“Well, we need to go to Dillard’s first to get you measured,” Margaret said. “Shelly still works in the afternoons, doesn’t she?”

“Once you get to be our age, you’re just looking for something that fits whatever gravity pulled down,” Sandra continued, nudging her friend in the ribs. “But it would be nice to treat myself to something fancier.”

“The girls don’t know how good they’ve got it,” Margaret said as she set down her coffee. She too, took up the bra and marveled over its craftsmanship. “I like the little lacy bits here. It doesn’t scratch you, honey?” she asked Victoria.

She pressed her lips together tightly and shook her head. “Mm-mm.”

“Well that’s good,” Margaret said, folding the underwear and placing it back on the coffee table. “I can’t stand the itchiness. I’ve gone and just cut all of the tags out of my shirts these days.”

“How will you know how to wash your clothes?” John asked with a chuckle.

His mother dismissed him with a tut and a wave of her hand. “When you’ve been washing clothes as long as I have, you just know. I don’t need a tag telling me what temperature to use.”

Victoria didn’t know whether to laugh or cry or both. She simply sat there, hugged next to John’s hip waiting for all of it to be over.

“So Johnny,” Sandra said. “I’ve heard my grandbaby is fighting?”

John went stiff. “Not exactly.”

“Jessi gave me the lowdown,” Sandra said, returning to her coffee. “I’m assuming you’ve taken care of things?”

“Yes, ma’am,” John said in a grave tone. “Jess and I talked to her and she knows what she did was wrong.”

“Well did the girl deserve a good pop in the mouth?” Margaret asked innocently.

Victoria’s eyes widened, not expecting something so brash coming from someone’s grandmother. It turned out that Becca had a tribe standing behind her, offering more support than she remembered receiving from her own mother.

“Mom, no one got popped in the mouth.”

Margaret frowned. “Everyone knows that’s the best way to stop a bully.”

Sandra nodded. “I’m inclined to agree with your mother: Don’t start none; won’t be none.”

The two ladies clinked ceramic mugs with their shared sentiment, causing Victoria to laugh outright. These two geriatric gals were charming indeed. “I’m sorry,” she said with her hand over her mouth.

“And it’s obvious that the good doctor also agrees,” Sandra said, tipping her mug towards her.

“Victoria was in a fist fight when she was Becca’s age,” John said with a laugh.

Her gaze flew to his sparkling green eyes. “John.”

“What? You were.”

“Ladies, I don’t want you to think—”