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*****
Spencer tried to sleep. He was so exhausted he thought he’d sleep all day. But when he closed his eyes, he saw images of Emily in his head. Her surprised face when he saw her sitting with Asher Denning. The picture of her with her eyes closed leaning against him, tucked inside his arm. Her limp body as he tried desperately to give her CPR in the back seat of the taxi. Her helpless form with wires and tubes coming out of her and a machine pushing air into her lungs. Her frightened eyes when she finally woke up with no idea what had happened.
He’d waited all night to see her wake up, but he couldn’t bring himself to stay and talk to her. He didn’t want to hear her meaningless apology. Oh, he was certain she would apologize. She was certainly sorry this had happened. She hadn’t meant for Spencer to see her with Asher Denning. She hadn’t meant to swallow a drug-tainted beverage. She hadn’t purposely stopped breathing. But she’d made a conscious decision when she went out with A
sher. She’d chosen him.
Grace had told him about Denning. He knew he was an art teacher. He knew Emily had only met him once, that she hardly knew him He was older and artistic, blond and handsome. He had an English accent and all the girls in his art class were hot for him. He was smooth and sophisticated. He was obviously a weightlifter. He was the polar opposite to Spencer. So, Emily had made her choice. It hurt, but he’d learn to live with it. If only she’d been honest with him. He was humiliated to find out the way he did.
Spencer gave up on sleeping and went into the office instead.. At least he could keep his mind occupied and not think about how much he was hurting. His phone buzzed again. Becca continued to call and text, over and over. He was sick of her. He wasn’t sure, but he suspected she’d known Emily would be at the Green Scene last night. He glanced at his phone, expecting to see Becca’s name again. But it was Candace. Finally, she’d gotten the nerve to call him. He answered quickly before she could hang up.
“Candace?”
“Hey, Spencer. I got all of your messages. I’m sorry, but I just got them. I’ve been in Mexico since Monday night. I guess you’re not a Facebook friend, or you would have seen my posts. What’s up? What’s so important?”
“You went out of town on Monday and just got back today?”
“Yes. Me and Sherry and Brianna. Why?”
“Becca said you might be at the Green Scene last night.”
“Really? She must have forgotten I was in Mexico, but she knew I was there. She even posted several comments on my pictures. Why? Was I supposed to be there last night?”
“Do you know anything about a picture that was in the NYC Word on Tuesday?”
“You mean Monday? The one I called you about?”
“No, I mean the one on Tuesday. A different picture.”
“No. I admit I usually read it, but I didn’t read it this week. What was it?”
“A picture of the Gherrings, taken when she was coming off the hiking trail last Saturday.”
“No way! Becca put that in the paper? Did she put any of the others in? She took quite a few. I promise I didn’t know she was planning to do that.”
“You saw her take the picture?”
“Sure. You mean, when we were standing around waiting for them to come back to the parking lot? She took several pictures.”
“That’s interesting. She denied it and suggested you must have taken the picture.”
“I can’t believe it! We’re not really close friends, but I thought I knew her better than that. I promise I didn’t take it. I don’t know how to prove it was her, but I promise it wasn’t me. I felt really bad for Mrs. Gherring. So was the paper right? Is she sick?”
He sighed. “Well it’s old news now, but she’s actually pregnant and having a difficult pregnancy.”
“Pregnant—oh, that’s crazy. She’s kind of old for that, isn’t she? I mean, I’m happy for her and all. She was brave to even go on the hike. Listen, Spencer. I didn’t take that picture. I hope you believe me.”
“Sure, Candace. Thanks for calling me back.”
“You’re welcome. I really am sorry it happened. And the Gherrings were so nice to give us a ride to the hike. By the way, are you going on the overnight hike this weekend?”
“I’m not sure. I was planning to, but I’m awfully tired.”
“Same here. I only got back from Mexico a few minutes ago. Do you know if Landon’s going?”
“I don’t know, but I think so. Look Candace, I need to get back to work.”
“Okay. See ya.”
