“I can’t wait. Now go have fun! You’ve earned it.”

“Maybe I’ll call you tonight and interrupt your reading time.”

“That’d be okay. Just call Sully. I’m not good at keeping secrets and he’s been a little anxious today.”

They said goodbye and Maggie tucked away her phone, deciding she could call Sully before going into O’Malley’s. She occupied a stall briefly and when she came out she was facing Mrs. Markiff. The woman was waiting right outside the stall, a fierce look on her face.

“Mrs. Markiff!” she said, startled.

“I hope you’re proud of yourself,” she said bitterly. “You let my boy die and you got away with it.”

“I did everything I could,” Maggie said pleadingly. “I’m so sorry for your loss, but I did the best I could. There just wasn’t anything more I could do.”

“A person could try! You didn’t try!” Then she whirled around and stormed out.

So there, Maggie thought. Just in case I needed to be reminded that I’m not allowed even the briefest periods of happiness without a dark cloud passing over.

She left the ladies’ room to call Sully, forcing any melancholy from her voice for his sake.

* * *

When Maggie walked into the pub, there were cheers. There were more people there from the hospital, those who hadn’t made it to the courthouse but had been called with the news the case was dismissed. She was pulled into a party of at least twenty that grew as the hour got a little later and the day shift at the hospital ended. Doctors, nurses and techs showed up in jeans or scrubs to congratulate her, to show their support.

At first, overwhelmed by all the tension of the day and the presence of so many people who appreciated her, all she could do was nod and smile. After a glass of wine, she began to laugh as jokes and gossip were traded. People came and went as though it was an open house. At five o’clock, food appeared.

“It’s going to be fine now,” Terry, the RN from the operating room said. “Have another glass of wine. I’m driving you home in your car.”

“But how will you get home?”

“I came over with Rob Hollis from the hospital and my husband, Jake, is coming.” She shrugged and smiled. “Free food.”

“Who put this together?” Maggie asked.

“I don’t know. Everyone, more or less. Once the word got out that the first day of your suit started with the hearing, we all wanted to be here. The ones who had to work are just getting here a little later, that’s all. Maggie, it’s over.”

“Mrs. Markiff met me in the bathroom to let me know how bitterly she hates me.”

“You were the only chance her boy had. We go through this, Maggie. We go through it because who will they have if we don’t?”

“I think I’m used up,” she said.

“I hope to God not,” Terry said. “We need you. What are you finding at Sully’s we can’t give you here?”

She gave a short huff of laughter. “I shot a guy who had abducted a fourteen-year-old girl.”

“That was you? At Sully’s?” she asked, surprised. “The news was pretty good at keeping the identity of the girl, the woman and the exact location of the incident quiet, but they did say it was a campground on a lake near Timberlake. I should’ve known.” She laughed and clapped a hand on Maggie’s shoulder. “You’re a tough broad, Maggie.”

“I always wanted to be something else,” she said. “One of those frail, pretty girls who men felt they had to protect. Maybe I should have let my mother dress me up and send me to dance lessons.”