Lion's Share by Rochelle Rattner Read Free Book Online

town,” Ed said after a moment’s silence. “For a few weeks?”
    â€œA few months. Unless unforeseen problems arise, I’ll be up there till early September.”
    â€œHow are you able to get that much time away from The Paperworks Space?” He’d hoped this call would help him get to know Jana better, and at first that seemed to be happening. But hearing she was leaving town came as a disappointment. Quickly the little businessman inside him took over, and he began to question the professionalism of the people running the project he’d just recommended for a considerable amount of funding.
    â€œI’m the artistic director, the curator. Natalie’s the executive director,” Jana reminded him. “She’ll keep the doors open till June 15. Then we’re open by appointment only through Labor Day.”
    â€œWhat about the artists you’re exhibiting?”
    â€œWe don’t offer shows during the summer. Not many people walk the streets doing the gallery tour when it’s hot out, and certainly anyone who can afford it gets out of the city. Nat tried staying open through July a few years ago, and I think she sold two drawings the entire month. Most New York galleries close for the summer.”
    â€œI guess I’ve been working too hard to notice,” Ed laughed, trying to ease his way back to the original purpose of his call. He explained that in his position as community coordinator he reviewed a wide range of proposals from organizations throughout the metropolitan area, but most of the proposals from arts associations had been given to Marsha for review. The closest he’d come to working on an arts project before theirs had involved booking conservationists onto talk shows and monitoring the programs APL sponsored on WNET. Jana’s familiarity with the art world was one of the traits which sparked his interest, he realized now. “Do you have time to get together for a drink before you leave town?” he asked.
    Jana pressed the receiver tight against her cheek. She wanted very much to see him. But she was also suddenly frightened of seeing him alone again, without Natalie, without the pretense of a business meeting. “Can we leave it up in the air?” she asked. “I want to see how packing and last-minute tasks go.”
    â€œWe can do anything,” Ed said.
    Silently Jana repeated his words, changing the pronoun: I can do anything I set my mind to, she told herself. If she met him for a drink Thursday night, she’d have ten days to psyche herself up for it. “Maybe Thursday night …” she said out loud.
    â€œWhy don’t I give you a call Thursday night, and we’ll play it by ear?”
    â€œGreat,” Jana said. “But don’t tie yourself down if other things come up,” she added. “As I said, I don’t know for sure if I’ll have time. Too often I find myself leaving things for the last minute. I’ve got clothes to pack, and painting supplies. I have to run down to Pearl Paint and buy some extra brushes and sketchbooks. I never find time to draw in the city anymore; that’s one of the things I’m looking forward to this summer.” Think about art, not about Ed, she chanted under her breath. It’ll make seeing Ed easier.
    â€œHopefully you’ll get everything accomplished in plenty of time. It would be good to see you.”
    It would be good to see you, too, Jana thought but didn’t say, praying she could psyche herself up for it.
    â€œI’ll talk to you on Thursday night,” Ed said again.
    Jana impulsively picked up all her stuffed animals and shoved them into the back of a closet. It was to be her last energetic act before leaving town. She packed absentmindedly, spent hours on end mooning around the gallery. Over the next week and a half, she often caught herself studying the relationships of just about everyone she came into contact