Ajie talked with the people from the Navajo Children and Family Services about the girl and the twins. And they’re doing fine. And the girl is expected to deliver in the first two weeks of December. And the only problem that might rear its ugly head would be if the judge didn’t like something. But Ajie had talked to Chief Clah, and he said that he didn’t see a problem.

Along with teaching my classes, I’d been working on the project for the Los Alamos National Laboratory. I’d been given a printed circuit board, and I had to reverse engineer it, i.e., come up with a schematic and what it did. It took some serious digging, but I finally found technical information on the two integrated circuits that the information on them was in Cyrillic or Russian. That opened the door.

Earlier, when Ajie had spoken with Chief Clah, he had invited us to come to the next local Corvette Club’s meeting. We decided that it might be fun to go to the meeting. While we were there, we met two interesting people. The first was Mr. Miller, the new owner of the Downtown Chevrolet Dealership. We knew the old owner, who had retired.

The other person that we met was a Robert Clinesmith, and it turned out that he’s a councilman for the City of Albuquerque, and was the current president of the city council. What made him very interesting to me was that he was going to be running against the current mayor of Albuquerque. I wish I could vote for him, but we live just outside the city limits. But, I don’t think my one vote will help him win, which he will.

Sunday morning, I had a project to do before our company showed up around five. So right after breakfast, I headed to the auto parts store at the I-25 and Tramway. I picked up two oil filters, some oil, and some antifreeze. I was going to get the ‘53 Corvette and the ‘57 Bel Air ready for winter. And I was done before lunch. The other two cars I’ll get to after the gathering.

After I was out of the shower, I set up the grill to cook steaks over a cherry wood fire. Ajie was working on the side dishes. She was going to make a green chili and corn casserole, and twice-baked potatoes. Ajie had also picked up some sherbet for dessert. I also dug out the coffee maker, coffee, and mugs, so that Dr. Joe could make coffee.

At about four-thirty, we heard a ding from the sensor that’s in the driveway, and Ajie said, “Would you see who’s here?”

As I said, Sure thing.” I started toward the front door.

Just before I got to the door, I heard ding-dong from the front gate. I waited until the doorbell rang, then I opened the door, and it was Charlie and Jackie. So, I said, “Yá’át’ééh. T'áá shoodí wóshde´e´’. - (It is good. Please come in.)”

I got hellos and hugs from both Charlie and Jackie. Then we walked into the house and to the kitchen, and after Ajie had greeted them, she put Jackie to work. Then we heard the ding from the driveway again. Charlie walked with me to the front door, and before we got there, we heard another ding.

I opened the front door just as Chief Tom and his wife, and Ajie’s Dean, Vickie, walked through the front courtyard gate. Dr. Joe and his wife, Mary, were with them. As they walked up to the door, they received the same greeting as Charlie and Jackie had, “Yá’át’ééh. T'áá shoodí wóshde´e´’.”

Charlie and I received a “Yá’át’ééh. - (It is good.)” from Chief Tom and Vickie. And a “Mino giizhigad.” from Dr. Joe and Mary.

I looked at Dr. Joe and asked, “And what does that mean?”

“It’s a good day.”, Dr. Joe replied.

“It is a good day.”

Then I saw Dr. Joe look at the doorbell rope, and I said, “Go on, Dr. Joe, pull it.”

He grinned, reached for the pull rope, and pulled it. We all heard the doorbell ring.

Then Dr. Joe said, “I just love that.”

The six of us walked into the house and to the kitchen. And there were greetings all around. Then I took the steaks out of the refrigerator and asked, “How does everyone like their steaks?”

“Steaks!?” Dr. Joe said.

“Sure.”, I said. “Nothing but the best for our best friends.”

Everyone told me how they liked their steaks, and I walked out into the back courtyard, followed by Chief Tom, Dr. Joe, and Charlie. I set the steaks on the coffee table closest to the grill, walked over to the grill, and lit the kindling. It didn’t take long for the cherry wood to provide a nice fire for cooking the steaks.

