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another officer.
    Humiliated, she stepped on the cold floor while they looked in her shoes.
    Why didn’t the happy ladies have to take off their shoes?
    Leroy must have caught the gist of her thoughts, because he quickly stepped out of his tie-ups, forcing the officer to glance in them.
    Tia entered the courtroom. Twelve officers were posted along the walls and in front of the bench.
    The spectators chattered away. Everyone else was silent.
    What would the judge say to her?
    Would he question her motives?
    She hoped not, because she still didn’t understand why a relationship she’d been willing to commit her life to had ended in such a bizarre manner. She couldn’t understand why the man she’d thought herself in love with had done her so wrong. And she couldn’t understand why she was being punished and he wasn’t.
    With the bench empty, the TV screens blank, officers immobile, and the seats filled, she thought of a hundred places she’d rather be.
    Helpless anger prompted the hellfire choir in her stomach to hum.
    Tia took a seat in the second row, next to Leroy. “Plead me guilty, and get me out of here.”
    â€œTia, these were extenuating circumstances, and the judge will see that. Do you see your arresting officer?”
    A tingle ran up her legs to her chest. She didn’t want to look. Finding him would, in a sense, confirm her guilt, but she braved her fear and glanced around. Relief and a glimmer of hope moved in her chest. “No. Is that good?”
    â€œCould be. The ADA could ask for a postponement but will probably drop the charges. The court’s calendar is overbooked.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me that before?” she whispered. “I’ve been worried out of my mind—”
    â€œThe ADA told me he’s never late for anything. So although he’s not here yet, he’ll probably show up.”
    And emotionally, she’d be back where she’d started.
    â€œDon’t worry,” was all Leroy managed before the judge entered.
    â€œAll rise.”
    Tia said a quick prayer, stood up, and didn’t turn around again. If Officer Rivers was there, she’d know soon enough.

Chapter Seven
    â€œMs. Amberson, you are hereby ordered to take sixty hours of anger management classes.”
    â€œYes, sir,” Tia responded to Judge Dunn.
    â€œYou’re fined two hundred dollars for vandalism.”
    She whispered to Leroy, and he addressed the court. “Your Honor, the defendant owned the tires.”
    The judge read the document again. “That may be true, but just as you own your house, you don’t have the right to burn it down.”
    Snickers resounded from the gallery. Give them some popcorn, and they’d be at Magic Johnson’s theatre. Judge Dunn looked over his glasses at her, a mischievous grin on his face, and Tia immediately knew two things. The judge was gay. And, when he took off that robe, he was a flaming drama queen.
    â€œDid you say something?” Judge Dunn asked innocently, inviting her to cut up.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDid you want to say something?”
    Tia licked her teeth and shook her head. No way was she going into her invisible closet and coming out in a sequined dress, five-inch fingernails, and sista girl wig on. “No, sir.”
    â€œAh, well.” The judge gave a disappointed sigh. “Is the arresting officer present?”
    The assistant district attorney perused the courtroom and threw up her hands. “Officer Rivers was supposed to be here.”
    â€œI guess this is your lucky day,” the judge said to Tia. “The other charges are dropped.”
    â€œUh, Your Honor?” Dante rose from the last row, pulling at the suit Tia had bought him two Christmases ago.
    Tia’s heart hammered. This was the first she’d seen him in weeks.
    All the books she’d read on healing from a broken relationship covered this moment. But she