Maggie didn’t know what else to do or say. She didn’t want to insult the people who’d helped her so much. When she got home she planned to make a huge batch of her lemon almond scones and some blueberry muffins and deliver them to Edward’s office. She’d bring extras to the house as well. “Thank you for your kindness,” she finally said, admitting defeat.

“Any time, sugar.” Edward smiled and went back to reading the paper.

At the courthouse, the judge heard two minutes of her story before issuing the temporary order. It helped that one of the witnesses was the sheriff. “The papers will be served to Mr. Parsons at his home address. I understand he is currently out on bail.”

“Thank you, Your Honor,” Maggie said and they walked out into the hallway. Once out of the judge’s hearing she turned to Edward. “He’s free? They let him go?”

“I hadn’t heard yet. Apparently so.”

Shane stepped forward then. “He made bail a few minutes ago. He’s home on his own recognizance. I’ll have the papers served immediately. I need you to come to the station now so we can take more of your statement.”

“How could they just let him out? He broke my windows! He wrote that stuff on my door. He has…pictures of me! The man is a panty thief!”

“I’m sorry, Maggie, it’s not up to me,” Shane said gently.

“Well this is just bullshit!” she hissed and the men around her were taken aback by her language but hid their amusement well.

“I’m sorry, sugar. This is the way of it, sometimes.” Edward patted her shoulder. “I’m going to leave you in Kyle’s able hands. I have a hearing to get to. I’m your attorney so if you need help, you call me right away, all right?”

“Thank you so much.” He probably couldn’t have any idea how much he’d helped her but she hoped she could make it up to him somehow. Even if it took her ten years.

He kissed the top of her head and was off with a wave to his sons.

“Kyle, you don’t have to baby sit me. I know you have work to do.”

“That’s why it’s so cool to be the boss. I’m not only going to stay with you, but when I take you back home, I’m going to install some motion controlled lights for you.”

She thought about arguing but saw the set of his mouth and let the idea go. He was just as stubborn as she was. Instead she gave him her thanks and sent some silent thanks of her own out for having such good people in her life.

Back at her house, Maggie cleaned up the inside while Kyle installed the motion detectors for the lights. From his vantage on the ladder, he saw a Lincoln pull up to the curb out front. A tall, blonde woman got out and stalked up the steps and into the house. An open window was right below where he was working and he heard the entire exchange.

“Margaret, where have you been?” the woman called out as she walked in through the door.

“Hello, Mother.”

“I tried calling you all last night but you didn’t answer. Nice girls don’t stay out night, you know. Think of how the town will talk. Were you with some man? Oh never mind, silly question. Anyway, I got a call from Jane Marie about the deplorable way you treated her last night. Your jealousy of your sister has made you mean spirited. She can’t help that she’s prettier than you are and has a handsome man. You had no right to take it out on her.”

“Oh, I see, so automatically, whatever Janie says is true? That’s right, why even bother asking for my side of the story.” Kyle heard the hurt in her words.

“You cannot be trusted over your sister.”

Hearing all he could take, Kyle walked around and up the steps and into the house.

“For your information, Mrs. Wright, Maggie wasn’t home because her house was vandalized and windows were broken out. She stayed with my mother and father until the glass could be replaced.”

“Are you the contractor?” Cecelia looked at him haughtily until recognition lit her eyes and she sent him her thousand watt beauty queen smile. “Wait, you’re a Chase aren’t you?” Her eyelashes fluttered in the presence of such a handsome man and Maggie rolled her eyes.

“No, ma’am, not the contractor. I’m Maggie’s boyfriend, Kyle Chase.” He held his hand out to the vile woman.

“Boyfriend? You?” Cecelia started laughing as it if were the funniest joke she’d ever heard.

Kyle cut off her laughter. “Moreover, and I don’t mean to tell tales out of school, but I think you should know that it was Jane Marie who was a very nasty woman last evening. Maggie and I were having dinner, minding our own business when she came over to our table and was deliberately hurtful to her sister. Maggie did nothing more than defend herself. I’m the one who asked Janie to leave us alone.” He put his arm around Maggie’s shoulders and wished he could toss Cecelia Wright right out of the house.

“Margaret has been jealous of her sister’s superior looks her whole life. Margaret never ran in the popular crowd or got elected homecoming queen and she couldn’t stand it that Jane Marie was. Jane Marie is simply superior and Margaret needs to accept that once and for all.”

Fury and hurt coursed through Maggie. And then, clarity and calm. She was done letting herself get treated that way. By anyone. “That’s a lie. I was happy for her. If she could actually stop being so nasty to me for a few days, she and I got on quite well. I’m still happy for her. I just no longer choose to be spoken to like I’m an ugly stepchild.”