Exactly.
I had.
At 10:15, my phone rang again.
Ethan.
This time, I answered.
“Hello.”
His relief was immediate.
“Victoria, finally.”
“Good morning.”
“Something crazy is happening.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“The Naples closing has stopped.”
“I know.”
“They’re saying they need your authorization.”
“That’s correct.”
A long silence followed.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly what they told you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I don’t think you ever tried to.”
His breathing changed.
“Victoria, are you angry about yesterday?”
I looked out the window.
“What do you think?”
“I’m sorry if—”
“If?”
“I didn’t mean—”
“You told me I was an embarrassment.”
“I was upset.”
“No, Ethan. You were calm.”
“You don’t understand. My mother was emotional.”
“So you agreed with her.”
“I was trying to keep the peace.”
I almost laughed.
“Whose peace?”
Another silence.
Then he asked the question I had been waiting for.
