The chairwoman continued.
“And freeze tomorrow morning’s planned route eliminations.”
The voice on the other end objected.
The woman’s jaw tightened.
“I understand what the board approved.”
She paused.
“I am the chairwoman of that board.”
The single father stopped breathing for half a second.
She continued.
“Nothing is cut until I finish reviewing accessibility reporting.”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
“All of it.”
She disconnected.
Silence returned.
The single father looked at her.
“You just froze the cuts.”
“Yes.”
“Because of me?”
“No.”
That answer surprised him.
The woman turned toward his voice.
“I froze them because the reports are no longer reliable.”
He nodded slowly.
“That is the right answer.”
“I know.”
She smiled faintly.
“Do you always evaluate people at bus stops?”
“Only corporate owners.”
“Good.”
Her phone buzzed again.
A message this time.
She checked it through her screen reader.
Then lowered the device.
“What?”
he asked.
“The executive who signed the accessibility report is calling.”
“You going to answer?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because now he knows something is wrong.”
“And?”
“I would rather see what he does before I tell him what I know.”
The single father looked impressed despite himself.
“That’s terrifying.”
“I’m told I’m difficult.”
“Maybe you were fired for team expectations too.”
She laughed.
That was when the SUV horn sounded again.
Not one tap.
Three.
The single father turned.
His daughter was awake and clearly done with adult mysteries.
He stood.
“I should check on her.”
“Go.”
He walked to the SUV.
Opened the rear door.
His daughter immediately asked:
“Is the lady okay?”
“Yes.”
“Is a bus coming?”
“No.”
“I told you.”
“You did.”
“Can she come with us?”
He looked toward the shelter.
“That’s up to her.”
His daughter leaned around him.
“Lady!”
The chairwoman turned toward the voice.
“Yes?”
“You can sit in here. Dad keeps the heat too high.”
The single father closed his eyes.
The chairwoman laughed.
“That is a very convincing offer.”
The girl called:
“He has snacks too.”
“Traitor.”
his father muttered.
The chairwoman smiled.
“What kind?”
The daughter looked into the center console.
“Crackers.”
Pause.
“And raisins.”
The chairwoman made a thoughtful sound.
The single father said:
“Please don’t oversell this vehicle.”
The daughter ignored him.
“And chocolate.”
He turned.
“What chocolate?”
The girl froze.
There was a pause.
Then:
“No chocolate.”
He stared.
“Where did you get chocolate?”
The chairwoman laughed harder.
The father pointed.
“We are discussing this later.”