He rubbed his forehead.

“Can we discuss this privately?”

“No.”

Victoria looked toward me.

“Carol shouldn’t have to disappear from a conversation about something that happened to her.”

Steven finally spoke.

“I came here because Victoria told me how proud you were of this café.”

Christopher faced him.

“You understand what it’s like trying to build something.”

“I do.”

Steven looked around the room.

“In fact, Victoria and I had discussed your plans to expand.”

Victoria frowned.

“Dad?”

“I hadn’t told either of you yet. I was considering helping after the wedding.”

Christopher stared at him.

“You were going to invest?”

Victoria looked equally surprised.

“You were?”

“I was considering it,” Steven said. “That’s one reason I wanted to see the business myself.”

Christopher’s eyes flicked toward me.

I followed his gaze to the sandwich he’d suddenly offered and the water he’d brought for Benny.