CHAPTER NINETEEN

Craig was turned over to the authorities, where he would face charges for murder, as well as a number of other things. Considering he was still married to Nelly, she would get the house in the Garden District, as well as any of his assets.

"Sell the house," she said to Kari, shaking her head. "I don't ever want to go inside that place again. The assets, I don't know. I don't want to touch anything that he earned from working for this man, Krauss."

"We'll try to figure out what was legitimate and what wasn't," said Kari.

They were seated outside a small café in the uptown area of New Orleans. It was hot, but there was a hint of fall breeze in the air and that seemed to make it okay. When two women started walking toward them on the street, Nelly groaned.

"Are you okay?" asked Georgie.

"No. These two women coming toward us were two of the wives at the party where I was humiliated. They actually laughed at me."

"Well, this should be fun," smirked Kari.

"Nelly," said one of the women, clearing her throat. Kari was ready to pounce and have a little fun, but when the woman seemed to be showing some compassion and humility, she held back for a moment. "Nelly, we're so sorry to hear about Craig and Thurston."

"Are you, Trisha?" the woman stood tight-lipped, not saying anything. "It's funny that you have compassion and empathy for a couple of lying, cheating, stealing, disgusting pair of perverts, but you both thought the worst of me."

"That's not fair, Nelly," said the other woman. "I mean, you have to understand how it looked."

"How did it look?" asked Georgie. The two women stared at her. "Oh, I'm Georgianna Robicheaux. One of her attorneys, so I'd be very careful what you say."

"I-I just meant that it looked as though you intentionally did those videos."

"No, it didn't," said Nelly. "I was the one who always dressed conservatively at those parties. I was the one who was shy, removed from all of you. I was the one who rarely took a drink. I never ever gave anyone the impression that I would do anything like that intentionally. Ever!

"You and your friends were the skimpily clad, hooker-heel-wearing, drunken-mess women. Not me. Yet you automatically wanted to crucify me."

"Look, Nelly, you weren't part of our college crowd. We didn't really know you."

"Thank God," she laughed.

"I couldn't agree more with that," said Kari. "I'd say you dodged the bullet not having these two in your circle. Ladies, I believe you've said enough. We know what kind of character witnesses you would be, but fortunately, Nelly won't need that."

"We are sorry, Nelly. In spite of what you might think, we are. It won't change anything, but just so you know, Craig and Thurst had us on video as well. We had to keep our mouths shut and not say anything. I'm glad they're gone."

The two women walked away, and Nelly could only shake her head.

"I will never understand ‘mean girls,'" she said with a sad expression. "I was raised to be nice to everyone. My mother used to say, ‘you don't know what they're going through. You don't know their back story. Be kind. It always wins.'"

"Your mother was wise," smiled Georgie. "Have you thought about what you're going to do next?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "I spoke to Mark the other day, and he still has a little over a month on his contract, and he said he would be living with you all when he got out. I guess he's joining your team."

"Yes, that's right," smiled Kari. "You know, you could live at Belle Fleur as well. We could always use someone else on our team."

"I know, and I appreciate the offer. I believe it was your husband and brother-in-law that came to see me. Very nice men, by the way. I'm thinking about it, believe me. For right now, that cabin is giving me a chance to just keep my head clear and think about what I want to do next. Maybe I'll move out of state."

"Well, don't do anything drastic," said Georgie. "Take some time for you. Maybe take a little vacation somewhere. You're going to have a good nest egg after all this is done."

"I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me," said Nelly. "I really owe Mark. Not just for letting me crash in his fishing cabin but for stepping in between me and Craig at the party that day. I really think he would have hit me."

"Mark would have never allowed that to happen," said Kari, squeezing her hand. "Our men are different, Nelly. I know it's hard for you to see that now, but they're all very different. I have a feeling about you and Mark, so I'm going to share some advice that we always gave the women who joined our team.

"T hese men, these men protect so fiercely, so devoutly it's all-consuming. And they love the same way. All-consuming. It's remarkable to watch and a blessing to be a part of it. If you want my advice, don't question anything. Just let yourself feel. These are special men, and if you don't mind me saying so, it will sound a bit conceited on my, on our part, but it takes special women to be with them."

"The younger wives have their own advice," smiled Georgie. "Love is so very hard to find that when you do, recognize it as the gift it is. You should hold it gently. Don't squeeze too hard, but don't let it go. These men are different in every way. Their lives have been entirely about protecting others, with no thought as to who would protect them. Expect that they'll be overbearing, alpha in every way. But recognize how unbelievably special that is and that they've chosen us to be by their sides. He will protect you, but you will protect him as well. He will drive you mad with his overprotection, but he will soothe you with his love and adoration of you. And there is nothing like the love of one of these men."

"That's all beautiful advice," smiled Nelly, looking confused. "But Mark and I barely know one another. We're just friends." The two older women laughed, shaking their heads as they rose to hug their client. Kari smiled at her.

"That's what we all said, honey. We're just friends."