“Hello, Benny,” she whispered.
Christopher shifted beside her.
“Vic, we’re already resolving this. You don’t need to get involved.”
She stood.
“Then tell me what happened.”
The old instinct rose inside me again.
Make it smaller.
Don’t cause trouble.
“It’s really…”
I stopped.
No.
“Actually, it isn’t nothing.”
Christopher’s jaw tightened.
I looked at Victoria.
“I came inside because I felt faint. I ordered coffee. Christopher told me Benny could only remain inside if I spent at least thirty dollars.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Christopher.”
“It was a business decision.”
Her expression changed.
“You promised me you were done making those kinds of decisions about people.”
The room became very quiet.
Christopher stared at her.
“This isn’t the same.”
“It sounds exactly the same.”
She turned toward me.
“Please continue.”
“I pointed out that another dog was allowed inside. Christopher told me Benny was old and unattractive and didn’t fit the atmosphere.”
