"Look, she misled my own mother-in-law into turning on me. She nearly destroyed my wedding. Don't I deserve an explanation?"
The older women in the crowd rallied to my side immediately.
Mrs. Abbott noticed the red mark on my face, and guilt crept into her voice as she spoke up for me.
"She's right! It was all Denise Galloway running her mouth, making me turn on my own daughter-in-law!"
"She owes us an explanation!"
Only then did Ezra notice the handprint on my cheek. Something flickered in his eyes. Concern, maybe.
But the moment I mentioned making Denise pay, that concern dissolved into hesitation.
I looked past him and turned directly to the commanding officers.
They responded without delay:
"Denise Galloway is demoted. One month of community labor."
The corner of my mouth curled.
"And she needs to apologize to me. Right here. In front of everyone."
Denise stood before me with tears brimming in her eyes, bent at the waist, and apologized.
Then, under a chorus of scorn from the crowd, she turned and ran off crying.
Ezra's gaze followed her retreating figure. His throat bobbed. He turned and said:
"She doesn't know her way around here. I'll go check on her, make sure nothing happens."