Rebecca snorted as she sat down at her desk. Of course she had.Instantly. Spencer was only in the bride class because her fiancée said sheshould be. That told Rebecca all she needed to know about Spencer’s self-worth(she had very little), her backbone (or lack thereof), her level of self-esteem(low). Rebecca had labeled Spencer weak before she even realized it, but it waspretty clear Spencer Thompson was exactly that.
Wasn’t she?
“You judge too fast and too harshly.”
Sherry’s voice startled Rebecca enough to make her jump. “ForGod’s sake,” she ground out, hand pressed to her chest.
Sherry gathered her things from her desk. “You do. You alwayshave, and we both know it.” Keys jangling in her hand, she said, “I have to gopick up my kids.” She kissed Rebecca on the top of her head and added, “Givethe girl a chance before you write her off. Everybody deserves a chance, youknow? You don’t even know her story.” With a half shrug and her signature grin,she left.
Rebecca blew out a breath and tried to push Sherry’s words out ofher head for the time being.
Bobby Pine and his perpetual smile helped with that chore. “I’mhaving an awesome day, Rebecca. How about you?” He held out his closed fist ashe walked by and Rebecca dutifully bumped it.
“I’m doing okay, Bob.”
“You can do better than okay!” He turned to her and walkedbackward, shot his fist up in the air like a cheerleader, then turned aroundand kept walking.
* * *
“Hey, I need a favor.” Jennifer stopped in front of Spencer’sdesk.
“Sure,” Spencer said, as she gathered her purse and gym bagtogether and tried to force herself not to bail on the gym.
“Oh, you’ve got class again tonight. I forgot.” Jennifer grinned.“Happy Hour after? A couple of us are heading to Mack’s.”
“Maybe.” Marti had texted that she’d be working late that Fridaynight, and Spencer was pretty sure she’d be ready for a drink after herworkout. “What favor do you need?”
Jennifer sighed. “Can you run my open house on Carlson Street onSunday? It’s just a two to four. I double-booked myself like an idiot.”
“No problem.” Open houses were easy. Spencer had run dozens ofthem in the years she’d been with the firm. “Text me the details.”
“You’re the best,” Jennifer said, clapping her hands togetheronce. “Now go have fun working those muscles.”
“Yeah, fun isn’t a word I associate with this class.”
“No? It should be. I love working out.” Jennifer rubbed Spencer’supper arm as she passed. “Just give it time. You’ll grow to really like it.”
Spencer didn’t see that happening, but she smiled at Jenniferanyway, not wanting to burst the bubble of friendly support she’d created. Thefact was, Spencer dreaded this class. Not because of the exercise—she actuallyliked the feeling she had afterward; the soreness in her muscles made her feelaccomplished—but because of the instructor and the mean girls. Lucy was abright spot, though, so Spencer tried to focus on her, on her sunny dispositionthat could light up just about any room.
Twenty minutes later, Spencer was dressed for physical activityand pedaling away on the recumbent bike to warm up. Rebecca strolled down theline of her brides-to-be, chatting with Willow, then asking Lucy what she didfor a living (kindergarten teacher, was Lucy’s answer). When she reachedSpencer’s bike, Spencer did her best to be friendly and open, even smiling ather. But Rebecca didn’t see the smile because she didn’t look at her face. Onlythe screen on her bike.
“You can push harder than that.” Rebecca tapped the bike’s levelup two, then turned and walked back the way she’d come.
Spencer rolled her eyes.
Fifteen minutes after that, Spencer and Brittany were on leg pressmachines. Rebecca watched Brittany, complimented her on her form and speed.
“Good work. Really good work. Five more.”
She then turned her attention to Spencer, who was doing exactlythe same thing at exactly the same speed as Brittany.
“Slow it down,” Rebecca said, her tone stern and her eyes onSpencer’s legs. “Controlled movements.”
“Okay,” Spencer said, and consciously slowed down the press.
“Wait. Stop.” Rebecca held up a hand. “Rack ’em.”
Spencer obeyed, let the weights reach their resting spot.
