“You win.” I sniffed. My watery eyes were full of tears I refused to shed. Even after all these years, I missed Boonior. “But I don’t want a big dog. And not too small either. I don’t want to step on the poor thing when he’s a baby.”
We rode home with Geepa more excited about puppy-hunting than anything else. He’d found several already but he wanted to take Easton with him to pick the final one out.
“She may try to tell you she only wants one if it’s pink.”
“I’m not too concerned about that. When she sees these little things, she’ll want more than one.”
“Oh, hell no. One is my hard limit.”
“I know. I promise on that.”
We dropped Geepa and Banana off and he was going to pick up Easton the following day to puppy-hunt. I had to remember to tell Tristian. We hadn’t even discussed where we’d live. Gah, I needed to figure all this out.
Mom drove me home next and as I was getting out of the car, she said, “Honey, you look happy. Are you?”
I grinned. “When I think of Tristian I am.”
“Good. That makes me happy too.”
“I’ll pick up Easton later.”
“No, you don’t. I’m keeping her until Tristian leaves for Vietnam.”
“Damn, I forgot about that too. Even after we talked about it last night. My brain is on vacation.”
Mom gave me a knowing look. “I wonder why.”
“Mom!”
She laughed and backed out of the driveway. Tristian’s car was there so I walked in grinning.
“How’d it go?” he asked from the kitchen.
“I caved in to the puppy. My grandfather took advantage of me in my weakened state. I felt guilty over what happened and he used that opportunity against me.”
“Smart man.”
“Do you mind? I should’ve asked you first.”
“No, I don’t mind a bit. It’ll be great for Easton.”
“Thank you.”
“So he’s okay?”
I explained about the tear in his shoulder. “Other than that, all is good.”
Tristian told me he called the attorney and that another order of protection would be taken out for Mom and Dad, and Geepa and Banana.
“Great idea. Maybe that’ll keep them away. Do you think Bill will get fired?”
“Who knows? The governor’s office hasn’t issued any statements yet. It’s all over the news though. I’m surprised they haven’t called you.”
“Maybe they have and no one was here.”
I spoke too soon. The doorbell rang and I opened the door without thinking. Several reporters and cameramen stood on the porch.
“Ms. Bridges, we’d like to ask you a few questions.” Then a microphone was jammed into my face.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Tristian
The door slammed with a thump, punctuated by an expletive. I’d heard English curse before, but not often and not like this.
“What’s going on?”
“Reporters on the porch.” She aimed her thumb over her shoulder as she leaned against the door.
“Christ. I was hoping we’d avoid this.”
“Same. What do we do?” Her eyes darted around the room.
“Sit tight and see if they go away.”
“They have one of those antenna trucks with some cameras too.”
Bad news. They were here for the duration. I took her hands in mine. “Come here, starshine.”
“I can’t. What if they break the door down?”
“Babe, they’d be breaking the law if they did that.”
“Right. Right. Okay.” She gingerly stepped away from the door, as though she anticipated an army would crash through it.
“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. We’ll grab something to eat and if they don’t go away, I’ll call the attorney and have him handle it. He can come up with some kind of statement.”
She slumped against me. “Thank you. That’s a great idea.”
We stayed in the kitchen and made sandwiches and soup. Afterward I peeked outside and, sure enough, they were camped out there.
“Time to call Ryan.” When he answered, I explained the situation.
“Figures. Let me work up something and I’ll be over. Is there a back way in?”
I asked English.
“He’d have to cut through the neighbor’s property and someone would be sure to see him,” she said.
After I relayed that piece of information, Ryan said he’d come over and march through the front door.
“Is he sure?”
“I suppose he’s done this before for other clients. He knows what he’s doing.”
A little while later, he showed up with a police escort. They pushed through the crowd that was gathered out front and I opened the door. People shouted, but English stayed in the kitchen out of sight.
“Where’s English?” Ryan asked after the door closed.
“I’m right here, hiding.” She peeked around the corner.
“I don’t blame you. The vultures are out. Apparently, the governor did a press release claiming he had no knowledge of what happened and is not aware of the situation between you and the McLures. Bill is claiming his innocence, although I’m not sure how his attorneys plan to proceed with that, given your grandfather had to be hospitalized from his injuries. He was charged with forcible entry, aggravated assault and battery. It runs in the family.”
English sighed. “Knowing them, they’ll figure a way out of this.”
Ryan shook his head. “I doubt he’ll be getting any help from the governor. From the tone of the press release, Bill McLure may find himself unemployed. I would love to be a fly on the wall in the governor’s office. His hands are full right now with all the charges he’s facing. He doesn’t need any more at the present.”
English nodded, “Maybe you’re right. But I won’t breathe easy until this is over.”
“Ryan, I need to fill you in on something. English and I went to Vegas and got married. We came home early because of this situation. My attorney is working on the adoption of Easton.”
A megawatt grin broke out on his face. “Congratulations to you both, and that will positively work in our favor. Not that that’s why you did it, but it certainly helps the cause. One question for the two of you. When I address the throng out there, should I refer to you as English Bridges or English Baines?”
That was not for me to decide, so my questioning glance turned to my wife. Oddly enough, it did not seem strange to think of her as that.
Her back was ramrod straight as she answered, “My name is English Baines, so that’s what you should call me.” There wasn’t a flicker of hesitation in her response and I’d never been more proud of anyone.
“My wife has spoken, Ryan. You have your answer.”
“Excellent. That will also set their gossip networks on fire. I have an idea that when the McLures hear of this, they may reconsider everything they want to do.”
“No, they won’t,” English said. “They’re crazy like that. If Bill punched my grandfather, I wouldn’t put anything past them.”