A piece of plastic she had treated like a deed to a property she did not own.
She pulled at it.
It did not break.
Across the room, the barefoot woman looked at her.
“You okay?”
Vanessa stopped laughing.
“Yes.”
The woman nodded.
Then looked away.
Vanessa pulled at the band again.
Nothing.
By Sunday afternoon, she was home.
Her attorney had told her not to discuss the arrest publicly.
Vanessa immediately wanted to discuss the arrest publicly.
She opened Instagram.
Closed it.
Opened Facebook.
Closed it.
Opened Instagram again.
There were already messages.
You okay?
Someone said you got arrested at Blue Harbor.
Call me.
Girl WHAT happened yesterday???
Vanessa stared at the screen.
She imagined writing the post.
I was assaulted by law enforcement after being unfairly targeted by resort staff.
She could tell her version.
She could explain.
She could make people understand.
Then Kelly called.
Vanessa answered.
“Hey.”
There was a pause.
“You home?”
“Yes.”
“The kids are okay.”
“I know.”
“I took them back to your place this morning.”
“Thank you.”
Another pause.
Vanessa could hear the awkwardness.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Kelly.”
“I just think you should probably stay off social media.”
Vanessa sat straighter.
“Why?”
“Because there were a lot of people recording.”
Her stomach tightened.
“Recording what?”
“Everything.”
“How much?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you see videos?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know?”
“Vanessa, there were hundreds of people at that pool.”
“It wasn’t hundreds.”
“Okay. A lot.”
Vanessa stood and walked to the kitchen.
“They had no right to record me.”
“It was a public pool area.”
“Private hotel.”
Kelly sighed.
“I don’t want to argue.”
“Then don’t.”