Page 52 of Another June with You

Jacqueline.

Chapter 17

I can’t believe this is happening after the day I’ve already have.” Shannon plopped down on the curb outside, not giving a thought to the dress she was wearing or the dirt and grease she was probably sitting on. “How are we supposed to shoot the weddings tomorrow with no cameras?”

“I have a backup camera, a couple lenses, and a flash that I can make work if I don’t find anything else. Maybe one of the local camera shops would rent us some equipment,” Jamie suggested.

“I need mine by nine o’clock, and I don’t think many open before then on a Saturday.”

“I’m going to make some calls, see if anyone can help us. Don’t worry, Shan.” Jamie squeezed her forearm. “We’re going to figure this out.”

She took a deep breath in. It felt like she’d been doing that all day, trying to catch her breath from blow after blow. A nauseous sensation came over her, thinking about someone stealing her equipment—especially the memory cards filled with all the pictures from the day. All those moments lost. She could feel her dinner threatening to come back up as she stood. This felt like more than a nervous stomach, though, and she suddenly wondered if it was something she ate. “I think I might be sick.”

Jamie stood up after her with phone in hand. “Oh, no.”

Shannon looked over just in time to see the color leave Jamie’s face as she covered her mouth and took off across the street for the nearest garbage can, barely making it in time. Shannon followed after her friend. “Jame, are you okay?”

Jamie spit into the can. “Gross. I hate throwing up.”

Shannon couldn’t help but laugh. “Does anyone like throwing up?”

“You know what I mean. Blah. I need some water. My mouth tastes disgusting.”

“I hope you’re not so sick you can’t shoot that wedding tomorrow.”

Jamie shook her head. “No, I think it was a combination of eating too much, being upset about our equipment, and standing up too fast.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m gonna go get a drink and make some calls. I’ll let you know what I find out.”

Shannon still felt queasy. She wondered if any other guests were experiencing what they were. After the day she’d had, it wouldn’t surprise her at all to add food poisoning to the list.

As she wandered back across the street to the restaurant, her mind returned to the camera situation, and she tried to formulate a solution to her problem. She pulled out her phone and opened the Facebook app, posting a brief message on her personal page, asking if anyone out there had any camera equipment she could borrow for tomorrow. It was a desperate plea, but maybe someone had an extra camera or lens or flash she could borrow.

It felt like this day was conspiring against her. She checked the time on her phone and noticed the date read “Friday, June 10.” She was suddenly floored. June tenth? Of course it was. The tenth of June was the anniversary of her first official date with Micah back in 2000.

Unbelievable.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” a woman’s high-pitched voice cried. “Micah, stop!”

Shannon turned to see Micah ushering Jacqueline from the restaurant by the arm.

“Are the cops still here?” Micah asked.

“No.” Shannon shifted her attention to Jacqueline. “You’re still here?”

“Of course, I am,” Jacqueline replied. “We still have things to talk about.”

“Where are the cameras?” Micah snapped.

Shannon’s mouth fell open. “You took our cameras?”

Jacqueline wiggled her arm from Micah’s grasp. “No, I did not take your cameras.”

“I don’t believe you.” Micah glared at her. “It’s a little too convenient. You being here, the fire alarm being pulled, and Shannon’s equipment going missing.”

“I would never do such a thing. You know me better than that.”

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