Page 84 of Finding You
I went back to our table to grab my jacket and Astrid’s purse and saw Judge Wentworth headed toward me.
“A person in my position can’t be associated with this type of thing. I trust you can handle this?” she demanded, glaring at me with her arms crossed.
“Yes,” I replied tersely. “If by situation, you mean bailing your daughter out of jail then yes, I can handle it.”
She smiled and I hated her.
“She was assaulted and she is scared. And now she’s being arrested,” I continued, waiting for Astrid’s mother to act like… well, act like a mother.
She shrugged. “It will all work itself out, I’m sure.” She started to walk away and then turned back around. “You know, I can’t help but think that this is your influence. Astrid has never behaved like this before,” she said icily.
“She was attacked by a vindictive man who took advantage of her and got her fired. I think your anger is misplaced, ma’am.”
“I understand the factual circumstances. But unfairness is not a reason to jeopardize your future. What happened tonight will have serious consequences. And I can’t help but think that you led her down this path.”
I was dumbstruck. Who was this woman and how could she live with herself? Her daughter was being arrested and she was just leaving? After her child had been physically assaulted? What kind of mother did that? My mother certainly wouldn’t. The thought of my mother here made me chuckle. I could only imagine the verbal tongue-lashing these poor police officers would receive.
But now I had to focus. Astrid needed me. For months, I had struggled with my overwhelming desire to protect this woman. The irony, of course, is there was no one who needed my protection less. But I still wanted to give it to her. And in the one moment where she needed me, the one moment where I could have helped her, I wasn’t there. It should have been me kicking that guy’s ass. It should have been me being led away in handcuffs. The guilt I felt was crushing. But there wasn’t time to dwell on it. I had to get my girl out of jail.
33
ASTRID
“What are you in for, Barbie?”the older looking woman asked, as I sat, wearing one shoe and a gorgeous dress, in a holding cell.
“I don’t think she’s Barbie,” added the other. “I get more of an Elsa vibe from her.”
Was I the only person on earth who hadn’t seen that movie?
“I was attacked by my former boss, and I kicked his ass.”
“Right on,” the older one said. “Is that why you only have one shoe?”
“Yup. I stomped on his foot with the other, and it tore through his shoe and cut his foot open.”
“Sweet. What else did you do?”
“I kneed him in the balls, and I think I broke his nose.”
"Awesome.” She reached out and high-fived me.
The younger one looked confused. “Wait, so you did all this in that fancy outfit?”
“Yup,” I said. “We were at a black-tie gala actually. This dress is surprisingly comfortable.”
They both laughed.
“Can you show me your moves?” the younger one asked.
“Sure,” I replied.
* * *
By the time Declan bailed me out a few hours later, I had taught Yasmin and Roxanne some self-defense moves and had given them the email address of a law school colleague who did criminal defense work. I enjoyed getting to know these women and hearing about their lives. It made me feel even more certain that I wanted to focus my career on helping women. People who didn’t live in a bubble of privilege and who could really use my help. More and more, I was realizing that maybe I could use my legal powers for good instead of evil.
I walked out of the holding area on one shoe and saw Declan, handsome as ever, with his brow furrowed. I ran into his arms, and he hugged me tight. “Are you okay?”
“I’m great,” I replied, taking a deep breath full of his masculine scent. I felt safe and secure in his arms, and despite the fact that we were in public, I never wanted to let go.
