“Oh Jess! I’m so happy!” I gushed.

“Me too!” she squealed.

“Me too!” Braden called out from the other room. “The walls are really thin in here, by the way.” Bruno yipped in agreement.

Drew had gone back to D.C. to finish his last year of law school but Beth, who lived with her parents and worked at the art museum, was still around. She and Lily, both being artistic had hit it off particularly well. Beth was a painter and she was really talented. Lily encouraged her to enter her work in various art shows and Beth encouraged Lily to do more author events. We also frequently had a girls’ night with all four of us on Sunday while the guys were doing Game Night, which was exactly what we were doing at that moment.

“What’s the status with the big engagement party?” Lily asked.

“Our parents are making a formal announcement this week and then invitations will go out. It’s going to be in the Grand Ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton,” I answered, feeling a little queasy, which didn’t stop me from loading up a Triscuit with port wine cheese.

“Wow that should be quite a guest list,” Jess said. “Senators and CEO’s.” She popped the cork on a bottle of Chianti and filled all of our glasses.

“You know, Braden and I are actually allowed to invite our friends too,” I pointed out.

“I’ll bet the media will all be picking it up,” Lily, who was sitting on the floor, pointed out, popping a grape into her mouth.

“Great. Maybe they can capture me tripping down a flight of stairs or making a corny joke to a national leader.” What was I going to do with no cat, no kid, and no laundry?

“Braden will make sure everything’s okay, Gabrielle. He’s used to stuff like this.” Beth was such a sweet person. I was really going to like having her as a sister-in-law, and having grown up with Drew, I probably wouldn’t even embarrass her much.

“Does he get engaged a lot?” Lily joked.

“No!” Beth laughed. “My mother almost fainted when she found out.”

“With happiness, right?” I asked nervously.

“Of course! She was so thrilled that she called every human being on the planet who she knew and some who she didn’t!” Beth said with a laugh. “Our mailman knew that you were engaged by the end of the day.”

“Well, Braden made my mom so happy that I think she made her employees’ yearly bonuses dependent on naming a child after him. Even if they already had another name,” I said, dunking a baby carrot in some unidentified dip-like stuff.

“So, everyone is happy, and nothing weird has happened lately, right?” Lily asked.

“Well, no more notes or napkins. Sometimes, though, we do feel like maybe somebody’s watching or following us, and I have to admit, it’s starting to get to me a little.”

“The chances are that you guys are imagining it. Nobody’s following you, Gab,” Jess said reassuringly. “It’s probably just nerves from everything that’s happened in the past few months.”

“Yeah. You’re right – just nerves. That’s probably all it is.”

That week Senator and Mrs. Tyler Pierce and Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Ginsberg formally announced the engagement of their children, Braden Tyler, and Gabrielle Sarah. Within days of the announcement, which was picked up in several national and local newspapers, and on various websites, the feeling of being followed and watched became more than occasional. Now it was almost daily, and Gabrielle Sarah, for one, was getting mighty tired of it. If the police couldn’t do anything then we would just have to try to figure it out ourselves. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much to go on other than the possibility that our shadow was some kind of conspiracy theorist.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

SEPTEMBER

Wednesday

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Commonwealth v. McLaughlin

“Counselor, this is a very serious case,” Judge Channing admonished. I held my temper in check. Did I look like I was laughing? “Your client was carrying an unlicensed deadly weapon concealed in her clothing in a highly populated area. She refused to turn it over to law enforcement. In fact, she became verbally abusive to Officer Wilkins. I’m quite aware that she is employed and does not have a record but this was outrageously dangerous and unnecessary. Furthermore, what kind of example was she setting?” he chastised. Breathe, Gabrielle!

“Your Honor, Sister Mary Catherine works in a very dangerous part of the city. That nine millimeter semi-automatic pistol was for her personal protection. She couldn’t get a carry permit because the diocese frowns on sisters arming themselves, but I don’t see the Bishop hanging out in North Philly.” Uh oh, the anger was slipping into my voice and I had a feeling that I was starting to turn red in the face. “She is trained in how to use the gun safely. Officer Wilkins lectured her in a very condescending way and threatened to strip search her! Saying ‘young man, you should have better manners’ is not verbal abuse. And finally, with all due respect, allow me to point out that she’s a nun! Um, thank you.”

There was a moment of silence. Oh shit. I had gone too far. He was going to put me in jail for contempt, wasn’t he?” I sighed. At least I could interview some clients while I was there. Finally, he cleared his throat and spoke.

“Perhaps Ms. Ginsberg has a point.” Huh? “Sister Mary Catherine isn’t a hardened criminal. You can’t do this anymore though, Sister. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” she answered sweetly. “I do want to assure you that I believe that every life is sacred. I wouldn’t have smoked anybody unless I were in fear for my own.”

“Er, that’s good. And I know North Philly is dangerous but if the diocese has a problem with you getting a carry permit, you need to take it up with them.”

“Yes, Your Honor,” she said again with a gentle smile. “I’m sure that God will provide me with another solution so that I won’t have to bust a cap in anyone’s ass.”

“Mr. Pierce, find some community service project she can do so that the Commonwealth can withdraw the charge.” He gave Sister Mary Catherine an odd look.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Braden said with a nod.

“Court adjourned.” He left the bench shaking his head and muttering something to himself. That man had to be close to retirement. Even though Sister Mary Catherine’s entire life was a community service project I was very happy with the result. Gun charges were serious and let’s face it, she was guilty as sin. (No pun intended. Oh, okay. I did intend that one.)