Another voice boomed from behind her as heapproached. Chief Larson pulled his badge from his suit pocket andflashed it at Yvette. “Ma’am. I’m the Chief of Police here inFoothills. I understand you were not invited. I’ll ask you to leavethe premises immediately.”
By then, a small crowd had gathered behindSophie in a show of support. All these years, she’d been tooafraid, too proud to ask for help, despising the weakness that washer only relation. She felt an emerging sense of optimism,bolstered by the support of her new community.
As one could have predicted, Yvette didn’ttake well to the tide turning against her. “Chief, please. I’m soglad you’re here. Sophie has been harassing me. She’s the reason Ihaven’t landed a decent role in years. Her illegal deeds alwayscome back to haunt me.” Abundant tears flowed down her cheeks.
Oh boy. Here we go.
Larson wasn’t easily manipulated. “If youcontinue making accusations without legal support to back them up,I will recommend a restraining order and that she accept the offerof legal counsel from Mr. Mallory, here.”
And that was about all Yvette could handle.With the emotional intelligence of a preadolescent child, hertantrum wasn’t pretty. Yvette brushed her hair over her shoulderdramatically, whacking the guest next to her in the face.
She screamed. She hollered. She stomped herfeet.
Plodding right up to Sophie, she stoppedinches away. It was oddly gratifying for outsiders to see thenightmare of a woman she’d had to suffer all these years, yethumiliating at the same time. “Please, leave. Now,” Sophie demandedthrough gritted teeth.
From out of nowhere, Yvette’s hand flew intothe air to strike Sophie across the cheek. With quick reflexes,Asher caught her hand before she could succeed. Ripping her handaway brusquely, Yvette smacked Asher across the face, the loudcrack echoing across the grounds.
Self-righteously, he smiled as he rubbed theglowing handprint on his cheek.
As usual, Yvette was so self-centered shebegged for help. “Officer, you saw that. I’m pressing chargesagainst this man. He grabbed my wrist.”
Larson seemed to be enjoying himself. Tonguein his cheek, he tried not to smile. “Actually, you just assaultedthe newest recruit to the Foothills Police department; he’s alreadyproving himself to be an impressive asset. I’ll have to doublecheck on the nuances at this point, but as he’s officially beenhired, you may have just assaulted an officer of the law.” Heglanced at Asher briefly, “Sutherland, you looking to presscharges?”
He considered a moment. Looking to Sophie, heleft the decision to her. Sophie felt the connection between themgrowing deeper, more elaborate. How could she not fall more in lovewith him, feeling such support, such respect for her opinion?
Yvette was digging her own grave, and alittle legal protection might just help solve this once and forall. “Absolutely.”
Stepping forward, Larson took Yvette by thearm and led her away. “Nice work, Sutherland. I’ll escort her out;I was about to head home soon anyway. Sophie, Asher, mind stoppingby the station tomorrow? I believe you have eager legal counselhere if you’d like to invite Grady along.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks, Chief Larson.” Shesmiled, again, appreciating that Asher’s new boss was a prettydecent guy. After all the shit he’d been through, the self-doubtlately, he could use a supportive boss.
“I believe I told you it’s Jonah. Enjoy therest of your night.” Yvette wasn’t so feisty now. Head hung low,she played the cooperative prisoner, no doubt to downplay herpunishment.
After accepting a few quick words of supportfrom her friends, and several new acquaintances that inquired abouther start date with Foothills Accounting, Sophie continued on herpath back to the dressing rooms for a moment of peace and quiet.Maybe a good crying jag.
***
She paced the room, restless. Was it reallyover with Yvette? Or was the nightmare just beginning? Thewhirlwind of uncertainty was suffocating. Thank goodness no morethan twenty people had witnessed the scene. Particularly Pippa;she’d hate for Yvette to ruin her friend’s special day.
Sophie sat on the awkwardly squishy velvetcouch and buried her head in her hands, waiting for tears that justwouldn’t flow. Over the years, she’d cried so much over Yvette shedidn’t have anything left. As much as she hated crying, thepressure behind her eyes was almost painful, begging for the soggyrelease.
Giving up, knowing she needed to get back outthere, she headed into the bathroom for a quick refresh of hair andmakeup before rejoining the party. With any luck, the pent-upsob-fest wouldn’t strike her during the reception. Or during hertoast; that would be humiliating.
Cautiously, the door opened. Asher popped hishead in and searched the room for her, finally finding her peekingher head out from the bathroom to see who the intruder was.
“You okay?” He closed the door behind him andlocked it.
Her gut torn to pieces, filled with confusedbutterflies, she nearly knocked him over she ran so anxiously intohis arms. “I hate that woman so much.” Anger was a decent emotion,better than the hollow nothingness.
Remembering the slap, she studied Asher’scheek. “I think she left a mark.” Sophie gently ran her fingersover his smooth cheek, missing the stubbled beard he normally wore,wishing her vile aunt’s handprint hadn’t taken its place.
Scoffing, he covered the mark defensively.“Not exactly the worst assault I’ve sustained.” His voicesoftening, he grazed a knuckle across Sophie’s cheekbone, “I’m justglad she hit me and not you.”
“Thanks for that. Nice catch.” On hertiptoes, Sophie kissed away the hurt. Asher pulled her tightlyagainst him, burying his face in her hair.
A wiggle of the doorknob, followed by ademanding knock, startled her out of the peace she’d envelopedaround herself.Shit. Probably Pippa coming to check on her.Word would likely be spreading fast to those that hadn’t witnessedthe humiliating scene.
Might as well rip another fricking band-aidoff while she was at it, shatter all of her protective coatings ina twenty-minute period. Stepping in front of Asher to face themusic head on, she bravely opened the door.
