“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t be weird.”
The call ended.
The CEO stared.
The Single Dad sighed.
“He gets that from my sister.”
The CEO laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth.
He realized he had never seen someone transform so completely in a few hours.
On the aircraft she had been controlled.
Elegant.
Professional.
Almost distant.
Now she stood in a hospital hallway laughing until tears returned.
He liked this version.
Too much.
The CEO looked at him.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You keep saying that.”
“It keeps being true.”
“Liar.”
He smiled.
The driver took him to his sister’s house.
The CEO insisted.
This time he did not argue.
When the SUV stopped outside a modest suburban home, a small figure exploded through the front door.
His son.
The Single Dad barely had time to open the vehicle door before the boy crashed into him.
He lifted him.
The nine-year-old wrapped arms around his neck.
The Single Dad closed his eyes.
Home.
Not a place.
This.
The CEO remained inside the SUV.
Watching.
She saw the father’s entire body change.
Every guarded piece softened.
He lowered the boy.
His son immediately noticed the vehicle.
Then her.
“Is that the robot lady?”
The Single Dad covered his face.
The CEO opened the door.
“I have been called worse.”
The boy approached.
No fear.
He looked at her outfit.
Then:
“You’re dressed fancy for someone who builds robots.”
The Single Dad’s sister appeared in the doorway.
“Sir.”
The boy ignored him.
The CEO crouched slightly.
“You’re right.”
“I wasn’t planning on meeting an engineer today.”
The boy smiled.
“I’m not an engineer yet.”
“Neither was I at nine.”
That impressed him.
The Single Dad’s sister watched the exchange.
Then slowly looked toward her brother.
Her face said everything.
Who is this woman?
Why is she here?
Why does she look at you like that?
The Single Dad shook his head.
Later.
The CEO returned to the hospital.
Before leaving, she stood beside the SUV.
The Single Dad walked her there.
“Thank you.”
She looked at him.
“For?”
“Ride.”
“That seems inadequate compared with keeping my mother housed twenty years ago.”
“Stop.”
“Fine.”
She smiled.
“Tomorrow.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“I want to see the science program.”
He laughed.
“You have a mother in the hospital.”
“She ordered me to leave for two hours tomorrow.”
“She did not.”
“She absolutely did.”
The Single Dad believed that.
“Why?”
“She said I hover badly.”
“You do.”
“You’ve known me one day.”
“Enough.”
The CEO smiled.
“Ten.”
“Ten?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
The Single Dad hesitated.
His son would love it.
That was the problem.
He would too.
“Okay.”
The CEO entered the SUV.