HE GAVE HIS MISTRESS MY PADDLE. HE FORGOT THE AUCTION HOUSE BELONGED TO ME

me.

Not surprise.

Grief had burned away surprise weeks earlier.

It was the final death of a memory.

Julian had once told me he loved how carefully I held things.

Books.

Teacups.

His face.

Now he gave another woman the right to raise my number against my own name.

Sloane lifted the paddle.

“One million five hundred thousand,” the auctioneer said.

The Texas collector continue reading …