Page 45 of Mending Fences
“Are you in?” asked Candace.
Mandy sorted through the mail sitting on the counter. Two envelopes from the hospital. Probably her ER bill. She opened one as she answered Candace. “With Mr. Alexander on my tail, it doesn’t matter. He wouldn’t let me anywhere near a rally. Do you know how hard it is to teach with an observer in the room and half your students lusting after him?”
“Oh, let me guess. They wanted to use him for the live model—shirtless.” Candace giggled.
Mandy rolled her eyes. “Thankfully, my classes are not up to life drawing. Although one of the girls did manage to work him into a reflection of her still life. He kept my third hour petrified and Coach Robb from coming on to me in the teacher’s lounge.” Mandy sighed. The coach would not lay a hand on her for quite a while. The handshake Mr. Alexander had given him had stopped short of breaking bones. She had no idea what the conversation had been, but she hoped whatever was said kept him away for the rest of the school year.
“What did Coach Handsy try this time?”
“I was getting the mail out of my cubby, and he came up behind me. Mr. Alexander was so fast it barely registered that Coach was saying something about a ‘tight end’ and trying for one of his hands-on approaches.” Mandy paused and reread the check. “That is odd. The hospital sent me a reimbursement.”
The law student focused on her through his thick glasses. “Have you ever filed a harassment complaint?”
“Half the single women in the school have, but the team is winning, so we get to put up with it.” Mandy rolled her eyes before trying to read the letter from the billing department. “Have either of you ever heard of the insurance covering your deductible, too? This letter says my March ER visit has been paid in full. That doesn’t make any sense.”
Candace took the letter. “It wasn’t paid by your insurance. See the code on the copy of the bill? It is a different acronym. Looks like a third party.”
Mandy took the letter back and stuffed the paper back in the envelope. “There must be some mistake.”
“Back to our protest.” Candace pulled out the paper she had been doodling on. “Are you in?”
Hank’s grandson swam across her mind. “If it is true, maybe. But I think the story needs to be verified.” Mandy focused on Candace, not wanting to break the unwritten rule of talking about other guys in front of potential boyfriend material. “I think that techy friend you have may have the connections to verify this. You should contact him.”
Candace jotted a note on her pad.
“As for me, I had my next picture for my MFA drop in my lap. I hadn’t thought of destroying the mansion.” She plucked a wilting rose from the bouquet and vowed to try to call Daniel again.
“Oh, did you read the paragraph where DC turned down an offer to make it a mortuary and private cemetery?”
“Missed that, but I did that to the old church.” Mandy hurried to her room.
