Chapter 14

When Carl approached the chair, she gestured for him to sit down.

"Appreciate it."

The shaky chair moaned with his weight, and Ellen let out an inward sigh. She told herself, "I really need to have it repaired."

He smiled at her and said, "By the way, that was a very great supper."

"We appreciate it; our cuisine is something of which we are justifiably proud."

He studied the couple's photographs that were on the wall next to her workstation. "Are they your maternal grandparents?" What happened to the old Carls?

She confirmed this with a nod.

I can see the connection, he said.

"All well then. She questioned, "Carl, what's the matter that you want to discuss?"

"Carl," he greeted me.

She repeated his name, "Carl," in her mind.

"Hi, I'm Carl. When it's just the two of us, Ellen, you may relax your formality a little.