Not that I blamed them. He comes up with some loopy stuff, and it took me a while to understand he's testing everyone who enters our lives. It's a combination of the natural distrust of people ingrained in him from his years in the spy business and his love for his kids. In hindsight, I realize the women who refused the tests were universally ill matched to Mikael and me.
I think Claudia has been one of only two women in my life who agreed. The other was Brianna, though I think she did it more to curb favor than to help my father, which is why I'm guessing Claudia agrees.
I meet her gaze, and we study each other long enough for the quiet to become awkward and my father to notice. Shifting, Claudia clears her throat.
"Thanks for taking Todd out last night," she says. "He talked about it for almost an hour."
"He'll do great," I reply. "He's a natural."
Baba is looking closely between the two of us.
Claudia nods and moves away.
"Looks complicated," Baba observes, always alert and sharp despite his age and attempt to play the occasional fool.
"That's an understatement," I reply.
"I bought you a week." He stands. "Good luck."
Lifting my coffee mug in salute, I watch him leave, entertained. I understand Claudia's fascination - if not affection for - my father better today after learning her own dad is dead. She returns to refill my mug.
"Time for the daily question," I say. "Dinner?"
"Ask me tomorrow." An almost smile tugs up the corner of her lips.
"I will."
Shortly after she returns to the counter, I pay my bill and leave.
There are no class visits today, so I change into my uniform and head to the recruitment center. This time of year is slow for recruiting with each of the three soldiers assigned here beginning through two-week vacation rotations.
"Got another one, Petr," the man holding down the fort calls as I walk in from the chilly morning. "Every time you do a school visit, someone signs up. Paperwork's on your desk!"
"Great." I sit down and start entering information into the system.
The day drags. Katya sends me a text-novel promising to bring Sawyer for Christmas and includes a list of cookies she wants the chef to make. Brianna tells me she's made it to New York, and Todd's messages are about paintballing tonight. There's a reminder from my doctor about my monthly checkup, and emails from college friends and buddies from the military who might be passing through Glory Glade over the holidays.
I hit the gym around two and am ready to pick up Todd at four as promised. He's too excited to ask me this night if I'm stopping in to say hi to his sister.