Anger flared through Cherry and she turned back to face Annabelle. “You’d set me up? Blacken my name for something I didn’t do, just because you want the man I love?”
Annabelle stared at her for several seconds before bursting out laughing. “Love? Oh God, you pathetic fat slut! You fell in love with a man who only goes out with you because he pities you? You’re more stupid than I thought.” Sneering, she pushed her face close to Cherry’s. “Obviously you ate more junk food than brain food. Go on a diet and get a life, fatty.”
Something in Cherry snapped. The cruel words joined the whispers that she’d heard behind her back – and sometimes to her face – the whole time she’d been growing up. Words she’d heard as an adult. But this time – this time she wasn’t a crying child, an ashamed teenager, a mortified adult. This time she was furious.
This time she knew she was worth something.
In one fast movement she shoved out with both hands and pushed Annabelle backwards into the pool. There was a glimpse of Annabelle’s shocked face right before the water closed over her head.
Madder than she could ever remember being in her life, Cherry waited with her hands on her hips until Annabelle surfaced.
“You-you—“ began Annabelle angrily.
“No, you listen up,” Cherry snapped furiously. “I’ve had it with people like you thinking I’m not worth anything because of my weight! I’m a human, a woman, and I’ve saved lives, and let me tell you, no one cared about how fat I was when I was giving them CPR. No one cares how fat I am when I take care of them. I’m a decent person, I’m kind, I care about others, I have good friends, and I’m worth something, Annabelle. I’m worth something, and Rick showed me that. I have Rick, you cold-hearted bitch, and I’m keeping him!”
Grabbing on to the edge of the pool, Annabelle snarled. “You take him and I’ll destroy him along with you!”
That did it. Cherry slammed her foot down on the edge of the pool between Annabelle’s hands, making her jerk them back with a yelp of angry surprise. Pointing one finger at her, Cherry snarled right back at her. “You listen to me, you skinny bitch, and you listen good. You leave Rick alone. You say one hint of anything against him and I’ll come after you. I’ll come after you and rip your emaciated body to pieces, and I’ll shove my fat foot so far up your skinny arse that I’ll have to paint my toe nails by going through your belly button. You hear me, Annabelle?”
“How dare you!” Annabelle gasped.
“Easy.” Cherry held out one hand and flipped her the middle finger.
Annabelle stared at her. “You bitch!”
“Gold-digging whore,” Cherry replied, well into her verbal battle stride, and she swung around, her heart beating, pride throughout her very being, and the exhilaration of battle singing in her veins.
And then she saw the people gathered silently in the courtyard. There was no doubt they’d heard every word. Dr Clarke and Mr. Shaw wore heavy frowns of disapproval, and shock was evident on the faces of General Surgeon Forbes and Mrs. Forbes. Mixed emotions were clear on the faces of a few of the guests who had also come upon the sordid scene. Tim stood at the side grinning widely, while Nancy clutched her hands to her bosom in glee.
But Cherry had eyes for one man only. He stood in front of the small group, his green eyes blazing angrily, his stance strong, his fists clenched. Rick looked from Annabelle struggling to get out of the pool, to Cherry who was now biting her lip while her bravado fled to be replaced with nerves and embarrassment.
Oh God, Rick was furious! She’d embarrassed him and she’d made a fool of herself. Clenching her fingers in the skirt of her gown and wringing it wildly didn’t stop the shaking.
Rick’s gaze locked with hers, and she could only watch as he walked forward, his every step deliberate and sure, his arms by his side. As he neared, his clenched fists opened.
“Rick.” Tears pricking her eyes, she looked up at him. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to shame you, I didn’t—”
Reaching out, he jerked her into his arms and kissed her. Hard. Deep. Long. And in the background, above the pounding of her heart, she heard the clapping. One clap, two, more than obvious by the whoops that accompanied the clapping that Nancy and Tim thoroughly approved. Then she heard nothing as Rick’s presence swept her away, his arms so strong around her, cradling her close, keeping her safe.
When he lifted his mouth from hers, she had to cling to him because her knees shook.
“I am so proud of you.”
She blinked. “Really?”