Emergencies

SUMMERINE STRUGGLED to make sense of her feelings as Andrew drove them back to Evergreen.

Her husband not only led a double life as a criminal.

But he was also guilty of adultery.

And when she caught Andrew glancing at her as he texted something on his phone—-

She finally understood why her chest felt inexplicably tight, and her heart seemed to have turned into stone.

"Are you texting my husband?"

Andrew hurriedly pocketed his phone at her words. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Harcourt."

"For texting my husband?"

"For texting during work hours. It won't happen again."

"Texting during work hours doesn't count if you're texting my husband."

"I know—-I mean, no, " the older man hastily corrected himself. "I am not texting your husband, Mrs. Harcourt."

"Will you show me your phone then?"

Andrew had the grace to flush when he realized how neatly Summerine had him trapped in a corner.

"Andrew?"

"Yes, Mrs. Harcourt?"

"Can you please just answer one last question for me?"

"I..."

"It won't get you in trouble, I promise."

"I'll try, Mrs. Harcourt."

"Do you think...if I ask my husband to...d-delegate some of his emergencies and have someone else handle it, do you think h-he'll say yes?"

Summerine could see the older man hesitating.

"Please, Andrew."

And she realized she wasn't too shy to take advantage of this.

"I just need to know the truth."

The older man looked at her gravely. "If you're asking what I believe Mr. Harcourt would likely choose if it were between you and his emergencies at work—-"

Summerine held her breath.

"I believe it's best that you don't ask him to choose, Mrs. Harcourt. There are some things we are better off not knowing."