“Worth it.”
Their relationship grew carefully.
Luke kept work boundaries strict.
Evelyn transferred his formal reporting line to Robert.
Company counsel reviewed everything.
Luke hated the paperwork.
Evelyn insisted.
“No whispers.”
“There will still be whispers.”
“Yes.”
“But nothing hidden.”
That mattered.
Employees knew.
Some judged.
Luke expected it.
What surprised him was how little he cared after the first few months.
His work remained strong.
His promotion had predated the relationship.
Robert documented decisions.
Transparency removed much of the poison gossip needed.
Outside work, Evelyn became part of Noah’s life slowly.
She attended baseball games.
Badly.
At her first game, she asked which inning they were in after the third out of the first inning.
Noah stared.
“We have work to do.”
She learned.
By the end of summer, she yelled at an umpire.
Luke was horrified.
Noah was proud.
Evelyn bought Noah expensive birthday gifts once.
Luke objected.
“This is too much.”
“It’s a laptop.”
“He’s nine.”
“For school.”
“He needs pencils.”
Evelyn looked offended.
“He can have both.”
They argued.
Evelyn eventually returned the high-end model and bought a modest one.
Noah complained.
Luke blamed capitalism.
Evelyn blamed Luke.
They survived.
Two years after the highway, Luke was promoted to director of reliability operations.
Not because of Evelyn.
Robert pushed for it.
Luke made sure everyone knew.
Evelyn found that annoying.
“You think people assume you’re incompetent because we’re together.”
“Some do.”
“Then let them.”
“Easy when you own the building.”
She stared.
“Fair.”
They learned to fight better.
Luke tended to withdraw.
Evelyn tended to solve.
Neither worked well in relationships.
When Luke became quiet, Evelyn learned not to send him spreadsheets.
When Evelyn became controlling, Luke learned not to call her “CEO” sarcastically.
Mostly.
One evening, Noah asked if Evelyn would move in.
Luke nearly dropped a plate.
Evelyn froze.
“Why?”
Noah shrugged.
“She’s always here.”
“That is not a legal argument.”
“She has clothes upstairs.”
Evelyn looked at Luke.
Luke looked at Evelyn.
Noah continued eating.
Children could detonate adult conversations and return to macaroni immediately.
That night Luke and Evelyn talked.
Long.
Neither wanted to rush.
Evelyn owned a house worth several million dollars.
Luke lived in a three-bedroom bungalow.
Noah wanted the bungalow.
Luke did too.
Evelyn surprised them.
“I can live here.”
Luke stared.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“This house has one bathroom upstairs.”
“I’ve seen it.”
“Your closet is bigger than Noah’s bedroom.”
“That sounds like a criticism of my closet.”
“It is.”