As they walked hand in hand through the wooded gardens of Danada Forest preserve, Dean finally felt Sophie fully relax. Far from Sonny's farm. Dressed in her own clothes again. Away from the prying eyes of the public.
"So," Dean said, "Basics. I'm thirty-one, got a brother who lives in downtown Chicago with his wife. Parents are dead. Mom in a house fire a long time ago. Dad in a car crash a few years back. I work in auto parts - I source and sell specialty items for classic and exotic cars. I've even got a couple of guys who will model and 3D print stuff that we just can't find. And I'll also act as a middle man for people trying to get a car restored. Been at it since I was nineteen. I'm mostly debt free - just a mortgage - got enough money to take a vacation every once in a while, am very allergic to cats and have a pathological aversion to vegetarianism."
Sophie laughed.
"I'm thirty," she said, "Parents still alive up in Manistee. Sister and her husband in Grand Rapids. Younger sister is still single. She's gonna be an oncologist. My degree is in atmospheric sciences and computer modeling. I worked for the National Parks as a meteorologist."
"You want to get back into it?" Dean asked, "If this works out?"
"Absolutely," Sophie agreed, "Not for the government maybe. I spent a LOT of time at Sonny's reading job postings for meteorological analysts at the big news stations. I think that's what I'd like to do next."
"Chicago's got plenty of news channels," Dean said, "You learn cool stuff at the Parks Department?"
"Yeah," Sophie enthused, "Not just about the weather either. Plants. Rocks. Bison. The whole nine yards. I mostly worked out of DC but I got to travel out to parks sometimes. It was great."
"Well then show me," he gestured at the trees around them.
"Really?" Sophie looked incredulous.
"Really," he said, "I want to learn. And besides, I'll bore you about where to find vintage European carburetors tomorrow and we'll be even. Deal?"
"Deal," Sophie agreed, "Let's see what I can manage without a field guide…"