Chapter 364
My legs shook as I forced myself to stand my ground. Had Gisele turned on me too?
But she was smiling when she walked to my side. “How brave you are, Miss Wilson. Those children were lucky you were nearby.”
“Good job, Daisy,” another woman said. Similar words were echoed throughout the crowd.
They were being nice to me!
It had been a long time since I’d felt acceptance from other Alphas. I must admit it felt much better than being slandered and shunned.
“The blue jeans you like are on sale today,” Gisele said. She clapped her hands together and smiled. “It’s a pleasure to see you today, Miss Wilson. If you need help finding anything, please let me know.”
I was stunned yet grateful to have Alphas begin to thaw toward me.
“And you were worried they’d be mean to you,” Amy whispered.
I grinned at her. “All I had to do was run into a burning building. I wonder if this means I can return to school.”
“Hi, Daisy,” Victoria Beecham said as we looked through the jeans. Amy and I went to school with her. It was the first time she spoke to me.
“Hello, Victoria,” I said. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” she replied. “That was a great thing you did for the Plums. Delia is my cousin. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I said. “But I’m sure anyone would have done the same thing if they were there.”
“No, they wouldn’t have,” Victoria said. “By the way, you smell like smoke. I’m sure Gisele would let you wear something home.”
“Yeah, I think I’d like a shower first.” I sniffed my arm. Besides my clothes, smoke was in my skin and hair.
She nodded and moved on to the dresses.
It took us twice as long to choose what we wanted and pay for our purchases because of everyone talking to me. But I didn’t want to slight anyone. My reputation was making a comeback, and I was enjoying it.
Amy and I each bought more than we intended. We loaded the bags into her trunk and climbed into the car.
“Were you serious about going back to school?” Amy asked as she started the Mercedes’s engine. “I thought you’d be tired of Frampton U.”
“Oh, I’d never go back to Frampton U,” I replied. “I’m thinking about enrolling at the city college with you.”
Amy’s eyes lit up. “That would be great!”
“But I’m done with journalism,” I said. “I’m switching my major to law. I’d still like to do pro bono work for the poor.”
“Good for you, Daisy,” Amy pulled from Gisele’s lot and started back to Denhurst. “We should go to the diner and celebrate your decision with loaded burgers and fries.”
I giggled. “That sounds good to me.”
“When are you going to start classes?” Amy asked.
“I don’t have any plans for Monday,” I replied.
Now that I’d made up my mind, I didn’t want to wait. Too many of my lifelong dreams were being put on the back burner. I wanted to accomplish at least one of the things that were important to me.
We arrived at the diner, and Amy parked across the street.
“I’m totally stoked to have you going to the city college with me.” Amy turned off the car and checked her makeup in the rearview mirror.
“I’m starved,” Amy said a second before my phone buzzed. “I haven’t eaten since last night.”
“I have to answer this text from Victor,” I said. “He heard about the fire. Why don’t you go in and get a table? Order me our usual, and I’ll be right there.”
Amy went inside the diner, and I exchanged a few texts with Victor to assure him I was okay.
I wasn’t paying attention to the white van that had pulled in behind Amy’s car as soon as she parked. As soon as I opened my car door, I was approached by a reporter with a microphone and a cameraman.
“Miss Wilson, what was it like inside the burning mansion on Lycan Square?” the reporter asked.
“Smoky,” I replied. “Excuse me, I’m meeting a friend.”
“Were there any signs that the Plum children were being neglected?”
“No!” I said. What was wrong with these reporters?
I pushed past him and hurried to the crosswalk. There was traffic, so I waited for several cars to pass. The reporter and cameraman followed.
“Do you believe Delia Plum’s story that the nanny’s scented candles started the fire?”
“Ask the fire marshal,” I said, wishing the light would change.
But in the next second, an elderly woman began to cross the street just as the traffic light changed. A car trying to speed through the intersection was headed straight for her!
“Look out!” I cried and darted into traffic. Brakes shrieked as I pulled the older woman to safety. I held her thin frame upright as she shook and gasped for air.
“Thank you, Miss,” she said through her tears. “I guess I wasn’t paying attention.”
“That’s okay,” I told her. “I’m glad you are alright. Can I help you to your car?”
“I was headed for the bus stop down the street,” she replied.
“I’ll walk you there,” I insisted and offered her my arm. “The cars go much too fast on this street.”
After walking the woman to the bus stop, I ensured she got on the number seven before heading for the diner. I was annoyed to see the reporter was still following me.
“You’re on a roll today, Daisy,” the reporter said as I tried to cross the street again. “You are like a super Luna.”
I rolled my eyes. “I was at the right place at the right time for people in trouble. I’m glad I could help them,” I said and went into the diner.
I sat down opposite Amy.
“What took you so long?” she asked.
“You’ll see it on TV tonight,” I said, more interested in the plate of food the waitress was placing in front of me. I picked up a hot, salty fry and gingerly bit into it.
Super Luna was starving.
The story of my saving the older woman was the second story of the evening after the fire.
It was a little embarrassing to hear myself lavishly praised on TV, but it was better than what I’d endured for the last few months.
By the time I started classes at the city college, my reputation was restored, and I was living an everyday life again. I hung out with Amy, Justin, and Heather every day. And I hadn’t been afraid or cried in a week. Yay me!
The following weekend, when I was out to dinner with Victor at Gilded, he gave me more good news.
“John and the faction have faded away,” he said and raised his champagne flute. “I’d rather he be behind bars, but he must know he is beaten.”
“Is Alex going to stay on as co-leader?” I asked.
“I'd like him to,” Victor replied. “We get more done together. The Alphas accepted the new college admissions laws. I want to move on to other unfair laws that need to be amended.”
“I’m so proud of you,” I told Victor. “You are an excellent leader.”
Victor gave me a warm smile. “I have selfish reasons for wanting Alex’s help. Having him as co-leader means I can take time off to be with you. We can go back to the beach and play occasionally.”
“That’s true,” I said. “But it will have to be on weekends when I don’t have classes.”
“I’m proud of you for going back to school,” Victor said after swallowing a bite of steak tartare.
“I’m enjoying it,” I said. “My professors and classes are great, and I see Amy every day.”
“It’s an honor for you to be chosen to assist the public defender's office,” Victor said. “What’s your first case about?”
“I’m not sure I’ll be much help to the defendant,” I admitted. “She’s an Omega woman accused of killing her own child. I get upset just thinking about that poor baby.”
“Do you think she did it?” Victor asked.
“I don’t know,” I replied, thinking about the haunted look in the Omega woman’s eyes when she pleaded with me to help her prove her innocence.
“I’ll never forgive myself if I let an innocent woman go to prison for the rest of her life,” I explained. “But if she’s guilty of such a heinous crime, she must be punished.”
“Tell her and the PD’s office what you just told me,” Victor advised. “Then do your best investigative work. If you uncover proof she’s innocent, give it to her lawyer. But if she’s guilty, give the proof to the DA.”
It was my turn to raise my glass. “To the truth and justice.”
