“No, he didn’t try to hit her, if that’s what you’re asking, but I’m certain he would have if I weren’t here. He wouldn’t dare to do it with an audience.”
I sigh in relief, and my sisters clutch my arms.
“Is Mom okay?” Tonya whispers.
I nod, and then Sonya moves around me so she can hold on to Tonya.
“I didn’t let him in the house,” Ash says. “With the Protection Order in place, he had no right to come in, as you know, although he tried.”
My heart drops. “Ash …”
“I’m okay. I’ll have some bruises, but his actions will help us in the long run. I’ll give a statement, and we’ll take pictures.”
“I’m sorry. I should have been there.”
“No, you shouldn’t have. You’re exactly where you needed to be. I can’t imagine the trauma it would have caused the girls if they’d been here.”
“I can’t believe he was so dumb,” I say.
“Me, neither, but I’m glad he was. I’ve never seen him that angry.”
“How did you get him to leave?”
“I had Harold call the cops.”
“Harold was there?” Harold has been our full-time handyman on the property for as long as I can remember. He must be at least seventy by now, but he has no intention of retiring.
“He was, even though we sent all the staff home. He refused to leave, because he knew something was up. He’s still here, and he’s determined to stay the night to help protect Mom.”
I smile at the old man’s loyalty to Mom. “Good ol’ Harold.”
“Anyway,” Ash says, “Dad knew he’d be in trouble if he didn’t leave before the police arrived. Mom packed one bag for him and had it waiting out front, so he threw it in the car and peeled out while he had the chance.”
“Mom packed him a bag?”
“Filled with nothing but underwear and Ritz crackers—not in the package.”
I burst into laughter. Dad always said Ritz was the poor man’s cracker and wouldn’t allow them in the house.
“Oh, I love that woman,” I say. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s hanging in there. Dad said some terrible things to her, and I know his words had to cut her like a knife, but she stood tall and didn’t retaliate. I was proud of her.”
“Is she there with you now?” I ask. “Can I talk to her?”
“No, she’s taking a bubble bath.”
“Good for her.”
“Are you staying there tonight?”
“Yes. Diego told me to take the day off tomorrow, too, so I can be here with her. Keep the girls there with you for tonight, in case Dad tries to do anything here. But I know they’re going to want to see Mom tomorrow, so we’ll bring them over for a while. I’m not sure about them staying overnight here, though. We’ll have to play that by ear.”
forty-eight
“Is it okay if Leslie and I come over, or would you three rather be by yourselves?” I ask Randall on the phone, after he gives me a brief rundown of what happened.
“Please come,” he says. “We’re about to drive each other crazy over here.”