A short time later, we were sitting down to a wonderful meal. And the talk turned to the gathering in Taos on Thursday. We decided that Chief Tom, Vickie, Dr. Joe, and Mary would meet us at the resort and then follow us to the gathering.

As we were cleaning up the dishes, Jackie was helping us, and she quietly said to Ajie, “Ajie, Charlie and I are worried about working for Kai’s uncle next summer.”

“Why, honey.”, Ajie asked.

“I’ll have a few weeks of clinicals that I’ll need to do.”

“Oh, that’s right. And I know that Uncle Paul wants you two back.”

“I know he does, and we want to work for him next summer. It helps us a lot.”

“How many weeks are your clinicals?”, Ajie asked.

“Just four this summer and six next summer.”, Jackie replied.

“Let me talk to Vickie when I can get her alone.”

“You’d do that?”

“Honey, are we friends?”

“Yeah.”

Ajie just smiled. Then said, “And I also want to talk to you and Charlie.”

“Ah, why?”, Jackie asked.

“Just to pass an idea past you.”

“Okay.”

It was a little too cold to sit out in the courtyard, so we sat in the big room, and I lit a fire that I’d laid earlier. And we sat there and talked about many things. A little after eight, Chief Tom, Vickie, Dr. Joe, and Mary left. Of course, we walked them to the door and the gate in the front courtyard. And of course, as Dr. Joe walked passed the doorbell pull, he just had to pull it.

Then Charlie said, “Jackie and I had better be going too.”

“Let’s sit for a minute first.”, Ajie said.

We walked back into the big room, I tossed another log on the fire, and we sat and enjoyed the fire. Then Ajie said, “Charlie, Jackie told us that there might be a problem with you working at the resort next summer.”

“It looks that way.”, Charlie said. “Jackie has her clinicals. And they’re important.”

“They are. But before you say anything to Kai’s uncle, let me talk to Vickie. I don’t think there’s much that she can do. But I also have another plan in mind.”

I looked at Ajie, and I think I knew what she was thinking.

“What are you thinking, Ajie?”, Jackie asked.

“Well, I don’t know if Charlie could stand to be without you for four nights a week for a month.”, Ajie said. “But, … ”

“Ajie!”, Jackie said. “We couldn’t do that.”

“Do what?”, Charlie asked.

“Charlie, do you need your car during the week at the resort?”, Ajie asked.

“Not really.”

“What if, Jackie drove down to the hospital on Monday mornings. And then she would stay with us on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. And on Friday, she'd drive back up to the resort and be there all weekend.”

“We can’t do that!”, Jackie said.

“Why not?”, I asked.

“We’d be imposing on you. Besides, I don’t know if I can be away from Charlie that long.”

“No, you wouldn’t be imposing.”, Ajie said. “We’d be helping you. Besides, having a little more help with the twins would be good. Didn’t you tell me that you were thinking about pediatrics? This would be good hands-on training.

“You don’t have to make a decision right away. I’ll talk with Vickie, but as I told Jackie earlier, I don’t think that there’s much she can do.”

Jackie looked at Charlie. Then Charlie looked at Ajie and me, shook his head, and said, “You guys are just too much.”

“We see a way to help people, and we try to do it.”, Ajie said. “Just think about it.”

“We’ll do that. But I just don’t know. But Jackie does need these clinicals to become a nurse. And we need what your Uncle John pays us to help with things.”

“Think about it. It’s just one option.”

“Okay.”, Charlie said. “We really appreciate your offer, and we’ll think it over.”

A short time later, after some great hugs, Charlie and Jackie left. And as we stood at the front gate and watched them drive out, Ajie said, “You’re not mad at me for offering what I did to Jackie without talking to you first?”

“Not at all, love.”, I replied. “I had all most the same idea, but you beat me to it.”

Monday, after teaching classes, I worked on the project for a while. Then I sat back and thought for a little while.

I got up, put everything away, picked up my purse, locked up the office, and walked down the hall to Dr. Joe’s temporary office. The light was on, so I knew he was there. I knocked and heard, “Come in.”

Dr. Joe looked at me as I walked in and sat in a chair. Neither of us said anything for a few seconds, then Dr. Joe said, “Kai, you look unhappy.”

