Sandi fought back tears. But why was she about to cry? Hadn’t she known this was the way this hearing would go?
“However, I am also ordering that Mr. Conway share the dog with you freely, allowing home visits and allowing you to have the dog in your custody at least once every two weeks. If this does not occur, you are to report the infraction to this court. Understood?”
“Yessir.”
Mollified though not exhilarated at the ruling, Sandi stole a sideways glance at Nick. He stared straight at the judge, his jaw clenched.
Sandi bit down on her lower lip. Oh, dear. This isn’t going to be easy.
Chapter 17
Nick followed Sandi, her aunt, Debbie Sue and the short woman with pink-tipped hair out of the courtroom. Outside on the sidewalk, they met Mrs. Porter and one of Sandi’s employees Nick recognized from LaBarkery. Buster, wagging his tail, looked toward him longingly. Nick walked over to the group. Though tightly held in check by Mrs. Porter, Buster barked and danced.
Nick touched his hat brim to the women. “Ladies.”
Silence.
Purse-mouthed, the aunt glared at him. Mouth curved in a horseshoe scowl, Mrs. Porter handed him Buster’s leash.
“Thank you, ma’am. I know that right now, you ladies think I’m an ogre, but—”
“That would be the kinder of our thoughts,” the aunt said.
“No.” Sandi shook her head. “We don’t. Or at least, I don’t. The important thing is that Waffle will have a good, safe place to live and will be loved and—”
“Sandi!” A tall guy wearing a suit and tie strode up, clasped Sandi’s shoulders and looked into her face. “Sandi. Is everything okay?”
Who the hell is he? Nick wondered
Scowling, Sandi peeled his hands away from her shoulders. “Richard, I asked you to stay out of this. I told you I didn’t want your help.”
“I know that. But in case you needed me, I came as soon as I got out of court.”
“Even if I had, you’re too late. That’s the problem we’ve always had, Richard. You’re too preoccupied with your career to worry about what I’m doing except to criticize me and my animals. And by the way, just like you said, I lost Waffle.”
“That’s a good thing, Sandi. You’ve got too many critters.”
He turned to Nick with a toothpaste commercial smile and put out his hand. “I’m Richard L. Townsend, Sandi’s boyfriend. I’m an attorney. You’re the lucky winner, I presume?”
Though Nick had never seen Richard Townsend, he instantly detected arrogance and he felt an immediate dislike for the man and didn’t like seeing him. Furthermore, he had put his hands on Sandi when she didn’t want them there.
“Uh, yeah, I guess so.” Nick shook the guy’s hand, but didn’t offer his own name.
Townsend made a sheepish titter, possessively looped an arm around Sandi’s shoulders and pulled her against his side. She tried to step sideways, but his grip was too tight. “Sandi and I had a little spat over this dog,” he said. “Personally, I think it’s a good thing she’s gotten rid of him. A few weeks ago, she got rid of a parrot. Now if I can only persuade her to relieve herself of her other dogs and cats, the chickens and who knows what else might crop up, everything will be just fine.”
The aunt stepped up, her fists still jammed against her hips. “Who the hell are you to tell her she can or can’t have pets?”
Townsend turned to the aunt whose jaw was clenched, her bright red lips pursed. Wearing tall high-heels, she looked Townsend eye-to-eye.
He moved backward a couple of steps. “Madam, may I ask what your interest is in this?”
“You bet, you can ask. And I’ll damn sure tell you. I’m Sandi’s aunt. And I’ll have you know a person who loves unwanted animals has a special place in heaven. Do you believe in heaven?”
“Well, yes. I—“
Debbie Sue stepped toward the newcomer, fire in her eye, her chin thrust out. Towsend backed up a few more steps and Nick didn’t blame him.
“I’ve got three rescue animals myself and an old horse,” Debbie Sue said. “We’re friends. I’m their whole world. Without me, someone would kill them. Kill them! Do you hear me? Have you ever thought about that?”
Townsend opened his palms, obviously nervous. “Madam, please. I just came here to—”
“You should go, Richard,” Sandi said. “All of us are already stressed and you’re only adding to it. You’re no longer my boyfriend. We already settled that.”
“But I know you didn’t mean it.”
“I did mean it. I’m tired of us, Richard. Please. I want you to leave me alone.”
This Richard was starting to get on Nick’s nerves. How many times did a man have to hear a woman say she didn’t want him around? “I think the lady has made a point, Mr. Townsend. She doesn’t want your company.”
The fucker had the nerve to bristle up. “Butt out, mister. This is none of your business.”
“It’s damn sure my business,” the aunt said, her face thrust forward, her fists jammed against her skinny hips. “I’m family, hotshot.”
Nick had never seen a more venomous look than the one in the aunt’s eye. Oh, boy! This could go south in a hurry. These women might pounce on poor Richard and beat the shit out of him. Nick moved between them and Townsend. “Ladies, ladies. Let’s calm—”
Before he could finish the sentence, the aunt drew back a fist and with a roundhouse swing, slugged Townsend square on the nose.
His head snapped back. “Aargh!” Blood gushed from his nose, staining his tie and spattering the front of his shirt. He looked down at himself and gasped. “Jesus Christ! I’m bleeding!”
Mrs. Porter thrust a tissue toward him. He grabbed it and pressed it to his nose. “Are you crazy?” he said to the aunt through the tissue, his voice a nasally whine. “You are crazy. Sandi’s told me how batty her family thinks you are.”
“Did you say batty? I’ll show you batty,
