I turned to al the folks in Fortnum’s.
“She’s a little crazy,” I said.
No one said a word, they were al staring out the door.
Annette walked back in.
“I’m gonna kill that motherfucker,” she announced.
“I think that’s the consensus,” I told her.
“No, no, no. I’m gonna rip his dick off and shove it up his nose and parade him through the streets na**d and dickless and then cut his head off.”
The entire store was silent.
“Annette, honey, I thought you were a pacifist,” I reminded her in a placating voice.
“Have you seen your face?”
“Um… yeah. It’s already a lot better.”
At my words, her eyes bugged out.
Holy cow.
Wrong thing to say.
Quickly, I said, “Let me introduce you to everybody.” I did the introductions. Annette gave Uncle Tex a big, old hug and when I finished with Hank, she looked him up and down, turned to me and nodded while she said, “Nice.” Hank’s arm slid along my shoulders and he pul ed me into his side.
Annette and Jason took this in and Annette smiled huge.
Then she said, “Very nice.”
I looked up at Hank and his lips were twitching.
Shit.
Then, Jason came forward, took my hand and said, “Do you mind?” to Hank. He pul ed me away from Hank’s arm and into both of his own. Then he gave me a tight hug, shoving his face in my neck.
The room, having recovered from Annette’s outburst, went silent again.
I felt the tears hit the backs of my eyes and slid my arms around him.
“Jason, I’m okay,” I whispered. “I’m fine, I’m here. It’s over.”
He didn’t let me go. I heard Annette give a loud, hiccoughing sob (Annette was a crier, just like me) then her arms came around both of us.
We stood like that for a while and then I heard Hank say softly, “Jason, Roxie’s got three cracked ribs.” Jason’s arms loosened and he and Annette stepped away. Immediately, Hank slid his arm across my shoulders again and pul ed me tight to his side.
“Annette tel s me you’re a cop,” Jason said, looking at Hank.
Hank nodded.
“You’l get him?” Jason asked.
Hank nodded again.
Jason looked at him for a few beats, then he nodded too and I watched the tension ebb from his body.