Page 16 of The Sweetest Surrender

Chapter Six

It was worse than she thought. Selena groaned and took her fingers through her hair as she sat in her office, staring at the major headline in the Illinois Tribune.

Runaway Bride and Friends Turn Police Vigilantes

Two pictures showed Phoebe, Eden and Selena running out of the bridal shop and then being put in the back of the police cruiser. The article conveniently left out any mention of Samiyah going into labor, making it seem like the trio was intentionally trying to steal the wedding dress. It was completely misleading and sharply edited. It was no wonder her mother had been calling for the last hour, and Selena had just made it to work. Besides that, the word vigilante didn’t even fit this context, even if they were trying to steal a damn dress.

With Samiyah out of the office and Claudia working between S & M and her charity Caregivers Organization, Selena and Octavia were in for an arduous work week. A soaring whistle left Selena’s mouth in a slow drugging sigh. When the phone on her desk began to ring, it didn’t surprise Selena that her mother resulted to calling her job when she couldn’t get Selena on her cell.

“Good morning, Mom,” she answered.

“Oh, finally you answer the phone!” Margaret Strauss shouted. “Young lady, what is going on, and why do I find out through WTZB news that you’re a part of some vigilante team!?”

Selena groaned again. Not only were they in the newspaper, but also on TV. This was a mess that Selena had to fix somehow.

“Mom, you haven’t heard this from me because you know it’s not true.”

“So, you didn’t run out of a bridal shop with your friend in a wedding dress? Because there’s a picture of you all fleeing the store.”

Selena wondered who’d snapped the pictures. She’d grown accustomed to being caught in a picture or two because of the Rose family’s popularity. Anytime something silly came out in the newspaper or on TV, she would roll her eyes and laugh it off. But this was just ridiculous. Whoever it was must have been lying in wait for them to leave the bridal shop. It wouldn’t surprise her if the owner called the paparazzi herself, trying to make a quick buck.

“We were there for Phoebe’s fitting, Ma. You know she’s newly engaged to Quentin Davidson.”

“Yes, I am aware, but how does that explain these pictures and accusations. Police vigilante?”

“They’re twisting the story. Samiyah’s water broke while we were there, an—”

“Oh my God, Samiyah’s water broke!?” Margaret asked, slicing through Selena’s words.

“Yes, Ma, that’s what I’m trying to tell you. When her water broke, we all panicked and ran out of the shop, trying to get Samiyah to the hospital. Phoebe didn’t mean to take the dress. She was trying it on at the time.”

“Hmm,” Margaret mumbled. “The news anchor didn’t say anything about that.”

Selena sighed.

“Well, what are we going to do about this? They can’t get away with calling you guys vigilantes. We’ll sue them!” Margaret shouted.

The buzzing in Selena’s ear made her question her mother’s whereabouts.

“Ma, where are you?”

“Oh, I’m at Sunny Nails.”

Selena imagined her primping mom, sitting in a nail salon with the phone stuck to one ear and the other hand in the nail tech’s lap. Margaret never went a day without making sure her appearance was flawless for her husband. Margaret had always told Selena, if you don’t dress nice and look good for your husband another hussy will. Margaret stuck to her daily routine. But now that she and Selena’s father were headed for divorce, Selena wondered if all of her mother’s upkeep had been for naught.

“I’m handling it, Ma, don’t worry.”

“How?”

Selena glanced at her clock on the wall.

“I’ve got a friend who’s helping me resolve the matter.”

The phone went quiet.

“Ma?”

“Would this friend happen to be Jordan?”

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