“Two are concerning.”
“The fourth is impossible.”
Owen’s expression changed.
“What?”
Celeste looked toward Ellie, who had appeared behind him.
The girl stared openly.
Celeste immediately softened.
“Hi.”
Ellie looked at Owen.
“Is this the broken-car lady?”
Celeste almost smiled.
“Yes.”
Ellie pointed.
“You dressed like Christmas.”
Owen covered his face.
Celeste laughed.
“Thank you?”
“Dad says rich people wear colors normal people don’t.”
Owen stared at his daughter.
“I have literally never said that.”
“You said burgundy cars are for rich people.”
“That was about paint prices.”
Celeste smiled at Owen.
“May I come in?”
He sighed.
“Five minutes.”
She entered.
Her heels clicked against the shop floor.
She looked around.
Two service bays.
Lift.
Workbench.
Lathe.
Tool cabinets.
Old photographs.
On the far wall, Ellie’s model-aircraft drawings covered a corkboard.
Celeste stopped.
“What’s that?”
Ellie hurried over.
“My plane.”
Owen said:
“It’s a glider design.”
“It’s not just a glider.”
Ellie corrected.
“It has folding wing tips.”
Celeste crouched slightly to look closer.
“Why?”
“For storage.”
“She wants to enter the junior aviation design competition in Dayton.”
Owen said.
Ellie looked at him.
“You said not to tell people until it works.”
“She’s not people.”
Celeste raised an eyebrow.
Owen realized what he said.
“Meaning…”
“I understood.”
Ellie continued explaining.
For two minutes, Celeste listened.
Actually listened.
Asked about weight.
Material.
Control surfaces.
Ellie lit up.
Owen watched.
Something uncomfortable happened inside him.
He liked the way Celeste spoke to his daughter.
Not indulgently.
Not as though Ellie were cute for knowing technical words.
She treated the design like a design.
Finally Owen interrupted.
“Five minutes.”
Celeste stood.
“Right.”
She looked toward Ellie.
“Very good work.”
Ellie smiled.
“Thank you.”
Then whispered to Owen:
“She can stay.”
Owen sighed.
“Go check the chicken.”
“It’s already cooked.”
“Check if it remains cooked.”
Ellie rolled her eyes and went upstairs.
Celeste watched her leave.
“She’s extraordinary.”
“She’s nine.”
“Both can be true.”
Owen looked toward the foreclosure envelope.
“What’s impossible?”
Celeste’s expression became serious.
“Your loan shows a covenant breach because your equipment insurance lapsed for eleven days.”
“Yes.”
“Our insurer changed renewal systems.”
“I sent proof.”
“I know.”
“It’s in the file.”