Page 82 of Taken from Her
The Phoenix Ridge Community Center had been transformed. Soft lighting strung between support beams created an intimate atmosphere while candles on every table cast warm shadows across walls displaying five years of photos documenting Diana and Lavender's journey together. The scent of Georgia's famous lavender cake mixed with coffee, while conversations flowed between tables where police colleagues sat beside community activists, city officials shared stories with café regulars, and families celebrated alongside Phoenix Ridge's chosen family.
Diana stood near the memorial wall, watching their world celebrate in the transformed space. Captain Julia Scott chatted with Detective Morgan Rivers near the dessert table, both wearing civilian clothes but carrying themselves with the confidence that came from meaningful work. Dr. Hassan introduced her teenage daughter to Mayor Hendricks and three city council members. Georgia Darricott held a small group captive near the dessert table, sharing her experience with Elena Rodriguez and two new volunteers who clearly understood they were receiving valuable education.
"Is it overwhelming?" Lavender asked, appearing beside Diana with two glasses of wine.
"No, it’s perfect," Diana replied, accepting her glass. "I never imagined wanting this much attention on my personal life. Tonight, it feels like celebrating with my chosen family."
Across the room, the main door opened to admit three figures that made Diana's chest tighten with emotion. Tara Brymer entered first, her environmental science teacher's confidence grew by five years of healing. Isabel followed, her tech-founder efficiency softened by genuine warmth, andJoanna completed their group, her swimmer's posture carrying hard-won strength.
"They came," Lavender said softly.
Tara approached first, her embrace full of gratitude. "We wouldn't miss this. You two saved our lives, but more than that, you created something that makes sure it never happens to anyone else."
Isabel joined them. "The safety networks you built and the police-community cooperation have been replicated in Sacramento, Portland, and Seattle. You've saved lives far beyond Phoenix Ridge."
Joanna walked up to the small group. "Corinne wanted to be here, but the kids have a tournament. She sends her love and says to tell you that watching you two prove love and service complement each other has been healing for our whole family."
Diana felt tears threaten. These women represented not just professional success, but personal validation that caring deeply made her better at protecting others, not worse.
"Thank you for building this," Tara continued, gesturing toward the celebration around them. "Not just the networks or the programs, but the proof that authentic partnerships create stronger communities."
Elena approached the small group with her tablet and warm smile. "Ready for the program? We have some special presentations planned."
The crowd settled as Elena took the microphone, her voice carrying across the room with practiced ease. "Five years ago, Chief Diana Marten walked into Lavender's Café seeking community cooperation for a difficult investigation. Tonight, we celebrate how that professional partnership became personal love, and how both have enhanced everything we've accomplished together."
Applause filled the room, but Diana barely heard it. She was focused on Lavender beside her, silver hair catching candlelight, confidence radiating from her aura.
"We have presentations from several community groups," Elena continued, "but first, let's hear from the partnership that started it all."
Diana found herself guided toward the front of the room with Lavender, facing an audience that represented every aspect of their shared life. Her hand found Lavender's automatically.
"Five years ago," Diana began, her voice carrying easily across the space, "I believed that emotional distance was necessary for professional effectiveness. That caring too much would compromise my judgment and make me weak when people needed me to be strong."
She paused, looking at faces that had become family. "Lavender taught me that the opposite was true. That emotional investment was the key all along. That caring more deeply makes you better at protecting others, not worse."
"And Diana taught me," Lavender continued seamlessly, "that institutional resources and community networks could enhance each other instead of competing. That police protection and community care could work together to create something neither could achieve alone."
"Together," Diana said, "we've proven that the best partnerships don't require choosing between personal happiness and professional service. They prove that both can strengthen each other when built on trust, respect, and shared commitment to something larger than ourselves."
The applause was warm from recognition rather than politeness. Diana saw Julia Scott beaming with pride, Georgia Darricott nodding her approval, and Dr. Hassan smiling beside her daughter who was taking notes for a school project about community leadership.
Elena returned to the microphone. "We have recognitions from several organizations, but I want to start with something special. Tara, Isabel, and Joanna have prepared a presentation about the impact of community safety networks."
The three women joined Elena at the front, their presence creating a powerful visual reminder of why community protection mattered.
"Five years ago, we were statistics," Isabel said, her voice steady despite the emotion underneath. "We were reduced to missing persons cases and were victims of a trafficking network that threatened an entire community."
"Today," Tara continued, "we're here because two women proved that caring about people—personallyandprofessionally—creates the kind of protection that actually works."
"The networks Diana and Lavender built didn't just save our lives," Joanna added. "They've been replicated in dozens of communities. Hundreds of thousands of people are safer because Phoenix Ridge proved that partnership between formal and informal systems creates something stronger than either alone."
She gestured toward a display board Elena had set up, showing photos and statistics from communities implementing the Phoenix Ridge model. "California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada are all using approaches developed here. Federal funding, academic studies, policy recommendations have all traced back to two women who figured out how to love each other while serving something larger than themselves."
Diana felt the magnitude of their influence settling around her shoulders. Not a burden, but recognition that personal choices had created ripple effects far beyond anything they'd imagined.
Mayor Hendricks approached the microphone next. "On behalf of Phoenix Ridge, I want to present Chief Marten andLavender Larwood with the city's highest honor for community service." She held up a framed proclamation. "This recognizes not just five years of innovative leadership, but the proof that authentic partnerships create stronger, safer, and more connected communities."
More applause, but Diana was focused on the faces around the room. These weren't just colleagues or community members anymore. They were family, all gathered to celebrate something that had grown far beyond two people falling in love.
