Chapter 19: Size Seven

"Hi, everybody," Dacey said.

Her voice carried over the whole lot, small and clear.

"I'm Dacey Covington. I'm a nurse. I grew up here, and some of you knew my dad."

Somebody near the fence laughed.

Brent beamed at her and put an arm around her shoulders.

She stepped out of it, very neatly, and kept talking.

"I've been engaged to Brent Wegner for ten months."

The crowd made a warm noise.

"I'd like to show you something about that."

She reached into the neck of the blue dress and pulled out the chain.

The ring swung in the sun.

"He told me he saved for this since spring. It's a size five. That's mine."

She unclasped it and held it high.

"Joni," Dacey said into the microphone. "Would you come up here, please?"

Brent's arm dropped.

I heard Cass say, "Go," from somewhere in the crowd, and I heard the owner say it quieter, beside me.

I walked up the steps with my brace clicking and my hands cold.

The red dress swung against my legs.

When I reached the top, three hundred people were looking at me, and half of them had read the post.

I took the microphone from Dacey.

"Hi," I said. "I'm Joni."

A murmur ran through the folding chairs.

"I'm the crazy ex," I said. "I'm the one in the post."

Brent spoke over me, smooth, and loud.

"Everybody, I'm so sorry about this. This woman has been harassing my family for a month..."

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