“I asked her to let me handle my own vendor calls,” I said.

Vanessa buried her face in Kendra’s neck and let out another loud wail.

Kendra rubbed her back and guided her toward the stone steps leading down to the parking lot.

I gathered my purse and followed them out of the restaurant courtyard.

The sun was just starting to dip behind the old oak trees lining the street.

Vanessa leaned against the side of Kendra’s sedan, dabbing at her eyes with a crumpled tissue.

“Are you really going to stand there and act like you did nothing wrong?” Kendra asked.