Page 54 of Deadly Conflicts

15

Fifteen

The worst thingabout returning to work after a four-day weekend was the paperwork. Mandy stared at the pile on her desk Tuesday morning and swallowed the petulant groan that threatened to erupt. She really was ready to leave this place. If she didn’t think it would be akin to stabbing Judge MacIntosh in the back, she would walk out now and never look back.

Instead, Mandy grabbed the top file and flipped it open, making a face when she realized today’s docket would include a woman beater and child abuser. She hated those cases most of all, although the majority of the cases that passed across her desk were dark and depressing.

The sound of someone clearing their throat at her open door forced her to lift her eyes. She wasn’t surprised to see the court stenographer Heidi standing there. However, she was surprised by the wild look in the woman’s eyes as she took a bold step over the threshold.

“What’s wrong?” Mandy asked, immediately on alert. “If you tell me there’s another bomb threat I’m going to have an absolute meltdown. I’ll never catch up on this paperwork as it is.”

“It’s not a bomb threat,” Heidi said, her eyes shiny as she locked gazes with her friend. “Or at least I don’t think it’s a bomb threat. I haven’t heard that there’s a bomb threat. It is the first day back after a holiday weekend, though, and if someone called in a bomb threat it would make sense to do it today.”

Mandy loved Heidi. She adored the woman’s boisterous attitude and huge heart. She hated it when she babbled, though, especially when legitimate work needed to be done. “So … what’s going on?”

Heidi’s smile was so wide it almost swallowed her entire face. She took two more huge steps, stopping in front of Mandy’s desk, and extended her left hand. “I’m engaged!” She shrieked the words so loudly that it took Mandy a moment to register what she said. It was only when she caught sight of the simple diamond glittering on Heidi’s ring finger that she absorbed it.

“Omigod!” Mandy jumped out of her chair and raced around the desk, opening her arms so she could hug Heidi. The women squealed in delight, earning a few curious stares from the hallway as they celebrated. “When?”

“It happened Saturday,” Heidi gushed, a tear leaking out of the corner of her eye as she pulled away and stared at her ring. “Clint took me out to a nice dinner on the lake and then we went for a walk and … um … he got down on one knee. I swear I almost passed out when I realized what he was doing. I couldn’t even find my voice.”

“Obviously you found it,” Mandy said, her heart expanding thanks to Heidi’s happiness. She had a pile of work to do, but she would never cut short Heidi’s moment. She deserved every second of her euphoria. “How come you didn’t call me?”

“I thought about it,” Heidi said. “I didn’t want to interrupt your weekend, though.”

“I wouldn’t have minded.”

“I also wanted to see your face when I told you,” Heidi admitted sheepishly. “I just … I knew you would be almost as excited as I am.”

“I totally am,” Mandy said.

The woman eyed each other silently for a beat and then squealed as they embraced again. They were so loud they drew the attention of Judge MacIntosh, who just happened to be walking by Mandy’s office.

“Ladies, is it Bring Your Flask to Work Day and no one told me?” The judge’s eyes were lit with mirth as they bounced from one excited face to the other.

“Not last time I checked, but that’s a fabulous idea,” Mandy said, poking Heidi’s hip. “Tell him your big news.”

“Oh, he doesn’t care,” Heidi said, her cheeks flushing with color. “He’ll think I’m being silly.”

“You don’t know that,” MacIntosh chided. “I often find you silly and lovely at the same time. I have a feeling this is slightly bigger than the time you told me the custodian was having sex with the downstairs clerk during session breaks and we were in the midst of a cleaning emergency, though.”

“That was true,” Heidi protested.

“Tell me,” MacIntosh prodded, shooting a curious look in Mandy’s direction. “If you don’t, I have every intention of making Mandy do the dirty deed.”

Heidi heaved out a sigh and then held up her hand. “I’m engaged.”

MacIntosh broke into a wide grin as he grabbed her hand and studied the ring. “Congratulations, my dear,” he said. “I had a feeling it was something like that.”

“You did?” Heidi was amazed. “I didn’t think it would ever happen for me.”

“You didn’t think what would ever happen?” James appeared in the doorway, a quizzical look on his face as he glanced around his wife’s busy office. “Is something going on?”

Mandy bobbed her head and beamed. “Tell him, Heidi.”

“I’m engaged.” Heidi blurted out the news much quicker this time, and when James offered her a bright smile and warm hug she couldn’t contain her glee. “I’m so excited!”

“I can tell,” James said, taking a step back and chuckling. “I heard squealing when I got off the elevator. I was almost certain it was my wife, and that gave me pause to wonder who she was squealing with and what smarmy lawyer I was going to have to kill, but now I see why she was so excited.”