“Yes, he did,” Helen said firmly, her eyes full of compassion. “Nobody deserves to be spoken to like that.”

Chloe reached over and patted my arm.

“Don’t worry, Victoria,” Chloe said. “My daddy is very strong.”

A small, watery laugh escaped my lips.

Daniel smiled, a slight flush rising on his cheeks.

“We should probably get going,” Arthur said gently, sensing my exhaustion. “It’s getting past Chloe’s bedtime.”

We all stood up and walked out into the crisp, cold Boston air.

Snowflakes were beginning to fall, drifting down under the glow of the streetlights.

Daniel walked me to the corner where I usually caught my taxi.

“I’m sorry about how the night ended,” he said, pulling his scarf tighter.

“Don’t be,” I said. “It was the best dinner I’ve had in a long time.”

He smiled, his eyes reflecting the soft yellow light of the streetlamp.

“Chloe really took a liking to you,” he said. “Actually, we both did.”

He paused, rubbing the back of his neck again in that shy gesture I was starting to recognize.