“How is teaching, sweetie?” his wife Theresa asked. She wore a simple black gown, not too different from what Victoria had picked out for herself. I bet she’s able to breathe.

“It’s going well, ma’am,” she said.

“Oh, that’s good to hear,” Theresa said with a genuine smile. “You’ve been at the private university, what is it called? Primrose?”

“Pembroke.”

“Yes, Pembroke, for how many years? Three or four?”

Victoria was surprised. “Yes, about four years.”

“Your mother tells us that you should be up for tenure soon?”

She nodded and glanced at her mother, who beamed at her. Sometimes her mother did listen to her. Victoria was surprised yet again. “Yes, that’s right.”

“We wish you luck, dear,” Lionel said with a rough clap on the back.

“Please excuse us,” Katherine said, taking her by the elbow again. “There’s someone I’d like Victoria to meet.”

Before she had time to say a proper goodbye to the colonel and his wife, she was being whisked away by her mother. Victoria spotted another waiter with a tray of champagne and swiped another flute. Quickly, she tossed that one back and set both glasses on a nearby table. Two champagnes, maybe three, on top of the two whiskeys from home, on an empty stomach... Victoria was playing it fast and loose tonight.

She was definitely light-headed as she was shoved into the next partygoer’s face. Gripping her mother’s arms, she stood upright and focused her gaze on a man who spoke softly to an older woman, perhaps his mother. “Linda, I’m so glad I found you,” Katherine said. “Victoria, this is Linda Cortez and her son, Matthew.”

So this was Matthew. The divorced lawyer.

“Victoria.” Linda extended her hand. “It’s so lovely to finally meet you. Your mother has told me so much.”

Victoria shook the woman’s hand and offered a tremulous smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Linda,” she said in a loud voice. It was safe to finally admit that she was on the wrong side of tipsy.

“And this is her son, Matthew,” her mother said, directing her attention to the tall man to her left. Matthew was quite handsome, with jet black hair cut like a European footballer and a glistening white smile. He wore a slim fitted black suit with two shirt buttons undone at the collar. She noticed a flash of a small gold cufflink at his wrist when he extended his hand towards her.

“Victoria,” he said in a low smooth voice.

She shook his hand without grace. Tight with three rough pumps. Victoria almost jostled the man’s arm right out of the socket. “Pleased to meet you,” she said.

Matthew, unbothered by her manic handshake, slowed her pumps and leaned over her hand to lightly kiss the back of her knuckles. “The pleasure is all mine.”