“There wasn’t one.”
This time, the dark brows stayed raised. “You mean yet?”
“No, I mean there wasn’t one, and there won’t be one.”
It seemed that Rebecca had to take a moment with that. Thenanother. Her brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”
“It means Marti and I split up. I’m back in my own house, and…”She swallowed hard, then snagged Rebecca’s gaze with her own and held ittightly. “I needed some time. I had a lot to sort through.”
Rebecca nodded, studied her own hands. “What happened?” She lookedup quickly then. “If it’s okay to ask.”
“It’s okay to ask.” Spencer took in a deep breath, gathered herthoughts. “I’m a little bit ashamed to say that it wasn’t my doing.” Rebeccamade a face of such surprise that it made Spencer laugh. “I know, right? Turnsout, I’m even slower than Marti.”
Rebecca seemed to think it was okay to join in the laughter then,and it was a beautiful sight to Spencer, a beautiful sound.
“And it was the best thing she could have done for me because Iwas ready to commit totally. I mean, like, totally.”
“But you weren’t happy.”
“I know. But I’d lost confidence completely. In everything. In myability to read people. In knowing what’s best for me. Marti cared about me, Iknew that, and I thought that was enough.” She paused and focused intently onRebecca. “I was wrong.”
“When did this happen?” Rebecca asked softly.
“The night you asked me not to marry her.” A mask of guilt settledover Rebecca’s face then, and Spencer nipped at it. “No. No, this was not yourfault, Rebecca. Don’t you see? You were right. You were so exactly right. Youtold me I deserved better.”
“You do.”
Spencer smiled. “I know that now. It took a while. It took a lotof tears and a lot of energy and a lot of soul searching. And I’m finally doingso much better.” They were quiet for a beat. Then Spencer asked, “So, how’sStacy?”
Rebecca wrinkled her nose. “No idea.”
Spencer took that in. “I see.”
“You’re back at the gym.”
“I’m back at the gym.”
“Aisha’s good.” Rebecca tried to hide what she was reallythinking, but Spencer saw it. Spencer saw it and her heart warmed and her eyeswelled up.
She reached across the desk and closed her hand over Rebecca’sforearm. Just that simple touch sent a jolt through her system. “I hiredsomebody else because I didn’t want you to get into trouble.”
The furrowed brow again. “For what?”
“For dating your client.” Spencer waited until Rebecca caught up.“I mean, that’s frowned upon, right?”
Spencer sucked her bottom lip into her mouth. This was it. Thiswas the moment she’d been rehearsing for. Weeks had gone by and she’d talked itthrough with Lucy, with Mary Beth. She’d played this scene in her head, triedto anticipate every outcome. Rebecca could laugh at her. She could get angry,kick her out. She could be hurt, upset. She could say some pretty rottenthings, and they’d probably be true. Or…
Rebecca could do what she actually did.
She smiled. It was slow in coming, as if it was sneaking onto herface, quietly and unobtrusively, tiptoeing until it finally sat therecomfortably.
“I mean, itisconsidered inappropriate,” she said, drawing out the words.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Thus, Aisha.”
“You want to date me, huh?”
Spencer gave a tiny snort of a laugh and kept her voice low. “Iwant to do more than date you, Rebecca. But dating is a good place to start, Ithink. If you’ll have me.”
