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The sound of his mobile woke Cameron from a sleep croith unwanted dreams of passionate pixies Eyes still closed, he reached for the phone ‘Cameron Black’

‘Goodfor Sheila Dodd I apologise for ringing you this early but I’ve just had a call from Sheila in the UK’

‘Yes?’ Caht stand Five forty-five am

‘Sheila sends her sincere apologies but she’s unable to finish the piece you coreed ti on in the UK for the next feeeks’

He pushed upright, wide awake now and already one step ahead ‘The gallery opens in less than three weeks’

‘I’m so sorry, Mr Black Sheila realises it’s short notice She’s given me the names of some possible alternatives…’

He closed his eyes again, scrubbed a hand over hiswith their credentials et cetera and I’ll get back to you’

Tossing off the quilt, he rose quickly, his bare feet barely registering the change from plush carpet to cool tiles as he moved to the bathroom and splashed cold water over his face

Over the past two years he’d worked like a deraffiti-covered warehouse in Melbourne’s inner suburbs into soallery, not only for prominent artists but also for undiscovered talent from the lower socioecono to put in the effort to start so hile A second chance

The way he’d been given a second chance

He stared into his own eyes Heaven knehere he’d be noithout it He’d been one of those kids, and this gallery was a memorial to the one person who’d made it possible to start over

Cae sum ofthe official opening along with the press If he couldn’t have Sheila’s work on display in ti, he’d damn well have to find someone else pronto

Twenty minutes later, showered and dressed, Cam slid open the French doors and welco traffic and brisk winter wind blowing through the potted paled the clouds a dirty pink, crisp air tingled his cheeks He shrugged inside his suit jacket Who said apart and nature were mutually exclusive?