When Rob Sandis walked into the room, heads swiveled to watch Jessica, who sat still, her chin up, her face expressionless.
Ursula took her hand and squeezed. Jessica kept her stare forward. They all watched as Rob made sure not to look at her or them.
Jessica hadn't spoken to him in months. When she called him in a moment of rage after finding out that he wanted full custody of their children, he refused the call and texted her that they could speak through lawyers.
As the meeting got started, the unruly feeling staled. A few women slid surreptitious looks at them, which went ignored by all of them.
Then Rob Sandis rose from his seat, walked to the podium, and smiled the smile that they thought they had permanently gotten rid of.
"I know the last time I stood here before our beloved town turned out differently than I hoped, and now I know also differently than most of you hoped."
Jessica's eyes were hard on him. Ursula clenched her jaw and Eloise had her hand on Ursula's arm while Jen had her hand on Eloise's leg; whether to comfort or hold her back was anyone who didn't know them's guess.
"But, I believe we are in a new age," he continued. Always the politician with eye contact and that awkward, wide smile that held back things people blinded themselves to. "We need to get Salem back to what it used to be."
"And what was that?" a voice called from the back. Silence acted as a vacuum as all eyes shot to where they all sat, trying to pick out which woman the words came from.
Jessica rose from her seat slowly, steadily, her chin raised and her eyes fierce. "What did it used to be, Rob?"
People were having a difficult time deciding where to look. Him or her.
His eyes flashed for a moment, but then he smiled. "Jessica, I'm so glad you asked. I believe Salem can get back to a timewhere we valued families who want to work hard and decisions were made for the town based on the common denominator of our values."
"Like lying to the townspeople for your own gain?" she asked, her voice was unwavering and she looked strong, powerful. "Family values like cheating on your wife while only making it home part time and then suing for full custody of your children even though you haven't seen those children in months? Tell me, Rob, what is Charity allergic to? What time do they go to bed? What is Jack's favorite bedtime story?"
A moment, a crack, and no longer was Rob Sandis the charismatic politician as his ex-wife stood in a room full of people and called him out. There was that static power again.
Tilly felt something shift and her eyes were drawn to Astra's black gaze, pinched, her lips held in a tight line. Worry, frustration. She couldn't tell if they came from the woman, but something about her demeanor was on edge.
"I don't think now is the time-"
"Because you want to speak through lawyers? Yeah, I got the paperwork and I received your text," she interrupted.
"Let's keep moving forward," Rob said with a shaky laugh. "Divorce is never easy, am I right? A woman scorned," he laughed. A few joined him.
Astra and the women on either side of her watched Jessica with narrowed eyes.
"What time do you want to go back to, Rob? I just don't think you're the one to lead these people if what you preach you don't also practice."
"Can we get her out of here, please? I think that's enough disruption."
Two men came from nowhere. They were dressed in nothing distinguishing them as any kind of authority, yet with authoritythey moved and with authority they stood too close to Jessica where she stood at the end of the row of seats.
Without clear authority, one told her to come with him and the other waited.
Ursula stood abruptly. Michelle was next as he maneuvered between Jessica and the approaching men. Then the rest of the row stood, a tidal wave as they moved to close ranks around her but she held up a hand steadily, her eyes never leaving Rob who watched from behind the safety of a wood podium.
"You want me out? Fine," she said. "Drag me."
Four seconds passed. Everyone could hear them tick by as they waited, as the air stopped moving, as her group of women watched her and she held her arm out separating herself from their support.
What was she doing?
Ursula and Eloise shared a quick look. Bess frowned, feeling an outrage as Rob nodded once at the men who then physically pulled Jessica from where she stood. She didn't go easily, but she was one woman and two men could overpower her without much effort.
"Hey!" Ursula shouted at them, moving toward where they were pulling on Jessica but she turned her stare from Rob to her friend and gave her a small smile and a slow shake of her head.
She did not want help right now. And they did not understand it. Ursula and Eloise were hesitant to comply, but then the men got the ground that they needed to pull her struggling form from the large room.
