Public Secrets

blue sticker beneath more than a dozen of her prints. Sold, she thought.
Trapped in a corner by a pretentious little man who wanted to discuss form and texture, she spotted Marianne. “Excuse me,” she began. But before she could make her escape, her old roommate was bearing down on her.
“Here’s the star of the evening.” She gave Emma a big, whopping kiss. “You,” she said and pulled Emma toward her and into a cloud of Chanel, “have done it. A long way from Saint Catherine’s, pal.”
“Yeah.” Emma squeezed her eyes tight. It had taken only that to make it all seem real at last.
“Look who I found.”
“Bev!” Emma moved out of Marianne’s arms, and into Bev’s. “I didn’t think you’d be able to make it.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.”
“We walked in together and I recognized her,” Marianne explained. “We’ve been having a marvelous time complimenting you while we shoved through the crowd. This is wild.” She snatched one of the few remaining canapés from the table. “You know that shot of me in the loft, wearing a paint smock and rugby socks? Some gorgeous man just bought it. I’m going to go see if he’d like a chance at the real thing.”
“It’s no trouble seeing why you love her,” Bev commented as Marianne maneuvered through the groups of people. “So, how does it feel?”
“Incredible. Terrifying.” She pressed a hand to her jumpy stomach, but it wasn’t nerves as much as excitement now. “I’ve been trying to get back to the ladies’ room for an hour to have a good cry. I’m so glad you’re here.” Then she saw Brian, standing a few feet away. “Da’s here. Will you speak to him?”

Bev had to turn her head only inches to see him. She twisted her evening bag over and over in her hand. After all these years, she thought, it was still there. Everything she’d felt was still there.
“Of course.” She said it lightly. It was safe here, in a crowd. On Emma’s night. At least they could share their pleasure for Emma.
He walked toward them. Could it be as difficult for him, Bev wondered, as it was for her? Would his palms be wet with nerves? Would his heart be trembling?
He didn’t touch her. Didn’t dare. But he struggled to find a voice as casual as his smile. “It’s good to see you.”
“And you.” She fought to relax her death grip on her bag.
“You look …” Beautiful, wonderful. “Well.”
“Thank you. I am. This is all marvelous for Emma, isn’t it?” She glanced over, but Emma had slipped away. Walls of people had closed in around them. “You must be very proud of her.”
“Yes.” He took a long swallow of the whiskey he held. “Can I get you a drink?”
So polite, Bev thought. So bloody civil. “No, thanks. I’m going to wander around a bit and look. I may just buy something myself.” But first she was going to find that ladies’ room and have a cry of her own. “It was nice seeing you again, Bri.”
“Bev—” It was foolish to think that she could still care for him. “Goodbye.”
Emma watched them from across the room and wanted to scream at both of them. Couldn’t they see? It wasn’t just her imagination, or wishful thinking. She was much too good at studying people, and seeing what they felt. In the eyes, in a gesture, in the set of the body. They were still in love. And still afraid. She drew a deep breath and started toward her father. Perhaps if she talked to him …
“Emmy luv.” Johnno caught her around the waist. “I’m about to make my escape.”
“You can’t go yet.” She straightened his lapels. He was into retro clothing these days, and they were almost as wide as the palm of her hand. “Bev’s here.”
“Is she? Well, I’ll have to go see if she’s ready to run away with me yet. But in the meantime, I’ve run into someone from your past.”
“My past.” She laughed. “I don’t have a past.”

“Ah, but you do. A sultry summer day on the beach. A hunk in blue trunks. “Like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, he swept his arm aside.
“Michael?”
How odd to see him there, she thought, looking handsome and uncomfortable in a suit and tie. His dark hair was thick, and still unstyled. His face had fined down, was lean and bony with the slightly crooked nose an appealing flaw. He had his hands in his pockets, and looked as though he’d rather be anywhere else on earth.
“I—ah—was in town, so—”
She was laughing when she threw her arms around him. He thought