“So, I’m not a hundred percent back to normal, but I can take oral antiemetics and vitamins and antihistamines now. And we’ve finally found a combination that works pretty well.” She munched happily on a stuffed baked potato, having not been brave enough to attempt eating the spicy special of the day. “And, I can start exercising again.”
Steven frowned at this. “But you’re not supposed to overdo it.”
Anne waved him off. “I’m dying to get outside and do something. I thought we could go do some little easy hike next weekend.”
“Hmmm… I think you’re speaking at that HER fundraiser Saturday night. Are you sure you’re going to want to hike Saturday morning?”
“That’s next Saturday? I forgot. What am I supposed to say? How long do I have to speak?” Her face was as white as her napkin.
“Just twenty minutes.”
“Ughh! I’m nervous already.”
“Perhaps I could pretend to have appendicitis,” Steven suggested playfully, referencing a ploy he used to help distract her from her nervousness during a presentation.
“I guess I’ll give Henri a call, so he’ll be there to comfort me afterwards,” she teased.
“I still don’t like that guy.” Steven scowled.
“Who’s Henri?” asked Spencer.
“He’s this French jerk that went after Anne and tried to steal her from me. I was insanely jealous.”
“Not any more jealous than I was of Michelle or Ellen,” declared Anne.
“Which is ridiculous, since you were the one who wanted me to date Ellen. But that’s another story.”
“This is crazy,” said Spencer. “I’ve never heard this stuff.”
Emily twirled her sphaghetti on her fork. “How did you decide you could trust Steven, Mom? After all, he had quite the reputation in the social columns and tabloids.”
“Let me answer that.” Steven took a drink of water. “You know, I never minded those rumors, and they were mostly true in the early days. But even though I’d pretty much given up that lifestyle ten years before, my reputation made it hard for Anne to really trust me.”
“It was really hard for me to believe he loved me,” her mom admitted. “I didn’t feel special enough for him to choose me. I was nobody.”
“No. You were amazing. You’re still amazing.” Steven raised her hand to kiss her knuckles. He turned back to Emily. “But it took a lot for me to convince her she was the only one for me.”
“You guys are so sappy,” said Emily.
“I need to talk to both of you about something serious,” said Steven. “It’s about Becca. There’s evidence she may’ve been the person who drugged your wine, but not enough evidence to get a conviction. And the District Attorney who handled the case warned me he thought she might try to retaliate.”
“What else could she do?” asked Spencer. “I mean, do they think she’s violent? Would she try to kill Emily or something?”
“I don’t think so. But I really think you should be on guard. I don’t trust her.”
“I can’t believe she did it,” said Emily. “She doesn’t seem that mean. Kind of ditsy maybe, but not cruel. Are you sure she was even at the bar that night? I didn’t see her.”
“You didn’t see her?” Spencer asked incredulously. “She’s the one who invited me to go. She’s the one who took the picture of you cozied up to Denning.”
“What picture?” asked Emily. “Nobody told me about a picture, and I never cozied up to Asher Denning.”
Spencer pulled out his phone and showed her a photograph where she was indeed leaning against Asher. She felt a surge of nausea and blinked at sudden tears.
“I don’t even remember doing this. I’m so embarrassed. I wish you’d get rid of this picture.”
“He can’t,” said Steven. “We might need it as evidence some day.”
“Okay,” Emily sniffed. “I guess she really isn’t a nice person. I don’t see why you ever liked her.”