She went back to swooning in no time. “He’s so cute, Uncle Johnny. And so brave too. Boys don’t just walk up to girls and say they want to square dance with them, but Connor did. He’s really shy, but he took a chance.”

As John slowed down on Sandra’s street, he peered down at his niece. She wore a dreamy smile on her face that accurately described “puppy love.” She was smitten beyond repair. He hoped that this Connor was worth a damn because he couldn’t very well punch a child. He also heard her words. Connor was brave. Connor square dances. Conner took a chance.

“Are you going to the gym?” Becca asked as she gathered her backpack.

“For a little while,” he said. “I’ll come back by and get you when I’m done.” He stopped outside of Sandra’s house where his mother’s yellow Volkswagen was still parked. “Your grandmas are still making your cookies.”

“Oh good.” She was about to jump out of the truck and run up the driveway, but paused to look at him. “Uncle Johnny?”

“Hmm?”

Becca pursed her lips as she examined him. “I could use a hug...how about you?”

John didn’t think that trick could be employed on him, but he welcomed it immediately. “Yeah sure,” he said, cracking a smile in spite of himself. “I could use one.”

Becca caught him across the midsection with her arms and squeezed him tight. With her face pressed against his chest, she murmured, “Be brave.”

John hugged her back, placing a quick kiss on her crown. “I’ll try that.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Three

Just ten minutes.

It had only taken ten minutes for Victoria to start eyeing the front door as a means of escape. After setting down her weekend bag and hugging her parents, she was still in the foyer of their Lake View home, getting a tongue lashing from Katherine.

“When did you get these?” her mother demanded, running her fingers through the curtain of Victoria’s braids. “And why are there so many...baubles on them?”

Victoria tucked her hair over her other shoulder, away from her mother’s prying fingers. “I got them a couple of weeks ago. Reggi did them.”

“Regina?” Katherine said with suspicion. “Are you still running with those girls?”

Victoria drew a breath and looked to her father for help. Archie patted her shoulder and gave a shrug before making his escape into the kitchen. Once again, he sniffed out an incoming disagreement between his daughter and wife, and made himself scarce before he was asked for an opinion. Part of her didn’t blame him for fading into the background, while the other part of her resented him for not taking her with him. “Yes, ma’am. We’re all still friends.”