Page 24 of Christmas Souls

"Mayor Mitchell, I have a statement here from Miss Schmidt that you were trying to coerce her into an inappropriate liaison with information you had from undisclosed sources. Is this true?"

The mayor's lawyer frowns upon hearing this. He whispers something into the mayor's ears and the mayor just brushes him off.

"This hearing is about the assault by Michael Hoffer, your honor. I don't see what that other information has anything to do with this."

"Mr. Hoffer claims the information as a motive. He was only defending Miss Schmidt's honor."

"Do I need to talk to your superiors about you, judge?"

"Are you seriously threatening me, Mitchell?"

The mayor's lawyer whisper-shouts some more things into the mayor's ear. They seem to be having a fight, and the mayor is losing.

"It's her word against mine, your honor," Mitchell says with a derisive tone.

"Then it's my prerogative to make this decision for all of us. Charges dismissed. And you need to pay a fine, Mayor Mitchell, for that threat you issued against me. It's on the record now."

Michael's family all jump for joy and I'm pulled to Michael's side by one of his brothers. He gives me a hug, and I can finally breathe now that Michael's not in trouble anymore. What happened in the courtroom doesn't seem really legal to me, but who am I to complain? My honey is free.

"Mr. Hoffer, a word." The judge calls out.

"Yes, your honor?" Michael and I approach the stand.

"I'm hoping you or one of your brothers will run for office soon, do you hear me?"

"Right, I'll talk to them," Michael answers. Then he turns to me and gives me a quick kiss.

"Let's go home," Michael whispers in my ear.

I cannot agree with him more.

Home is not as quiet as I hoped it would be. All of Michael's family is there celebrating with us. I don't know where the food and drink came from, but everyone is enjoying it. As an only child, I'm a little bit intimidated by big families like theirs.

Michael doesn't let me dwell on things for long, though. He grabs my hand and tugs me to a corner where we can be as private as possible in this house full of people.

"I need to ask you something, baby girl."

He's frowning, and I can sense a bit of insecurity there. I don't know what's gotten into him.

"What is it?"

"Would you have done it? Accepted the mayor's proposal?"

I gasp. "Of course not, Michael. That man is disgusting. I mean he's handsome, but I know he lies and manipulates and manyother bad things that I don't want to know. I wouldn't want to get involved with a man like that."

"I'm glad, baby."

"Were you really worried about that? Don't you know me at all?"

"It's been five years. People change."

I search his face to be able to get a sense of what he's feeling. There's uncertainty there, and I need to address it.

"Why didn't you tell me that day with the permit?” he asks in a deep voice. “That was the day he said those things to you. I just know it."

"I didn't want you to think I was a failure. A loser. It doesn't matter anymore. I'm glad everything is out in the open now. I didn't like keeping things from you."

"You know I love you, right Mandy?"