Page 307 of Commander’s Mate

“Unlikely.”

“You haven’t met her.”

“No.”

Her smile softened.

“Exactly.”

I understood.

Earth was not automatically the end of us.

Farseek was not automatically the only future.

A route created choices.

Choices created uncertainty.

I had spent my life preferring orders.

Harper preferred doors.

“What if your family hates me?”

“They will not.”

“You cannot know.”

“My mother will love that you’re tall.”

I stared at her.

“She has a system?”

“She thinks tall men can reach shelves.”

“That is absurd.”

“It is practical.”

“My rank?”

“She won’t care.”

“My species?”

“She will care for about fifteen minutes, then ask whether you eat enough.”

“I eat enough.”

“That will not stop her.”

A strange image entered my mind.

An Earth kitchen.

Harper’s mother.