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“I’m not sure.” She looks nervous.
My stomach flips. “Right.” I can only imagine that Whina is going to reiterate that Hallie and I can’t date while we work together. “Well, I guess I’ll see you upstairs at 12:30, then.”
She bites her lip, then nods. “Try not to worry,” she murmurs.
I give a small smile, then take my coffee and head out of the room. It’s impossible not to feel anxious. How did my whole life come down to this moment?
*
Forty-five minutes later, I’m pacing the office, waiting for Whina to arrive. I feel a complex whirl of emotions, not in the least because Joel has just left after telling me that he chose not to interview for his job, and that he and Zoe have decided to join Elora and Linc and travel to Europe. I’m going to lose two great employees, as well as my brother and sister.
Of course I didn’t say that, because Joel was alight with excitement, and the last thing he needed was to hear about my issues with the museum. But I pause by the window and look out at the view of the harbor, my stomach twisting with anxiety.
If Whina arrives and announces she’s firing me, I think I might see if Hallie wants to join me and go with the others to Europe. At least that way we can be together. My heart sinks at the thought of leaving the museum. I just hope it continues after I’ve left and doesn’t have to close.
I spend the next five minutes pacing the office. In the end, it’s a relief when I hear footsteps, and Whina appears at the door.
“Sorry,” she says, “Louise has stepped away from her desk.”
“No worries, we’re expecting you. Come in.”
She enters the office and goes over to the sofa and chairs. She’s wearing a navy suit today, and a pretty pink blouse that suits her. She’s just lowering herself into a chair when Hallie appears at the door.
“Am I too early?” she asks nervously, and then she spots Whina and says, “Oh!”
“Come in,” I say, and gesture at the sofa. I follow her over. “Would either of you like a coffee?”
“No thanks,” Whina says, and Hallie shakes her head too, so I sink down onto the sofa next to her.
“I asked Hallie if she’d join us,” Whina says. “I hope that was okay.”
“Of course,” I say politely, although I hope she’s not going to fire me in front of Hallie as that would be embarrassing.
“Can I say something first?” Hallie asks.
Whina looks surprised. “Yes, of course.”
Hallie clears her throat. She doesn’t look at me. “I’d like to hand in my resignation.”
Whina’s eyebrows rise even higher. “Oh,” she says.
I stare at Hallie. “No,” I say firmly.
“Yes,” she says, just as firmly. “You and I have acted inappropriately, but the museum needs you, Fraser. I’ll find another job. But I want you to keep yours.”
“I’ve already said I’d resign,” I snap, getting to my feet.
“Oh goodness,” Whina says, holding up a hand. “Nobody needs to resign. Now sit down and be quiet, both of you.”
I glare at her. Then, slowly, I sink back onto the sofa.
“Right,” she says. “I have something to tell you. Yesterday, I received a call from Isabel Trenton to say that she has agreed to loan all twelve letters by Richard Williams to our museum, along with the six portraits he painted of Pania that have been hidden for the past one hundred and sixty-ish years, and she has also agreed to honor his original donation of five million dollars.”
All my words disappear, and I stare at her in shock. Then I look at Hallie. Her eyes have widened, and her jaw has dropped.
Whina smiles. “She agreed this after Hallie visited her and convinced her the best place for them was in the museum.”
I blink. Then I look back at Hallie. “You went to see Isabel?”