31. Molly
“Well, the two of you have officially gone viral.” Lizabeth Paige’s face on the holo-projector in the living area of the bungalow looked grimly satisfied.
“Oh no—have we? What for?” Molly exclaimed at the same time Torus said,
“What do you mean we’ve gone ‘viral’?”
“It means that a video of the two of you has taken social media by storm. This one here…”
Councilor Paige’s head disappeared to be replaced by an image of the “reporter” guy in the backwards baseball cap shouting questions at the two of them.
“See?” the lawyer said, reappearing. “He only uploaded it last night but that little ‘interview’ he did with you two is all over social media today. You’re trending everywhere.”
“Who is that human?” Torus demanded. “He was very insulting towards Molly—I was extremely angry.”
“He nearly went into Rage again,” Molly said, glancing up at her huge husband. “But we just left instead of, uh, getting into a confrontation.”
“It’s probably a good thing you did. That’s a social media star called Mandrew Pate but he usually goes by the title “Manwitch” or just ‘The Big M,’” Councilor Paige told them, reappearing on the holo-projector. “He’s very into the ‘men’s rights’ movement.”
“Men’s rights? What rights is he talking about?” Torus asked, frowning. “Do males have some kind of special privileges on Earth?”
“Don’t get me started on that,” Councilor Paige said dryly. “I’m just saying he posted that video everywhere and I believe public opinion is with the two of you—which is exactly what we want. That statement he made about men not being able to sexually assault their wives made a lot of people angry.”
“It certainly made me angry,” Torus growled. “What’s wrong with human males? Do they truly think they own their wives’ bodies and can do anything they want to them?”
“Unfortunately, there are quite a few human men who still think that way, yes,” Councilor Paige said grimly. “It’s bullshit but misogyny is so deeply ingrained in some of them there’s no changing their minds. Mandrew Pate definitely falls into that category. And as you can probably tell, he’s a big fan of your ex, Molly.”
“Yeah, I could tell that by the way he was calling Zach a ‘tech genius,’” Molly said dryly. “He’s probably played all his games or something.”
“Well, he did us a good turn by posting that video, anyway,” the lawyer said. “And it couldn’t come at a better time because the case is about to start.”
“Are we both going to have to testify?” Molly felt her throat get tight—so tight she could barely get the question out.
“I’m afraid so,” Councilor Paige said gently. “But we’ll try to keep it brief.”
Molly was sure that she would do her best…but what about Zach’s lawyer? She doubted they would extend her the same courtesy. Once again she wondered what she would say if they started asking her the same questions Mandrew Pate and been shouting at her…
“Are you all right, little bird?”
Torus’s mental voice sounded worried.
“Fine.” Molly glanced up at him. “Just tired, that’s all. I could use a cup of coffee—it’s too early for all this.”
It was true that the lawyer’s call had come just as they were getting up—she’d apologized for calling so early and then gotten right down to business. They hadn’t even had breakfast yet.
“I’ll go get you a café con leche and one of those guava pastries you love from that little Cuban diner as soon as this is over,” Torus promised her.
Molly felt a surge of gratitude and warmth for the big Kindred. How did Torus always know exactly how to make her feel better?
“Because I care for you, sweetheart,” he rumbled in her head.
“I care for you too,” Molly sent back to him. “So much!”
The “L” word hovered in the back of her mind but she wasn’t quite sure how he would react if she said it.
Better not, she decided. After all, they were living in the present and planning to part once the trial was over and they could drop their charade. She couldn’t start telling the big Kindred she loved him—what would he think? Probably that she was trying to trap him into a permanent relationship—which wouldn’t work because they’d already established there was no way they could Bond.
“…wrap things up,” Lizabeth Paige said and Molly realized the early morning meeting was coming to an end. “I’ll be in contact with the two of you about when you’ll have to appear in court and what to say soon,” she told them.
“Thank you—we’ll be here,” Torus told her. After a few more pleasantries, the call ended and they were alone in the bungalow again. “Well, should I go for the pastries and the coffee?” he asked, looking down at Molly.
“Yes, please.” Molly put a hand to her stomach. “I’m famished.”
He rumbled laughter and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
“I can tell. I’ll be back shortly, sweetheart.”
“Thanks—I’m going to get dressed. Maybe we can take a walk on the beach after breakfast,” Molly suggested.
“Sounds perfect.” He smiled and rose from the couch where the two of them had been sitting to take the call.
Molly blew him a kiss as he left by the front door, and went to get dressed for the day, since she was still wearing a bathrobe over her nightgown.
She had no idea she was being watched.