“Too busy to see your own parents?” said her mother, on another line.

“Katherine, get off the line,” Archie barked.

“I will not! Are we such terrible parents that our own daughter is too busy to see us?”

“You’re not terrible parents,” Victoria said, switching her attention to her eavesdropping mother. “Why do you always go there?”

“How can I not go there?”

“Katherine!”

“It’s really unfair that anytime I disagree with you, my loyalty comes into question.”

Her mother gasped. “Archie, are you going to let her speak to me like that?”

“I’m not fixing to sit here and argue with you two about loyalty or whatever the hell else you’ve got cooking up,” said her father. “I was minding my business, watching Lethal Weapon, not bothering anyone.”

Victoria rolled her eyes. Her father always took the easy way out, even when he knew his wife was being unreasonable. To Archie, women’s arguments were strictly women’s arguments. There was no need for him to interrupt affairs that weren’t any of his business.

“Now will I see you at the ceremony or not?”

She dropped her head against the surface of her desk before answering. “Fine,” she mumbled. “I’ll be there.”

“Good,” her father said. The click in the line meant that he had left the conversation in favor of Murtaugh and Riggs.

“Well now that that’s settled,” her mother said huffily. “Get here early and bring a pretty dress.”

“Yes, ma’am...”

The second click signified that Victoria had lost the battle.

Her phone rang again and she wanted to throw it against the wall. But it was John, and Victoria had to hope that he didn’t want anything from her. She was done doing favors for the day and it was only 2 p.m.

“Hello,” she said.

“Dr. Reese,” he purred in her ear. A jolt of electricity traveled down her neck and into her chest as she gripped her phone.

“Hi,” she breathed.

“I’m just checking in,” he said. “We’ve had radio silence since yesterday and I hope you were okay.”

Something bloomed within her chest that prevented her from speaking. As Victoria sat in her office, she suddenly felt isolated. She wanted to see him.

“Dr. Reese?”

She blinked back tears. “Yeah, I’m here.”

His voice dropped to a softer tone. “How are you feeling?”

Victoria brushed her sleeve across her eyes. “I’m not having a good day,” she admitted.

“Would you like me to come to you?” he asked.

“No,” she said quietly. “I’m just... I feel very alone right now. I’m glad you called.” She told the truth and felt okay. She wasn’t in the habit of doing that.

“Is it work?”

“That’s part of the problem.”

“Do you know where Flynn Fitness is?” he asked. “It’s downtown across the street from the old theater.”

“Sure, next to the post office.”