Page 17 of She’ll Steal Your Heart
“I’ve long since recovered what I lost, and there was an insurance payout too, so I’ll put this check toward my kitten rescue,” Josie told Lauren. “I’ve been hoping to invest in a couple of incubators for the newborns. Eve and I have a new litter upstairs right now.”
Lauren smiled at the thought. “I was always so in awe of how you juggled the rescue and the bar.”
“Well, you set me back on that front when you emptied my cash register and took off.” Josie dropped her gaze to the table. “I had been trying to give myself some time off from the bar to focus on the rescue and my personal life.”
“I remember,” Lauren said. “And when you approached me about working that extra shift for you, I really was thrilled about it. Robbing you wasn’t premeditated.”
“That’s good to know, actually,” Josie said. “I had always wondered if you were scheming behind my back, just waiting for me to offer you enough responsibility to take advantage. Eve always tells me I’m too trusting.”
Eve gave her a fond look. “Because you are.”
Josie shrugged as her lips curved in a smile. “I look for the best in people.”
“I wish I had lived up to your expectations.” Lauren’s throat was tight, and tears blurred her vision. “I’m so sorry I let you down.”
“I can’t say I understand why you did it,” Josie said. “But I do know what it feels like to be in a desperate situation, and I believe that a sincere apology is a valuable thing. It must have taken a lot of courage to come here today, and I appreciate that. You said you weren’t looking for my forgiveness, but you have it regardless.” Josie extended her hand across the table.
Lauren took it, blinking back more tears. Josie’s handshake was warm and firm. “Thank you. I don’t deserve it, but I appreciate it…so much.”
Josie nodded. “We’re square as far as I’m concerned.” She looked at Mia, who had been watching the conversation quietly. “So what happens next?”
“Next we go to the police station,” Mia said. “I’m going to serve as Lauren’s legal counsel. Josie, they’ll need to know if you want to press charges against Lauren.”
Josie sat back, glancing at her wife. “It’s up to me?”
“To some extent, yes,” Mia said. “If you decide to drop the charges, then it’ll probably just be a matter of setting a court date to make it official. The district attorney could decide to press charges anyway, but in a case like this where the parties have resolved things privately, that’s usually the end of it.”
“I don’t want you to go to jail,” Josie said, looking at Lauren. “You’ve been through enough.”
“She could be lying about her reasons for stealing,” Eve said. “So don’t make your decision based on that.”
Josie rolled her eyes playfully. “Are you accusing me of being too trusting again?”
Eve’s lips quirked, and she shrugged. “I’m just playing devil’s advocate.”
“I’ve known Lauren online for a while, and although I didn’t know about the robbery, I can vouch for part of her story,” Mia said. “Her brother did overdose last month. In fact, his remains are at my apartment right now for safekeeping in case Lauren has to spend the night in jail, which”—she gave Lauren a quick look—“I don’t expect to happen.”
“That’s good enough for me,” Josie said. “But I do have to come to the station with you, right?”
Mia nodded. “Yes.”
“All right, then.” Josie stood from the table. “Let’s get this over with.”
Lauren stood, tucking her bag over her shoulder. As hard as this meeting with Josie and Eve had been, the next part was going to be even harder.
Mia gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “To the police station.”
6
“You’ll report to the courthouse on this date.” The bored-looking officer jabbed his finger against the paper he’d placed on the counter in front of them. It listed Lauren’s court date as September 15th, about three weeks away. “Don’t leave the city in the meantime.”
“Okay.” Lauren darted an uncertain glance at Mia.
“We understand,” Mia told the officer. This was all more or less what she’d expected. They’d successfully gotten the warrant for Lauren’s arrest dropped, and now she would need to appear in court to have the charges against her officially dismissed. “Thank you, Officer Harney.”
Lauren folded the court summons and placed it inside her bag, giving the officer a hesitant smile. Then she followed Mia outside into the August sunshine. Josie had left about a half hour ago after giving her statement.
“That went as well as we could have expected,” Mia said.
