Page 30 of Mending Fences
The tones of his phone interrupted his thoughts. He answered using the car’s hands-free feature.
Thomas Morgan skipped any formalities. “Couldn’t you wait two more weeks? What is wrong with you?”
I’m not sure, but I think you are going to tell me.“What are you talking about, Morgan?”
“A date in Podunk, Indiana? They have cell phones there too! How many times must I tell you citizens with camera phones are ten times worse than the paparazzi? They post their unfiltered opinions. And there are more than a few about the art teacher and the millionaire.”
“We only had dinner.” Morgan didn’t need to know about dessert at the pond.
“I know you. That’s not your dinner face. It isn’t even your what’s-for-dessert face. And don’t try to tell me it’s just friends. That photo is of a man who is falling hook, line, and sinker. And by their comments, your fans know it too. You are no actor, as you proved last year on that reality whatever-it-was.”
Daniel concentrated on keeping his car in the lane. Morgan had to be wrong. “She is an old friend; we were catching up.”
Thomas ignored his protest and continued. “PR is having a fit. She doesn’t have a contract. Did you hear any part of their “keep to the script until the lawsuit is over” lecture? Never be seen with the same woman twice, only take out women who will mutually benefit from the exposure, and don’t get serious. Three months of carefully scheduled dates, and you go impromptu.”
“You said this Amanda is an old friend.”
“Yes. I met her the summer Grandfather kept me at his mansion.” Daniel exited the freeway.
“PR might be able to do something with that, but you had better get her on board. You didn’t do something foolish like sleep with her, did you?”
Daniel struggled to keep his voice calm. “She isn’t that type of woman.”
“Fortunately for you, I believe you. I’m not going to ask for any details, but wherever you were after the restaurant, could some amateur have taken your photo?”
“Not legally.”
“You had better hope so. And you make sure she doesn’t do an interview.”
Daniel glanced at the clock on his dash 10:58, nearly midnight in Amanda’s time zone. He’d call her in the morning.
The house had been dark when Daniel dropped her off. She had hoped he might kiss her again on the doorstep, but the lingering hug was almost as good. The silence between them had not been as awkward as it was full of promise.
Too early to go to bed and too restless to work, Mandy headed for the grocery store. The scooter carts were all available. She took one and cruised the nearly empty aisles. Candace had shopped that morning, so other than the tomatoes she had forgotten, Mandy didn’t need anything.
She stopped in the frozen-foods aisle. What would Candace think? They were years beyond the tradition, but a carton of mint chocolate chip would lead to a conversation. She was back in first-kiss territory and needed advice.
Only two checkout lines were open. Mandy steered the cart to the one closest to the door. Ahead of her, a teenage girl was bent over her phone, tapping her feet to a tune only she could hear through hot-pink earbuds. The customer in front of them left, and the girl moved up.
The scooter jerked and banged into the end of the checkout stand as Mandy tried to move close enough to deposit her purchases on the conveyor belt.
The girl spun around, her glare fading. “Miss Fowler! Is it true?”
Mandy couldn’t place the teen beyond seeing her in the hallways of the high school. “Is what true?”
The girl extended her phone. A photo of Mandy and Daniel at the restaurant filled the screen. Mandy squinted to try to make out the writing but failed.
“Wow, it’s true! You are wearing the same blouse. Is your date over already? That was quick. Is he as hot in person? Oh, ice cream—did he dump you already? I’m not surprised. Slumming it with a high school teacher. Not like you are DC’s type.”
Mandy felt the heat rising in her face.
The girl’s fingers flew over the face of her phone. Then she turned and snapped a picture.
“Excuse me? What are you doing?” Mandy tried to keep her voice steady. Ramming the cart into the presumptuous teen was tempting.
“They’re going to be so excited I saw you!”
Shoppers turned their direction. The girl answered the cashier. Mandy cursed the boot on her foot. If she wasn’t on the scooter, she would abandon the food on the conveyor belt. The girl paid the cashier, turned her back to Mandy, and raised her arm to take a selfie.
