A woman in a silk robe stood beside her holding scissors. This was Curtis mother, Doris Hale, a woman who loved social status and control more than kindness. Emily was shaking. Her cheeks were flushed with fever. Her eyes were unfocused.
“You will learn obedience,” Doris said coldly. “You embarrassed this family. You will not attend events until you understand gratitude.” Harold stepped into the room. “Step away from my daughter,” he said.
Doris turned, startled. “You broke into my home.” Harold crossed the room and gently took the scissors from her hand. He set them on a table. Emily looked up. “Dad,” she whispered.
Harold knelt beside her and placed a hand on her forehead. Her skin burned with heat. “You are safe now,” he said. Doris recovered her arrogance quickly. “You cannot touch me. My lawyers will bury you. This girl is my daughter in law. She belongs to this family.”
Harold stood slowly. He did not raise his voice. He did not shout. “She belongs to herself,” he replied. “And she is coming with me.” Doris moved toward the door, reaching for her phone. Harold stepped in front of her. His presence was enough. Doris stopped. Her breath hitched.
Something in Harold eyes told her that threats meant nothing here. Harold lifted Emily into his arms. She weighed far less than she should. He carried her downstairs. Curtis lay near the entrance trying to regain dignity. He looked up in disbelief.
“You cannot take her,” Curtis rasped. “She is my wife.” “You lost that privilege the moment you harmed her,” Harold replied. He placed Emily gently in the passenger seat of his truck. He turned on the air to cool her. He gave her a bottle of water. “Dad will handle the rest,” he said.
He closed the door and turned back toward the house. Curtis stood on the porch again, shaky but defiant. Doris appeared beside him clutching her phone. “You will regret this,” Doris screamed. “We own judges. We own police. You are finished.”
Harold reached into his pocket and pulled out his old flip phone. He dialed a number stored in memory. The call connected quickly. “Colonel Adams,” Harold said. “This is retired Sergeant Major Harold Bennett. I need assistance at a domestic violence scene in Lakeview Crest. Victim secured. Perpetrators on site.”
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