Kim had been on the computer for nearly an hour before she went to the site to see if HLM had answered her. She'd found that even with so few messages, she cared if HLM sent back a response. Kim knew she was a flirt, she'd always been a flirt, never had relationships more than a year or two long, and that's why things like dating websites, speed dating worked so well for her. The current dating scene was tailor made for her, and yet, she didn't want to wind up a 60 year old cool Aunt who was charming and alone.

She ignored the rest of the messages and a small smile came to her face when she saw something from HLM.

Ms. Turing,

No, it's okay. I don't mind depressing. I've had my share of death and sadness too. So, you told me about your father. I'll reciprocate. (To be fair of course... if I teach it to my son, I should employ it myself as well). It's been 9 years, 1 month and 23 days since my wife died. My son's birth mother. Two years, four years, ten years, fifteen, twenty, fifty years, the pain of losing someone doesn't ever fade. Not really. We get caught back up in our lives at some point, but, then we drive by a place, or hear a word or song, see a picture and our brains make the connection that it had made for years, except, it's an old connection, and so it hurts in our soul.

Yep, now I need some wine.

While you decide if you want to broach the job question I'll pose a question. Favorite quote? Mine is from HG Wells (the real one, the one whose books I read as a child. I always really liked The Time Machine, although I believe that I got something slightly different from it than other people). But, the quote. "We all have our time machines, don't we. Those that take us back are memories... And those that carry us forward, are dreams."

It's a bit saccharine, but, I've mellowed since I had kids.

~HLM

Kim sat back in her desk chair and studied the laptop's screen. Her eyes went to the icon by HLM's screen name. It was a check mark. She was online.

Before Kim could think better of it she clicked on the check mark and an instant messaging looking box popped up on her screen. She typed.

Chicagoan768111: Hi

H_LsMom: Oh, hello. I didn't know that the site had a messaging feature.

Chicagoan768111: Yep. So. You were married?

H_LsMom: Twice actually, but only one was legally binding, and to a man. I divorced him. Have you ever been married? Or in a long term committed relationship?

Chicagoan768111: Nope. I guess I

Chicagoan768111: I think that I never wanted to feel the hurt that I saw my father go through when my mother died. Oops, there I go again.

H_LsMom: Do you have another topic in mind?

Chicagoan768111: I'm curious. What did you get from reading The Time Machine?

H_LsMom: That even though I wasn't perfect, I had a place in the world. I was probably a bit too much of a fan of the Morlocks than I should have been. But, I was also ten, so...

Chicagoan768111: Quite the nerd?

H_LsMom: I believe the technical term is introvert.

Kim laughed.

oOOOOo

Kerry had seen the box pop up and who it was an had almost ignored it, but, Henry was in his room, it was his turn to have Roger over for a sleepover, and Leonora sat on the floor all her attention on the movie Wall-E.

She typed in.

H_LsMom: I believe the technical term is introvert.

Chicagoan768111: I bow to the nerd. I was never one of those.

H_LsMom: Really?

Chicagoan768111: No. I liked cars, motorcycles, sports, and dresses. No one in the neighborhood would have believed that my father could get any stain out of any fabric, from silk to velvet. And boy did he ever use that skill.

H_LsMom: Oh, so, greasy engines, dirty fields and dresses make for a mess?

Chicagoan768111: Heh, are they ever. How about you, sports, I bet you play Fantasy Baseball and kick butt huh?

H_LsMom: I don't actually. My education in sports started when I met my wife. Since then her little brother has helped me enough that I can sort of keep up with my son's interests. I'm really hoping that my daughter is a bit of a girly girl just so that I don't have to learn new sports.

Chicagoan768111: Oh, who are you kidding, I bet you'd do it in a heartbeat.

H_LsMom: …

Chicagoan768111: Sorry, I

H_LsMom: No, you're right. Lacrosse, Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Football, anything she wanted to play I would figure out. Cricket, Rugby. I'm really hoping not Football or Rugby.

Chicagoan768111: How 'bout Hockey? Fray the nerves a bit I'd think?

H_LsMom: My nerves are steel.

Chicagoan768111: Pretty too?

H_LsMom: Funny. My son plays Hockey, goalie, and so, while I'd rather she never play Hockey, I think I could take it.

Chicagoan768111: Is your son rooting for one of the remaining teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

H_LsMom: Trolling for where I live huh?

Chicagoan768111: Who, me?

H_LsMom: I could throw you off and say, go Boston Bruins.

Chicagoan768111: Not the Penguins?

H_LsMom: Nope. I think I like the Bruins' color scheme better.

Chicagoan768111: …

Chicagoan768111: Okay, I see what you did there. Funny. Should be a good couple of serieses. They're the last four teams who've won it all. Penguins, Blackhawks, Bruins, Kings. And two of them are original six teams as well.

H_LsMom: Which two?

Chicagoan768111: Are you mining me for information?

H_LsMom: I am, yes.

Chicagoan768111: Just wanted to make sure. The original six who played from 42 to 67 were the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers. And, the Penguins and the Kings were both part of the first expansion in 67. Is that enough info to dazzle your son with?

H_LsMom: I think it is. Although, my guess is that he already knows it.

Kerry's eyes went away from the messaging box as her email popped up with an email that was marked as super urgent. She glanced up at the movie and realized that it too was nearly over.

H_LsMom: I need to go. My daughter's almost done with her movie

Chicagoan768111: Okay. I'll message you with my favorite quote at some point. I'm not sure exactly what it is yet though.

H_LsMom: Ah, then we'll... 'talk' then I guess. Good-bye.

Chicagoan768111: Bye.

Kerry closed the messaging screen and logged off. Logging into her email she was surprised by who the email was from. Janet Coburn.

With one eye on Leonora she opened it. The subject was simply, 'Open Me'. Kerry wondered if Janet's account had been hacked or she had some sort of virus on her computer. Kerry hadn't heard from Janet since they'd emailed back and forth a bit after Janet had been hired as the new Chief of Staff at County.

Kerry's mouth dropped as she read the body of the email:

Kerry, I have a job here for you. Abby is holding down the fort downstairs for now, but does not want the job. Apparently you didn't teach her your lust for power. So. If you don't want it. Call me. You know the number it was yours after all. Otherwise, well, there's probably some sort of pathology conference down around there at some point, I'll send Judy after you. She says hi. No, that was a lie, she says that you should get your ass up here and back to civilization, and bring your cute as a button children so Auntie Upton can meet them.

Oh, yes. Hope you're well.

Janet

Kerry stared at the screen until Leonora came up to her and put her hand on Kerry's knee. "Mama... okay?"

Kerry blinked, the credits of Wall-E were rolling. "Ah, yes, yes I am. And it's your bedtime sweetie."

Leonora gave a yawn. "Story? One?"

"Sure, which one do you want me to read to you?"

"Alfa Charlie, Alfa Charlie."