Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann

a gallery of this caliber.
    “What a night.” Lena spoke for all of them, her eyes alight.
    Fleur laughed. “When that reporter went off on—wasn’t it the search-and-rescue hero? Trevor MacDaniel?”
    “It was.” Natalie sighed. Not her favorite part of the night.
    “Obvious history.” Lena raised an eyebrow.
    For a second Natalie thought she meant her brief fantasy relationship, then realized she meant Jazmyn Dufoe.
    “And the date he brought …  Really? ”
    Given her experience with Aaron and Paige, she wasn’t at all surprised someone who looked like Kirstin appealed to him—and he to her. Strength and beauty. Natural draws. Aaron hadn’t chosen a trophy wife—she’d chosen him. Where he imagined substance, there was only froth, but for his sake, they all kept looking.
    Lena turned to Fleur. “Can’t complain, though. He bought Musings in Blue. ”
    “He did?” Natalie and Fleur said together.
    “Wow.” Fleur brought her hands together, beatific. “My first sale at gallery prices.”
    “You’re worth every dollar.”
    “Now see, I would have said penny.”
    They laughed.
    Natalie yawned. “Ladies, I’m too tired for any more tonight. Thank you so much for being here and doing this. You were quite a hit, Fleur. I won’t be surprised if you’re all over the Internet tomorrow.”
    “Not because I’m blind, I hope.”
    “Being blind is part of your gift. Lena, I think you came straight from heaven.”
    The older woman laughed. “Where’s my raise?”
    “I hope for enough success to do well by everyone.” She saw them out, but didn’t leave. In the studio she pulled a smock over her dress, dragged a block of clay from the shelf, and beat it into a mound. Her whole body shook, the dizzying images making her ill. She started to work and kept on through the entire night, forming face after face. All were smiling but Kirstin, Trevor, and Jaz, and the force of those expressions overwhelmed the rest.
    In every face she saw too much. Joy, excitement, pleasure. Envy, disdain, rage. It was like reading minds, seeing the shifting expressions, trapping and holding them without release. Crowds took a devastating toll.
    She slumped down and closed her eyes. Aaron would have understood. But even though he knew this was the night, there’d been no word.

Th’ infernal Serpent; he it was whose guile,
Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived
The mother of mankind.
    A ct One. The first. He felt almost shy, certainly nervous, introducing himself, as it were. Not in person, but in deed.
    The setting, a steamy wetland of sycamores spectral with Spanish moss, homes engulfed in kudzu, gnawed by termites. The air throbbed. Biting gnats. Dark mysteries moving through dark waters.
    He’d chosen his subject well and carefully, the unruly child, the apathetic mother resenting an offspring she despaired of. Disobedient weanling, incapable guardian.
    Disregarding his bellowed demands, the woman slammed the door, separating herself from the discharge of her womb. Enraged, the monster she’d created beckoned a monster she’d never imagined.
    He set the toy on the muddy ground and, with the radio control, set the playful messenger in motion. Seen! Desired! As the all-terrain truck wheeled around, it drew on chubby legs, the curious brat. Out of reach—only just—until a greedy dive landed the boy on his prize, and with the swipe of an arm, the clamp of a hand, he lifted and carried the squirming quarry.

Five
    W ith Lena managing the gallery, Natalie had spent the morning packaging last night’s sales, arranging for two shipments and preparing five deliveries. UPS would handle the shipments, but she wanted to make the local deliveries as a show of gratitude. After leaning the two-thousand dollar, bubble-wrapped, and crated eagle mountain sculpture onto the dolly, she backed against the exit door.
    Sunlight cast her shadow into the studio as she pushed through the door. Another shadow loomed to her left. She