“I understand.” He held up his hands, then clasped then together under his chin. “I can promise that Pamela won’t interfere with your authority, or with the policies that have long been in effect here. You’ll have the last word, barring mine, of course, on acquisitions and displays, on featured artists and so on. Just as before.”

It was exactly what she’d wanted. More than, she realized when she calculated the bonus in salary. She would be back doing what she did best, and with considerable financial reward, and she would have the personal, if unattractive, satisfaction of putting Pamela’s nose out of joint.

She would have won, without firing a shot.

“Thank you, James. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to know you want me back, that you have confidence in me.”

“Wonderful, wonderful.” He beamed at her. “You can start right away, today if that’s good for you. It’ll be like the last two weeks never even happened.”

Like they never even happened.

Her stomach gave a mighty pitch. Then, suddenly, it was as if sensible Malory stepped to the side and listened in shock as reckless Malory took charge.

“But I can’t come back. I’ll always be grateful for everything you taught me, all the opportunities you gave me—the last being pushing me out the door so I’d have to leave my comfort zone. I’m going to open my own business.”

Oh, my God, she thought. I’m going to open my own business.

“It won’t be anything as grand as The Gallery. Smaller, more . . .” She nearly said “accessible,” then managed to backtrack. “Low-key,” she continued. “I’m going to focus primarily on local artists and craftspeople.”

“Malory, you must be aware how much time and energy that sort of thing consumes. And more, the financial risk involved.” There was no doubt about it, James was panicking.

“I know. I don’t seem to be as worried about taking risks as I used to be. In fact, I’m excited by the prospect of taking them. But thank you, thank you so much for all you’ve done for me. I really have to go now.”

She got up quickly, afraid she would change her mind. Here was her safety net, spread out, ready to catch her. And she was swinging out beyond it to where the ground was very hard, and very far away.

“Malory, I wish you’d take some time to think this through.”

“Do you know what happens when you always look before you leap?” She reached out and touched his hand before hurrying toward the door. “You hardly ever make the jump.”

SHE didn’t waste time. Malory hunted down the address Zoe had relayed, and pulled into a double driveway behind Dana’s car.

Good location, she decided, sliding practical Malory back into place. There would be some pedestrian traffic, and reasonable parking for people who needed it.

The house was charming. Homey, she thought. And the three of them working together could certainly perk it up. Paint the porch, plant some trailing vines. Zoe probably already had a horde of ideas on that.