Free Thirty and a Half Excuses by Denise Grover Swank Page B

tonight.”
    Mason took a step closer. “You know I’m here if you need anything. I don’t mind. But the police can do more than I can. I mean it, next time call them before you call me.”
    “You’re presuming there will be a next time.”
    An amused grin spread across his face. “You’re suggesting there won’t be?”
    I lifted a shoulder into a half-shrug. He had a point; if history kept repeating itself, there would be.
    He shook his head with a chuckle. “Goodnight, Rose.”
    “Goodnight, Mason.”
    I watched him drive away, and then locked the door and went to get my small jewelry box from my dresser. Sitting on the bed, I lifted the lid to the white box and a tiny ballerina with a net skirt popped up. The box was more fit for a preteen than a twenty-four-year-old woman, but Daddy had given it to me for my thirteenth birthday. I’d never replaced it for two reasons: One, it was one of the only things he had ever given me outright, without Momma’s inclusion. And two, I didn’t have much of anything to put in it. My birth mother’s ring had come in a ring box which I kept tucked in my underwear drawer. Truth be told, I hadn’t opened the ring box in several months, the jewelry box in even longer.
    I sorted through the pieces until I came across what I was looking for, the dainty gold chain with its filigreed gold crucifix. Aunt Bessie had made sure to tell me it was made of real 18ct gold. Momma had rarely let me wear it, telling me it wouldn’t be appropriate to wear something so gaudy every day. As a girl, it had killed me to let it sit in the box, and sometimes I’d sneak it out of the house and put it on after I got on the school bus.
    Laying the chain across my palm, I studied the cross. Aunt Bessie had even had my initials engraved on the back. RAG. Lord knew I’d been teased mercilessly about that fact when the other kids in school found out. Which incidentally was when one of the mean girls in my class noticed my necklace and asked to try it on. I’d relented—anything to fit in with my classmates—but she’d taken one look at the initials and tossed it back to me with a nasty insult.
    I hadn’t worn it since.
    I was done with letting people make me feel worthless. Sure it had happened in the sixth grade and Theresa Hopper didn’t even live in Henryetta anymore, but the necklace would be a reminder to stand my ground.
    I lifted the chain and fastened it around my neck.
    Rose Gardner was done backing down.

Chapter Seven
    When I got to the nursery the next morning, Violet was waiting with her hand on her hip. “You didn’t think to call me about getting attacked? Again .”
    I started to ask her how she knew, then stopped. Of course, it was big news, and Henryetta was a small town. It would have been more surprising if Violet hadn’t heard.
    I waved my hand as I tossed my purse behind the counter. “It was nothing. Mason thinks someone heard that poor Miss Dorothy died and tried to break in to steal her jewelry.”
    Violet’s father-in-law showed up just as she was about to give me a tongue-lashing. Giving me the evil eye—which just about screamed We’re not done talking about this —she turned to him with a smile.
    “Thanks for letting us borrow your truck, Gary. If you want to take my car, I’ll switch with you later today.
    “Don’t be silly, Violet. You’re like a daughter to Shelia and me. We’re so proud of what you and Rose have done,” Gary told her with tears in his eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on in that fool boy’s head, but I hope he doesn’t think we’re gonna turn our backs on you.”
    Violet teared up as she threw her arms around his neck, and her voice broke as she held onto him for several seconds. “Thank you.”
    I wasn’t sure what Mike’s parents knew, but as far as I could tell, there was plenty of blame to go round. I wasn’t happy that Mike had left Violet, but I’d also seen the misery she’d put him through with years of belittling