“She brought me an old dress to mend.”
Julian closed his eyes.
Without that witness, Delia had almost nothing.
“I’m sorry.”
She looked at him.
“For your mother’s machine.”
“It wasn’t you.”
He stood.
“I’m going home.”
“Why?”
“To stop a wedding.”
Delia looked away.
“Don’t do it for me.”
“I’m not.”
He headed toward the door.
“I’m doing it because I finally saw her.”
That evening, the Whitlow family held a rehearsal dinner.
Paige arrived smiling.
Her father raised a glass.
“To my daughter.”
Laughter.
“And to the best deal I ever closed.”
More laughter.
Julian did not smile.
Neither did Eleanor, who remained upstairs.
Not yet.
Delia entered through the dining-room doors.
Conversations stopped.
Gordon stood.
“What is she doing here?”
Delia held her sewing case.
“One minute.”
“Then I’ll go.”
Paige stared.
Everything about Delia had been said behind closed doors.
Now she spoke in front of everyone.
“I pinned hems here.”
She looked around the room.
“I pressed seams.”
“That’s all.”
She looked at Loretta.
“I didn’t take that brooch.”
Then at Paige.
“And I never laid a hand on Miss Prescott.”
Paige screamed:
“She’s lying!”
She pulled up her sleeve.
“Look at my arm!”
Delia continued.
“An elderly woman was at my shop.”
Paige laughed.
“Some old street woman?”
“She witnessed what happened.”
Delia looked toward Julian’s family.
“She gave me the phone number for this house.”
The room became quiet.
“So somebody here knows her.”
Julian stared.
Delia looked at him.
“Don’t go through with the wedding for my sake.”
Paige exploded.
“For your sake?”
She marched forward.
“Little liar.”
Then slapped Delia.
Gasps filled the dining room.
Delia stumbled.
Instinctively, she raised one hand and caught Paige’s wrist before the second blow landed.
Paige screamed.
“Daddy!”
Gordon stood.
“You all watched that!”
He pointed at Delia.
“She put hands on my daughter.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Paige smiled.
“They’re already on their way.”
Two officers entered moments later.
“Delia Banks?”
“Yes, sir.”
“There’s an assault complaint against you.”
Julian stepped forward.
“She never attacked her.”
“Tell it at the station.”
The officer produced paperwork.
“I have a signed complaint.”
Delia looked at Julian.
“I’ll walk, sir.”
The officer escorted her away.
Paige whispered to Julian:
“Now she’s in a cell.”
Her voice was sweet.
“Be at the altar tomorrow.”
Julian looked at her.
Something in him finally became cold.
He turned and left.
Down the hall, he found Earl.
“I need you to call somebody.”
“Who?”
“The old woman.”
Earl stared.
Julian continued.
“The one from Monday.”
“The one in the coat.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She’s Delia’s only witness.”
