Margaret held up a hand. “You need to stop there, young lady. You’re not here to prove a damn thing to two old biddies like us. Relax yourself and poke a little fun.”

“She’s right, you know?” Sandra said, biting into a Halloween cookie. “You’ve already impressed us by putting up with our shenanigans. Lord knows John’s used to it.”

Victoria forced herself to relax. After all, they were giving her permission to. She took another deep breath and smiled. “Thank you.”

“Now that we’ve established that Becca runs these streets,” Sandra said with a smile. “Are you two dating? Because we haven’t seen John with a woman in at least two years. That, or he’s not bringing them around us anymore.”

She glanced at John who looked mildly embarrassed. “I...uh, I don’t know if we’re dating? I mean, we’re supposed to be working on this project and I hadn’t really... I guess what I’m trying to say is—”

John stopped her. “Victoria and I have been seeing each other for about a week. I would have introduced her to you on the first date, but I thought that might be rushing things.”

His tone made his mother roll her eyes. “Okay, I can see we’re being intrusive.”

“Now that she’s met you,” he continued. “I should probably propose to her tomorrow? Maybe set the wedding for a week from now?”

Sandra chuckled into her coffee mug. “See what I mean?” she asked Victoria. “We joke and meddle in young people’s lives.”

Victoria relaxed her shoulders again. She was thankful that John’s smart mouth had saved her from rambling about the nature of their relationship. She was also thankful that they were so understanding and lighthearted about the situation. “Sometimes you have to laugh,” she murmured.

“Ladies, was there a purpose to your visit today?” John asked, swiftly changing the subject.

“We wanted to make sure that Becca wasn’t starving,” Margaret said. “And we wanted to offer up our babysitting services. I heard that Chris is watching her while you are at work.”

“I’m not turning down free childcare services,” John said. “But with her after-school detention all week, you’d have to pick her up at 4 p.m.”

Sandra chuckled. “I never thought I’d hear about Becca staying after school for detention.”

“She regrets what she did,” Victoria said. “We’re hoping that whatever truth and reconciliation meeting the principal sets up, might help the situation.”

Sandra and Margaret looked at her. “Oh really?”

Her face warmed. She hadn’t meant to include herself in Becca’s matters. “Well, John...”

“Victoria went with me to the school to collect Becca.”

Sandra shook her head with a sad smile. “You two have swooped in to help her while Jessi is away and Allen hasn’t called once. I don’t understand that man.”