Dolphin Tale 4

Chapter [30]

"We need to talk to you."

Spencer Nelson looked up from his laptop screen and caught sight of Sawyer standing by the bedroom door. "We?"

Hazel appeared in the doorway beside Sawyer. She folded her arms across her chest and nodded. "Yes. We. We need to talk to you, Mr. Nelson."

Spencer frowned. "And who are you?"

"This is my girlfriend, Hazel Haskett. I'm sure you've heard of her before."

Spencer raised an eyebrow. "Now that I think of it, I have. Many times, in fact. How lovely to finally be able to meet you in real life, Miss. Haskett. Now, what is it you would like to talk to me about? Does it concern your final decision, Sawyer?"

Sawyer nodded. "Yes. Yes, it does."

Spencer leaned into the back of his chair and clasped his hands together. "Oh, good. What is your final decision?"

"Actually, we wanted to ask you something before Sawyer told you his final decision. We were wondering if there would be any chance of...negotiation?"

Spencer Nelson gazed thoughtfully at Hazel. "You know, you remind me so much of that other girl...Lacie, I think her name was. You two always stick up for Sawyer. It's kind of...cute, in a way."

"I am nothing like Lacie," Hazel said stiffly. "We are two very different people. Very different. Now, is there room for negotiation, or are we just wasting our time?"

"Depends... What do you mean by negotiation?"

"The photos," Sawyer said slowly. "Is there any way that they won't be released to the press if my final decision is to stay here, in Florida?"

"No. Not a chance. If you decide to stay, I'm afraid that the photo will be leaked to the press. That is a fact, Sawyer."

"And if I choose to go and live with you in Washington, the photo will be deleted, right?"

Spencer nodded. "Of course. It will be burned, deleted, erased. There will not be a single trace of it to be found at all. That is, of course, if you decide to come and live with me in Washington. You have my word."

Hazel gritted her teeth. "What if we don't trust you?"

Spencer shrugged. "Well, my dear, that is your problem, not mine. It's your problem and there's nothing I can do about it."

"How do we know that the photo won't be leaked before Sawyer makes his decision? How can we trust you? How are we supposed to believe you?"

"Listen. I know I haven't been the greatest person. I know I'm not the greatest person. But, to be honest, if I make a promise, I make sure I keep it. I am a man of his word, guys. I don't break promises. I never have, and I never will."

"Liar."

Spencer looked at Sawyer, surprised. "Sorry? What was that?"

"You. Are. A. Liar. You've broken promises before. Remember that promise you made to my mother and I? Remember, you said that we'd have a great life, and that you'd never desert us? What happened to that promise?"

"I—I love you and your mother, Sawyer. Don't forget that."

Hazel scoffed. "Yeah, right. If you truly loved him, you wouldn't need to blackmail him. If you truly loved him, you would respect his wishes. You would let him do what he wanted. You wouldn't blackmail him if you truly loved him."

Spencer raised as eyebrow. "Blackmail? No, it's called the power of persuasion."

Sawyer sighed. "What I want to know is whether or not we can actually trust you? You've broken a promise once before—how do we know that you're not going to do it again?"