Page 116 of Family Affair

“Look, let’s drop the bullshit. I’m trying to help you.”

“Oh? By trying to trick me into convicting myself?”

A decisive rap on the door interrupted their bickering.

Willis didn’t look happy about the interruption but made no move to stop it. “Come in.”

The door opened and the last person on earth Coco expected to see strolled in with a familiar swagger.

“I hope you read her Miranda’s rights, Mr. Willis, before asking your questions,” Dan Sheffield said in his best lawyer’s voice. “In any case, your cozy one-on-one is over.”

“Are you her lawyer?” Willis asked in a sour tone.

“I am her lawyer,” Dan confirmed amiably, surprising Coco much more than he surprised Willis. “Please have her belongings brought in.”

Willis rose. “She’s a guest of the city. You can talk to her in private, but she can’t leave yet.”

“She can. No warrant has been issued for her arrest. See you later, Detective.”

Without another word, Willis turned and left, slamming the door behind him.

She looked at Dan in bewilderment. “What are you doing here?”

“Like I said, I’m your lawyer.”

“Thank you.”

“Sure.”

The look he was giving her made her chilly. He may be her lawyer, but he wasn’t her friend.

“You got yourself in a hot mess when the old geezer pointed his finger at you. Is there anything I should know?”

“I have no idea what’s happening, Dan. No idea.” She shook her head and leaned back in her chair.

“That’s what you get for screwing around.”

Of course, he would still be furious with her over that video, over that kiss.

“I’m sorry. I never intended to hurt you.” A more awkward place for breaking up would be hard to come up with. “I guess we’re done, you and I.”

“You bet.”

Her clothes arrived, brought in by a uniformed female officer. She grabbed her pants and her shirt and her purse and clutched them to her chest. They smelled wonderful, like her mother’s laundry and home.

Mindless of Dan’s presence, Coco turned around and ripped off the blue scrubs and wadded them up before throwing them on the floor. The brief taste of incarceration was bitter.

“I’m ready.”

“I’ll give you a ride home.”

The ride lulled her to a fitful sleep. The smooth ride and leathery smell of Dan’s car were soothing. They didn’t talk and he didn’t turn on music.

When Coco opened her eyes, they were pulling up at her mother’s house where a huge SUV dominated the front lawn announcing Stella's presence.

The door opened, and her friend stepped out on the porch yelling for all the neighbors to hear, “Oh, my God, Coco, what took you so long?”

This welcome wagon was exactly what Coco needed. A wave of relief washed over her, bringing with it a fresh rush of tears. She was home, and she felt blessed. It was enough. For now, it was enough.