Both Emma and Brogan’s mouths dropped as they stared at her for a few seconds before dissolving into laughter again.

“Did you just make a ‘your mom’ joke?” Sophia asked, craning her neck up to stare at Vic.

“Your Ladyship,” Emma gasped in mock horror. “I never knew you had such common vulgarity in you.”

“I did.” Sophia laughed.

Vic’s cheeks turned a bright shade of red. “I didn’t . . . I wasn’t . . . bloody hell, I was dead serious. Brogan’s mother, who’s a fine and upstanding member of the community, also happens to make some of the best scones I’ve ever eaten anywhere.”

The others were still laughing too hard to care about the defence, but Sophia shrugged. “I liked it better when I thought you were being—”

Their conversation was interrupted by a jarring blare coming from somewhere on Brogan’s body.

“Aw, shite.” Brogan jumped up and patted along her pants.

Emma groaned but managed to extract a phone from her wife’s back pocket.

Brogan took one look at the screen, and her shoulders fell. “Duty calls.”

“Go,” Emma said firmly, though her face had gone a little pale. “I’ll lock up.”

Brogan leaned down to stare into her eyes. “I’m sorry, love.”

Emma swallowed whatever words might have been pushing up and kissed her so soundly Sophia looked away until she heard her say, “No apologies. Just come home.”

“I love you,” Brogan said.

“And I love you.”

“What’s happening?” Sophia stage-whispered as curiosity finally overtook her.

“Lifeboats—” Brogan started. “I have to cut our evening short. It was a pleasure to meet you, Sophia.”

“Lifeboats?” she homed in on the part that made the least sense.

“I’ll explain,” Vic said, then turning to Brogan, added a sincere and serious, “Thank you.”

“Aye.” Brogan nodded. “And you.”

Then Brogan bolted out the door.

The three of them sat in silence for a long, heavy moment before Emma finally pushed back from the table. “I could use another drink. Would anyone care to join me?”

Vic nodded, and turned to Sophia, who still had no idea what was happening, but she got the sense it warranted more alcohol. “Sure, top me off.”

Emma collected their glasses and headed around the bar.

“Are you going to tell me what the hell just happened?” Sophia sat up and searched Vic’s eyes. “’Cause it feels like someone died.”

“Someone may have. At the very least someone is in grave danger, and Brogan has gone to help,” Vic explained solemnly.

“She’s like a volunteer firefighter or something?”

“No, she mans the lifeboats.”

“And we’re back to the part that needs more explaining.”