Page 2 of Harbinger of Destiny

“The engagement ring, of course.”

“You know as well as I do that you don’t need a ring to propose marriage. It’s expensive, and a total waste of resources. A wedding band will do just fine when the day comes.”

“Yes, but…” She paused and motioned him to follow her into the living room. “Kelly is a very beautiful young lady. It doesn’t hurt to give her a little enticement.” She opened the antique armoire and reached inside.

“Mom, that’s really not—”

When she turned around, Joshua stopped himself. She was holding a tiny box in her hand. On its white velvet cushion sat a gold ring with a sparkling ruby as the center stone, surrounded by tiny diamonds.

“But that’s from your grandmother,” he said, shaking his head. “You can’t… It’s a family heirloom.”

She smiled at him. “I don’t see a better use for it than giving it to the woman who’ll make sure our family continues.”

Joshua wrapped his arms around his mother and hugged her tightly. “You’re the best.”

She sniffled and peeled herself out of his embrace. “Now, go, before I start crying.” She pressed the box into his hand.

Joshua took it, closed it, and shoved it into his jacket pocket. “I love you, Mom.” Not wanting to get emotional in front of his mother, he pivoted and left the house.

The car he’d ordered was waiting at the curb. He let his gaze run over the vehicle. It wasn’t the usual red or silver oval-shaped self-driving cab he normally got when he ordered transportation. It appeared that he’d been upgraded. While the shape was the same, it was white with silver accents, looking almost like a cloud. He’d have to have a serious word with his mother when he returned. She was trying to make him look like a knight in shining armor.

He doubted that Kelly would even understand this subtle nod to history. She wasn’t interested in history. She was into fashion, music, and movies. She loved parties and vacations. She was enrolled in the local university, but Joshua wasn’t even sure what major she’d chosen. Not that it mattered, because once they were starting a family, Kelly wouldn’t have to get a job.

Joshua tapped his wrist to activate his holocom, and a hologram popped up and hovered over his left arm. He pointed it toward the car’s lock, and the two devices communicated with one another.

“Welcome, Joshua,” a female computer voice sounded from the car, and the door slid open.

Joshua entered and sat down in the comfortable seat. He tapped his holocom once more and the car door slid shut.

“Where to?”

“Kelly Shipley’s house, please.”

“Your estimated arrival time is 6:42 p.m.,” the computer voice announced, and the car pulled into the street and merged with traffic.

“Would you like entertainment, Joshua?”

“Music from the 60s,” he said and reclined his seat, closing his eyes to meditate to the music.

Techno-funk suddenly blasted from the car’s built-in speakers and made Joshua jerk up and almost hit the sunroof.

“Music from the nineteen-sixties,” he demanded. The music stopped. Just to make sure the computer knew what he meant, he added, “Like the Mamas and the Papas.”

“Calling your mama,” the computer voice responded.

He already heard the dial tone. “No, don’t call my mother.” Sometimes, computers could be downright annoying. If he wanted something done right, it was best to do it himself.

“No music, no phone calls,” he instructed the car’s computer system.

Instead, he pulled up his holocom, tapped on his music library and synced it with the car’s speakers. Moments later, the hippy sounds of a California band from the 1960s filled the car. The Beach Boys. He liked their vibe. He’d learned to appreciate their vintage sound from his father, and he understood why his father was such a fan, even though the band members themselves were long dead. The music always made him happy and carefree. And it was the perfect start for his life with Kelly.

Traffic was smooth. Through the tinted windows of the car, Joshua saw the landscape and other cars whizz past him, though he couldn’t see who was inside the other vehicles. The windows had been designed to provide absolute privacy.

It didn’t take long to reach Kelly’s parents’ house. In fact, he was almost twenty minutes early. But it didn’t matter. He was eager to see Kelly and not afraid to show her his eagerness. Before he jumped out of the car, he told the car’s computer to wait for him to return so the car could drive them to the small beachside restaurant where he would propose to her just as the sun set over the ocean.

The house that sat high on Mulholland Drive was modern, its 3D-printed materials forming a structure that looked like it was made of steel, glass, and concrete. From the driveway, the glass entrance door afforded a look into the enormous living room with a view over Los Angeles. He pressed the doorbell and waited. Moments later, Mrs. Shipley came into view. When she saw him, she froze for an instant, then marched to the door and opened it.

“Joshua?” she asked. “I wasn’t expecting—”