Chapter 8
Chapter 8: The City of Light and Promise
Dale and Skye, secure in their relationship and flush with the unexpected $115,000 sale of the commode, decide to invest in a Parisian furniture line. Their journey begins with a passionate encounter in an airport refreshment room, solidifying their bond before they board the flight to France.
The morning light filtered through the workshop windows, casting long shadows across the gleaming surface of the commode. Dale stood before it, a cup of coffee cooling in his hand, his mind still processing the number that had appeared on the museum’s official appraisal and sale document: $115,000. He had expected maybe sixty thousand, given the historical value. But the combination of the Holloway story, the proven provenance, and the impeccable restoration had driven the price far higher. The curator had called it “a museum-quality piece with a blockbuster narrative,” and the anonymous buyer—a private collector of American Gothic artifacts—had agreed without hesitation. Dale shook his head, a quiet laugh escaping him. He had spent years scraping by, restoring pieces for clients who haggled over every dollar. Now, a single piece had changed everything.
Skye appeared in the doorway, still in her pajamas, her hair a tangled mess from sleep. She yawned and shuffled over to him, pressing her cheek against his shoulder. “You’re up early. Couldn’t sleep?”
“Too excited,” he admitted. “I keep thinking about the money. What it means.”
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