“Your dad’s okay with that? Some guys don’t want the woman in their life being better at something than they are.”
Victoria raised her eyebrows. “Are we talking about le boyfriend?”
“What?” Shannon shook her head. “No. Aaron’s great. He loves that I’m better at some things than he is. I help with the design work in his business and deal with the website guy. We’re a team.”
Victoria allowed herself a tenth of a second of feeling that, in a different life, she might have liked being part of a team. What an interesting concept. But she wasn’t in a different life, and she wasn’t the team type.
“That sounds nice,” she admitted. “My parents are like that, too. They’re a unit, and my dad loves how much Mom takes care of him. They would be lost without each other. What’s it people say? She’shis princess. I can’t remember them ever fighting or him ever being mad at her. I’m not sure he’s capable of anything but adoration where she’s concerned.” She paused. “I’m not saying he’s blind or doesn’t believe she has flaws, but his love is always present.”
Shannon sighed. “I want that in my life, especially after, what, thirty years of marriage?”
“I’m sure you’ll have it with Aaron.” Victoria tried to remember what they’d been talking about. “Oh, my mom helping my dad in his business. Thanks to her he has the career he always wanted. And the lesson of the day, children, isDon’t get between my mother and one of her plans. You’ll be bulldozed into dust if you try.”
“But she didn’t bulldoze him. She loved him and helped him.”
“The woman is bossy. I still remember her talking to me about one of my friends. She said she wasn’t a good influence and that I should reconsider the relationship.”
Shannon winced. “Let me guess. That made you want to get even closer to her.”
“Of course. Besides, I was always the ringleader for the trouble we got into. I’m not easily influenced. I learned early that if I let her, my mom would guide me into doing exactly what she wanted.”
A couple of pages slipped from Shannon’s fingers. “I think she just did that to me.”
“What do you mean?”
“She texted me a couple of days ago and asked me to call.”
Victoria didn’t bother hiding her surprise. “And where is that movie score when you need it?” She moved her fingers as if she were playing piano. “We need the part that portends doom and destruction. What did she want to talk about?”
“A seminar on cinematography.”
Victoria waited to feel upset or dismayed that Ava had reached out to Shannon, but hearing the reason only left her confused.
“Why?”
Shannon ducked her head. “When I met her for lunch, she asked me about my life and my goals. I’m lost—I get that. I don’t want to work for my mom forever, but I don’t know what else I want to do. My mom keeps handing me brochures on everything from beauty school to how to start a dog-walking business.”
“Do you want to walk dogs?”
Shannon grinned. “Not really.”
“Then I would guess that one’s a hard no.”
“I didn’t have an answer when your mom asked about my passions,” Shannon said, picking up the papers she’d dropped and handing them over to be stapled. “But she kept looking at me, and I started to feel pressure.”
“Oh, I know that one. Let me guess. You made up something.”
“I said I loved photography. I must have been way too enthusiastic because she called about the seminar. She knows the guy teaching it or his partner is a donor or something. I don’t remember. I was so shocked, and I didn’t know what to say.”
“I hope you told her no,” Victoria said. “You have to be strong with her.”
Shannon’s pained expression said that she’d caved.
“Really?” Victoria shook her head. “You said yes?”
“I had to. She’d gone to so much trouble and was trying to be nice.”
“You didn’t, and you shouldn’t. You’re training her that she can take over your life. The fact that she offered something doesn’t mean you have to take it. You didn’t ask for help. You don’t owe her anything.”
