“I hated what I thought it meant.”
“What?”
“That people would see me as less capable.”
“Do they?”
“Some.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“Then sounds like their problem.”
Elena smiled.
“Therapists charged me thousands to reach that conclusion.”
“I’ll invoice.”
“I knew it.”
He laughed.
Lucy appeared carrying three bowls of cereal.
One had milk almost to top.
Elena looked.
“What happened?”
Lucy handed her bowl.
“Dad makes cereal wrong too.”
Ethan frowned.
“I make it normal.”
“Too much milk.”
Elena looked at him.
“You drown cereal?”
“It’s food.”
“It's soup now.”
Lucy’s eyes widened.
“That’s exactly what I say.”
Ethan pointed at both.
“I regret bringing you together.”
They ate cereal in workshop beside half-disassembled brakes.
Elena would later remember that morning more vividly than several board meetings worth billions.
Because nobody wanted anything from her.
No acquisition.
No interview.
No approval.
Lucy complained about math.
Ethan complained about rusted bolts.
Elena spilled milk on her cardigan.
Ordinary.
It frightened her how much she liked it.
At noon, she prepared to leave.
Ethan followed outside.
“You didn't need to come all way.”
“Yes.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“To repay seventy-eight dollars.”
“With cereal?”
“Yes.”
“Terrible exchange rate.”
She looked at him.
“Also…”
“Thank you.”
“You said already.”
“I know.”
“For treating me like I was competent before you knew who I was.”
Ethan shifted.
“I didn't do much.”
“That’s why it mattered.”
He looked uncomfortable.
Elena continued:
“Most people help by taking over.”
“You held door.”
“You waited.”
“You asked.”
“You didn't push my chair.”
“You didn’t tell me I was inspirational.”
Ethan smiled faintly.
“I save inspirational speeches for transmission failures.”
She laughed.
Then there was a pause.
Long enough.
Ethan looked at her.
Elena looked back.
Something changed.
Lucy shouted from porch:
“Dad, are you going to kiss her?”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Elena burst out laughing.
“No.”
he called.
Lucy replied:
“Okay!”
Elena looked at him.
“Strong conviction.”
“I’m going to boarding school her.”
“You can't afford it.”
“That was brutal.”
“Accurate.”
She transferred into SUV.
Before shutting door:
“Dinner next Friday.”
Ethan stared.
“What?”
“You owe me.”
“For what?”
“Cereal.”