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Charlie giggled again. “Em! You’re the only person I know who can say ‘charming, tanned and beautiful’ like a horrible insult.”
“Arghhh! You’re not helping.”
“Come on. What’s wrong with you? Since when do you compare yourself to anyone else? Especially not a couple of bimbos. And you know you’re beautiful. You must be—people tell us we look alike all the time, and I know I’m beautiful.”
“Interesting argument, Sister. But you’re right. I don’t know why I’m comparing myself to these girls. That’s not like me.”
“Have you figured out anything else about Mom? How does she seem today?”
“She seems fine. Steven’s really attentive and protective, but maybe no more than normal. It could just be my imagination.”
“Well, let me know what you find out. Have fun on your first hike.”
Spencer called, “Hey, Emily. Ready to go?”
“Coming.” She smiled down at her new hiking shoes and her matching lime green top. She didn’t really care much about clothes, but she liked her colors to coordinate. It soothed her artistic sensibilities. She was determined to have a good time. She detested pouty people who spoiled the fun, so she wasn’t going to be that person.
Steven and Anne took the lead as Spencer motioned Emily to follow, falling into stride beside her on the broad path.
They hadn’t gone twenty-five yards when Becca said, “Hey Spencer. I think my Camelback has a pinched hose. Could you check it for me?”
Emily continued on behind her mom, while he dropped back with the other two.
“You need to keep drinking the whole time,” Steven told Anne. “You can’t risk getting dehydrated.”
“I will and I am. I’m practically floating. I’m sure I’ll have to pee numerous times on the hike.”
Emily’s stomach constricted. She hadn’t considered what type of restrooms would be on the hike. “Where do we use the bathroom, anyway?”
Her mom smiled. “There was a bathroom at the parking area. Out on the hike, you have to make a little side trip into the trees.”
Emily gasped in horror. “Outside? On the ground? With people walking by?”
Steven laughed. “Hopefully you’ll get far enough away from the path you’ll have some privacy.”
“No way—the hike’s only two hours long, so I’m holding it.”
Anne chuckled. “I expect you will.”
Candace appeared beside her. “Hey, Mrs. Gherring. Don’t you have some good stories to tell about Mr. Gherring? You know, things we’d never hear about in the magazine articles?”
“Oh I’ve got lots of stories, but if I start revealing things about Steven Gherring’s personal life I might lose my job.”
“You work?” Candace asked in surprise.
Steven answered for her. “We work together now. We make a great team, and I like spending time with my wife.”
“Wow, that’s really romantic. It’s just not what I’d expected to hear after all the stuff they say in the tabloids.”
“What stuff?” A concerned frown creased Anne’s forehead.
“Nothing, sweetheart.” He reached out to take her hand. “We don’t care what they say in the tabloids.”
“Oh, I know it’s not all true,” said Candace. “Especially the stuff about Mr. Gherring having a love child and all that.”
“A love child?” Anne voice became a bit shrill. “They said that in the papers? Can’t you sue them or something?”
“If it were a legitimate paper, I might sue them; but it’s not worth the trouble with the tabloids.” He sent a cold look in Candace’s direction. “I could really care less about the opinions of the type of people who read the tabloids, anyway.”
