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“Full-time,” he said again. “You’d be an Assistant Ombudsman.”
I watched him for a moment. “With an actual badge?”
His lips curled. “With an actual badge.”
“And Theo is my partner.”
Roger looked at Theo, who nodded. “Done,” Roger said.
My final demand involved a rumor. Whispers in the darkest corners of the Internet, but never seen in real life. “I want a Leo’s Coffee titanium card.”
Theo snorted. “Free coffee for the lifetime of the holder? Total myth. And even if it weren’t, you’re immortal. There’s no way they’d agree to that.”
I’d taken a chance for exactly those reasons, with the hope of negotiating down to Leo’s Coffee in the break room.
But Roger smiled with a knowing cant that said he had skills we hadn’t even considered. “Also done.”
“It’s real,”Theo quietly said, wonder and hope in his voice.“The titanium card is real.”
“Big day for you,” Roger said, squeezing Theo’s arm. Then he held out a hand to me. “Welcome aboard, Ombud Sullivan.”
We shook on it, and the deal was done.
Theo leaned toward me. “I want in on that card.”
I snorted. “Dude, you do your own negotiating. My card, my coffee.”
“Not a good way to begin a partnership,” he said with amusement, then looked at Connor. “We good?”
“We were always good,” Connor said, squeezing Theo’s shoulder. “Doesn’t mean I won’t be an ass if she’s in trouble.”
“Same goes.”
They shared one of those manly backslapping hugs that looked more painful than friendly, but whatever. My boys were friends again.
***
My parents were last; they’d waited for me away from the crowd. I looked at my father, who curved his fingers into a little heart.
Sweet and mortifying, both at the same time.
“Come here,” he said, and opened his arms.
I obeyed, and worked very hard not to cry. Even as an adult, that look of love—all-encompassing and all-forgiving—made me weepy.
“You made your own path,” he said. “It’s not the path we would have chosen, but we’re very proud of you.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“As for your handling of the AAM...” There was deep satisfaction in his chuckle. “You are very much my daughter.”
My mother snorted. “As if there was any doubt.”
He shifted, looked at Connor. “I won’t tell you to take care of her, because I know she can take care of herself. But you’ll help her. You’ll care for each other.”
“We will,” Connor said.
EPILOGUE
