“How much did you hear?” I asked quietly.

“Place of business, rude, loud, they insulted your Mitch, I’m a good guy then all the rest.”

My Mitch.

I closed my eyes, dropped my head and went silent again.

Mitch again called into the void but he used a different endearment this time, “Honey?”

I still said nothing.

That was when he said, “Honest to God, do you think I care what the Trailer Trash Twins think about me?”

“I care,” I blurted and I didn’t know why I blurted it or why I cared except I did. Not about Mom and Aunt Lulamae’s opinion, just that I cared if anyone insulted Mitch.

Mitch didn’t know why either which was probably why he asked, “For f**k’s sake, why?”

Finally, I turned to see Roberta, LaTanya and Mr. Pierson in it with my Mom and Lulamae, faces were red (those would be Mom, Lulamae and Roberta), brows were furrowed (that would be Mr. Pierson) and hands were on h*ps with heads bobbing (that would be LaTanya) and I decided it was time to move on which meant wading back in.

“They’re still here and they’re into it with Mr. Pierson, Roberta and LaTanya. I should go do something,” I told him.

“You don’t need to do anything, baby. Bob is keeping them engaged while units make their way there. I’m having them picked up. I want them brought in and questioned about what happened at your apartment.”

I turned away from the kerfuffle and blinked at the carpet at my feet as I asked, “What?”

“I have a plan for the Trailer Trash Twins,” he informed me.

I blinked again and asked, “You do?”

“Yeah, baby, I do. You put the phone down on me, I called Bob. He already knew to expect this, I explained things and he’s instigating Operation Take out the Trash.”

I couldn’t help it, I giggled.

Then I whispered, “Operation Take out the Trash?”

He sounded like he was smiling again when he replied, “It’s not good but it’s all I got right now. We can come up with better names tonight.”

That actually sounded fun.

“And what’s your plan?” I asked.

“The first part is gettin’ them outta there, gettin’ them in here and makin’ sure they didn’t do that to your apartment. The rest, I’ll tell you tonight over chili.”

“Okay,” I said quietly, still liking the idea of having chili with Mitch at his place that night even if it meant talking about my aunt and mother.

“And another part of the first part is Bob takin’ care of this situation so you don’t have to. I’m guessin’ he’s waded in. You let him deal with it and you hang back.”

I looked back at the group and saw Mitch was right. Mr. Pierson had his arms straight out to his sides and he was herding a sniping Mom and Aunt Lulamae toward the door with Roberta and LaTanya at his back at the same time I was wondering when Mr. Pierson became “Bob” to Mitch.

I called him Mr. Pierson because he was my boss but he was also Mr. Pierson, a father figure, like your best friend’s Dad who you wished was your Dad. But Mitch was the kind of guy who held authority not just because of his job but because of how he generally was so I didn’t suspect many men were “Mr.” anything to him but he was Detective Lawson to them. And he was a guy and Mr. Pierson was a guy and that was just the way of the world.

It hit me that Mitch was Mitch to Mr. Pierson and Mr. Pierson was Bob to Mitch because they’d formed a bond in order to protect me like they were doing just then and that whoosh went through my belly yet again.

So I whispered, “Mitch,” and his name came out heavy with meaning.

Mitch heard it and understood it and I knew he did when he said softly but quickly, “Remember what I said last night about the way it’s gonna be?”

“Yes,” I said quietly.

“Well, that’s the way it’s gonna be. I’m keepin’ you safe. Bob is dealin’ with this. You do your job, you sell mattresses, you come home, we eat chili and I deal with shit that makes you unsafe. Whatever shit that is and however you’re unsafe. You with me?”

That was a good question.

Was I with Mitch?

“Baby, you with me?” he asked into my silence.

I stared unseeing at the action in front of me, considering this question that maybe I was giving more weight than he intended it to have and then my mouth made a decision before my mind caught up.

“I’m with you, Mitch,” I whispered and it was his turn to be silent.

From his silence, I knew that he knew the weight I’d given his question.

I held my breath.

Then he ordered gently, “Go and sell mattresses.”

I pulled in breath. Then I saw the police cruiser pull up to the front door. Then I saw my mother see it and then I heard her screech, “What the f**k? Not again!”

Mitch heard it too.

“Cruiser’s there,” he muttered.

“Marabelle!” Mom shouted as the cops folded out of the car. “You call that stick up his ass cop boyfriend ‘a yours off your aunt and me.”

I took my phone away from my ear, thanked God for the first time in my life there were no customers in the store and tried to be as well-mannered as I could be when I called back, “No! And especially no if you keep saying that about him!”

“Is there a problem here?” one of the newly arrived police officers asked and Mr. Pierson strode forward nodding.

“Jesus! Can’t I talk to my own daughter?” Mom shouted.

“Stick up my ass?” Mitch asked in my ear, again sounding like he was smiling.

I closed my eyes.

“Marabelle! Get over here and talk to these cops!” Aunt Lulamae demanded.

“Mara, sweetheart, you stay right where you are. Those officers have been briefed,” Mitch ordered.

“Right,” I whispered to Mitch.

“Marabelle!” Mom shrieked.

“You okay for me to let you go or do you need me to stay on the line until they’re gone?” Mitch asked in my ear.

I opened my eyes and watched both Mom and Aunt Lulamae snapping at the officers, Mr. Pierson, Roberta and LaTanya while somewhat resisting the officers instructions and therefore they pulled out their handcuffs.

So my answer was, no. No, I was not okay for him to let me go while watching my mother and aunt get handcuffed at the same time my boss and my two best friends watched it too.

“I’m fine,” I lied.

More silence then, “You want beer or wine with chili?”