Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“The feeling is mutual, Lottie, I assure you.” I yanked my arm out of her grip and pushed through the rest of the crowd until I stopped next to Austin. “Officers, what seems to be the problem?”
“Oh good, yes, here she is.” Patty peeled to the side a little, staying close to the brick of an officer.
“I called them.” Matt stepped forward like he owned the police force. “That man”—he pointed at Austin—“assaulted one of our guests, and the rest of you have overstayed your welcome. It’s time for you to leave. These gentleman will escort you off the property and that man to jail.”
“Well, let’s hold on just a minute,” said the brick of an officer, clearly the one in charge. “I’d like to get an account from the missus, if you don’t mind.”
“It isn’t her I want charges filed against,” Matt started, and then slunk down a little when the officer calmly looked his way.
The officer shifted his attention to me. “Can you tell us what happened before Mr. Baker was pushed against the wall?”
Ramous stepped forward to stare at me from beside Matt, in front of the gathered people in the living room. He had a constipated but pleased expression, like he was in the right and now justice would be served on his behalf. It was an expression he’d probably worn a lot in his life, protected by the umbrella of being a rich businessman with great connections. Guys like that never seemed to be held accountable.
I didn’t expect he would be now, either.
Starting with a little background on the nature of Ramous—something he tried to cut short, only to be silenced by the cop—I walked them through the infraction from beginning to end.
“Honestly, sir, we were about to leave,” I finished. “We haven’t had a very welcome reception here. I was just saying my goodbyes, and we were ready to head out the door.”
The officer nodded, glanced briefly at the other cop, and swayed his weight a little with his hands on his belt. “I’ve heard all I need to hear. Miss, you can take your people. You’re free to go. You too,” he told Austin.
“What?” Ramous sputtered, his face screwed up in anger. “He’s dangerous,” he shouted. “He assaulted me!”
“Frankly,” the officer told him, staring him down, “it’s a wonder he didn’t take it further. We’d better not hear about you sexually or verbally harassing women again, is that clear?”
“B-bu…” Ramous’s fists balled.
“Miss, if you’re leaving, best do it now.” The officer stepped to the side, leaving the door clear. The other made room as well, watching.
“Yup.” I threaded my fingers through Austin’s and stepped forward immediately, more than ready to be done with all of it.
“Well, it was lovely to meet all of you,” Patty told the room. “You’ll be hearing from me.”
“I doubt you’ll like what you hear, though,” Mimi said, following us.
“Oh no, definitely not, no.” Patty shook her head. “I have no intention of keeping anyone’s secrets. It was a very big mistake, telling them to me.”
Niamh walked forward through the crowd, ramming people’s legs with the cooler.
“Ma’am.” The other officer stepped forward this time, his hand out to stop Niamh.
I paused on the porch, watching.
“We’ve heard that you have some illegal substances in that cooler.” He pointed at it.
“Do I, me feck,” she said, setting it down in front of him. “Well, go on, then, have a wee peek.”
“Open the cooler, please,” he said, not budging.
She gave him a dramatic sigh before flipping the lid and exposing a flask and a couple of cans of Pabst.
“In case ye can’t tell, I’m over twenty-one,” she told them.
“What’s in the flask?” the officer asked.
“Used to be a special drink made by a bunch of bigfoots, but I drank all that.” She unscrewed the cap and turned it over. Not even a drop leaked out.
The officer bent to the cooler and then straightened again and backed up. “Okay.”
“Are ye sure now?” Niamh pressed. “Ye don’t want a beer for the road?”
“Niamh, come on,” I called. “Let’s go.”
She put the lid back on the cooler, and we were walking again. My mood felt light. Jubilant, even. I’d always hated going to that house. I’d hated being cornered by Ramous and getting snide comments from any number of people. I’d hated not living up to expectations and being ignored by Matt even though he’d ensured I had no one to talk to.
And now all of that was over. It was done. I never had to go back.
“I feel free,” I said, half wanting to cry, half wanting to laugh. “I feel…like a weight has been lifted. Parts of this trip have been miserable, but they were important. Confronting a past I didn’t know I needed to confront was necessary. And now I can look forward. Forever.”