PART 17:

She had a chance, one real chance to prove she could be who she said she was. She wasn’t going to waste it. Tuesday morning arrived cold and dark. Victoria’s alarm went off at 6, and for a brief moment, she considered staying in bed, considered texting Ryan with some excuse about a work emergency or a sudden illness.

Considered proving him right about her inability to commit. Instead, she got up. She dressed carefully. Not Tori’s cheap clothes, but not her usual designer wardrobe either. Just normal jeans, a sweater, comfortable shoes. She pulled her hair back. minimal makeup, looked at herself in the mirror and barely recognized the woman staring back.

This was who she actually was when she wasn’t performing. When she wasn’t CEO Victoria Hail commanding boardrooms or fake Tory Brennan pretending to struggle financially, just someone who was trying, she arrived at Ryan’s apartment at 7:20, parked and sat in her car for a moment, suddenly nervous. What if Emma didn’t want her there? What if Ryan had changed his mind? What if she messed this up before it even started? The apartment door opened.

Emma came running out, still in her pajamas. You came? She threw herself at Victoria before Victoria had even gotten fully out of the car. Dad said you might not come, but I knew you would. Of course I came. I promised. Ryan appeared in the doorway, coffee mug in hand. He looked surprised. Actually surprised that she’d shown up. “You’re early,” he said.

“Didn’t want to risk being late.” Something in his expression softened slightly. Come on up. Emma needs to finish getting ready. Inside the apartment, chaos rained. Emma couldn’t find her permission slip. Her lunch was only half packed. She wanted to bring three stuffed animals, but the rules said only one.

“Chester has to come,” Emma insisted, holding up a worn, stuffed squirrel. “He’s never been to an aquarium.” “Chester will have a great time,” Victoria said. “But maybe we leave the others home so they don’t get jealous.” Emma considered this seriously. “That’s smart. They can have a special day here instead. Ryan caught Victoria’s eye over Emma’s head, mouthed, “Thank you.

” They left at 7:40, only 10 minutes behind schedule. Ryan drove. Emma sat in back narrating everything she knew about marine life, which was considerable and not always accurate. “Did you know that octopuses have three hearts?” Emma said, “That’s two more hearts than people, which means they can love more.” I don’t think that’s how hearts work, Ryan said.

How do you know? Are you an octopus? Victoria laughed. Ryan almost smiled. The aquarium was an hour away, just like Ryan had warned. They met the other families in the parking lot. Victoria immediately felt out of place. The other parents all seemed to know each other, chatting easily while wrangling children and backpacks and permission slips.

One of the mothers approached. You must be Emma’s Tori. Victoria opened her mouth to correct her, but Emma beat her to it. Her real name is Victoria, but I call her Tori because that’s what I knew her as first. She’s my dad’s girlfriend. Maybe they’re figuring it out. The mother’s eyebrows went up.

Oh, well, it’s nice to meet you, Victoria. You, too. Inside the aquarium, they split into groups. Victoria, Ryan, and Emma ended up with four other kids and two other parents. The children were immediately distracted by everything, running from tank to tank, pressing their faces against glass, shouting observations. Emma grabbed Victoria’s hand and pulled her toward the jellyfish exhibit.

Look at them. They’re like ghosts, but alive. Victoria watched the jellyfish drift. Ethereal and strange. Emma explained in great detail about their stinging tentacles and how they didn’t have brains but could still hunt. “Kind of like my uncle Dave,” one of the other kids said. The parents laughed. The children moved on to the next tank.

Ryan stayed close, but not too close, watching, evaluating, seeing if Victoria would actually stick it out or bail early. Victoria had never been particularly interested in fish. But watching Emma’s face light up at each new exhibit, hearing her excited questions, seeing her point out details to the other kids with the authority of someone who’d clearly read every book about ocean life the library owned, that made it worthwhile.

They saw sharks and stingrays and a giant sea turtle. Emma swore winked at her. They watched a feeding demonstration where Emma asked so many questions the aquarium employee eventually gave up and just let her help. At lunch, they sat in the cafeteria. Emma, between Victoria and Ryan, carefully organizing her sandwich into precise bites.

This is fun, Emma announced. I’m glad you came, Tori. I mean, Victoria. I mean, she looked frustrated. What should I call you? Victoria glanced at Ryan. He was watching, waiting to see how she’d handle it. You can call me whatever feels right, Victoria said. Tori or Victoria? Either one is fine. What if I call you both, like Victoria Tori? That’s a lot of syllables.

I like syllables. Then, Victoria Tori, it is. Emma grinned and went back to her sandwich. Ryan’s expression was unreadable. After lunch, they hit the touch tanks. Emma was fearless, plunging her hands into the water to touch sea stars and anemmones. One of the other kids was scared, hanging back. Emma noticed. It’s okay.

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