’s identity. This morning, I had told Val I couldn’t be the one to turn in Barbara.
I justcouldn’t.
Kendra’s jaw popped again as she gripped the edge of her desk. “Barbara Gaines?!”
Val nodded grimly. “Yes. We saw the real Lake Attersee when we visited her home last night. Amantha has a video we can turn over to the authorities. While there’s still a possibility it’s a well-made replica, there’s plenty of evidence suggesting it isn’t.”
I couldn’t stay quiet any longer with the guilt gnawing my insides. “Kendra, I’d like to advocate for lessening the punishment for Barbara if she agrees to return the painting. I know there will still be repercussions, but this is personal for me.”
She arched a brow at me, though she nodded stiffly. “I’ll see what I can do.” Kendra exhaled a sharp breath, steepling her fingers on the desk. “I knew she was upset when the new management team let her go, but we couldn’t let her stay on after seeing how many corners she was willing to cut. So many pieces were endangered because of her blind eye to protocol.”
Kendra looked angrier than I’d ever seen her. “I wish Icould say I was more surprised by all this, but when it comes to Barbara Gaines, I’m not.”
Her austere expression softened a bit as she turned to me. “Amantha, I promise to see what I can do, but once the authorities are involved, any pleas on her behalf may be out of my hands. Regardless, I want to thank the both of you. Val, you were correct in your assumptions of what a scandal like this could do for the museum’s reputation. Our staff and I appreciate your discretion. We’ll now be able to prosecute Barbara outside of the public eye. And Amantha”—her lips twitched with what I’d come to realize was her version of a smile—“I’ve been nothing but impressed by you. This extra measure of dedication and loyalty is not lost on me. Thank you.”
She stood to dismiss us, but I interrupted her.
“Kendra? I have one more thing I’d like to discuss. After resigning, I had a moment to reconsider. If the position is still available, I’d love to come back if Blythe will still have me.”
Kendra’s eyes didn’t leave me as I shifted nervously in my seat. “I’m sorry, Amantha, but that position has been dissolved. You see, the board and I have discussed restructuring the department for quite some time now.”
My chest deflated. “I understand.”
“I’d like to offer you the new position of Junior Curator instead.”
It was my jaw’s turn to drop, followed by Val’s.
“The board and I met during the planning of Stirling’s soirée, and they supported my decision to open a third curator position for you. Of course, we didn’t foresee you leaving us so quickly.”
She turned to Val. “Val, the restructuring would create two Senior Curator positions, the roles of which you and Blythe would be assuming. Is that something you could agree to?”
Without tearing his proud gaze from mine, he said, “Of course, Kendra. I’d be more than happy to accept that position.”
Unexpected tears smarted in my eyes.
Through the rollercoaster of motherhood, a life-shattering divorce, the loss of my father, a rediscovered passion, and a new-found love, I had irrevocably arrived.
I wasn’t the same woman anymore.
For the first time—in possibly my whole life—I thoroughly knew who I was.
My name was Amantha Adams, and I wasenough.
TWO MONTHS LATER
“Are yousureyou’re ready for this?” I picked up the last piece of silverware from the dishwasher, putting it away and closing the drawer with my hip. “Like,reallyready for this?”