“I am.”, I said.

“Care to tell?”

“Want to take a walk?”

“Sure.”

Dr. Joe and I got up and walked out of his office and out of the building. We walked across campus to the duck pond and sat on a bench. Again nothing was said for a few seconds. Then Dr. Joe said, “What’s going on.”

“I’m not supposed to talk with anyone about this project, but something is bothering me.”

“It must be really bothering you?”

“It is. I thought that Los Alamos wasn’t supposed to give us anything military?”

“They’re not. Is this project military?”

“It’s beginning to look that way.”, I said. “And I’m not sure what to do about it.”

“So, you’re not one-hundred percent sure?”, Dr. Joe said.

“No, but you know they say that if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck. And this is beginning to look and quack like a duck.”

“Well, you could go duck hunting.”

“How so?”

“Talk to Dr. Fontheim and just confront him.”

I thought for a minute, then said, “I was thinking of doing that, but I just needed to hear it from someone else.”

We got up and headed back to our offices. As we stopped in front of Dr. Joe’s office, I said, “Thanks again, Dr. Joe.”

“Kai.”, Dr. Joe said. “As you always say, what are friends for.”

I smiled and said, “You’re right.”

“There’s that smile. Now go call Dr. Fontheim.”

“Yes, sir, Dr. Oshie.”, I said as I saluted him.

“Just go.”

I walked to my office, went in, sat at the desk, found Dr. Fontheim’s phone number, and called it. Once I got through the telephone operator at Los Alamos, and his secretary, Dr. Fontheim, answered with a, “Hello, Miss Nez. What can I do for you?”

“We need to talk.”, I replied.

“Is there a problem?”

“Maybe.”

“Could we meet tomorrow morning?”, Dr. Fontheim asked.

“No, sir. I have classes to teach. How about here in my office at one. And, you might want to bring Dr. Höllmann with you.”

“Oh! I see. We’ll see you are one, Miss Nez.”

I said, “Goodbye, Dr. Fontheim.” And I hung up the phone.

I sat back in my chair and thought for a minute, then I got up and packed up everything, including all of my notes and drawings on the project, in the metal briefcase. And I then locked that in the file cabinet, picked up my purse and briefcase, set the alarm, locked up the office, and walked down to Dr. Joe’s temporary office. I knocked on the door and heard, “Come.”

I walked into the office and said, “Tomorrow at one.”

“Tomorrow at one. What?”, Dr. Joe asked.

“The people from Los Alamos will be here.”

“I’m glad you made that call. Who’s coming?”

“Dr. Fontheim and I ask that Dr. Höllmann also be here. And I may need you to join us.”

“For what?”

“For a witness, if I give the project back to them.”, I replied.

“You’d do that?”, Dr. Joe asked.

“It’ll depend on what I hear tomorrow.”

“I’ll be here. Call me if you need me.”

“I will. See you tomorrow, Dr. Joe.”

“See you tomorrow, Kai.”

I drove home, and when I got there, Ajie was standing at the door between the house and the garage, and as I got out of the car, she said, “You’re home early.”

“Yep. And I need some comfort food.”, I replied.

“What happened?”

“It hasn’t yet. But it just might tomorrow depending what I hear from Los Alamos.”

“Oh.”

“I need to type something up, then I’m going to change into something warmer, and then let’s go to the drive-in.”

As I walked through the house, I stopped in the office, turned on the typewriter, put a piece of paper in it, and typed up something. Ajie had been looking over my shoulder, and she said, “Really?”

“Yes, really.”, I replied.

I then put what I’d typed up into my briefcase.

Then I went to the master suite. I took off my wrap moccasin, slipped on a pair of wool socks, and put the wrap moccasin back on. Then I retrieved our blanket coats out of the closet and carried them out to the kitchen. Ajie saw me and said, “I’m just about ready. I was making a fresh batch of sangria and wanted to finish.”

“For that, I can wait.”

“It’ll be worth it.”

“It always is. Did someone call you?”

“Uh huh.”, Ajie replied with a cute smile.

“Dr. Joe?”, I asked.

“Who else.”

I just shook my head.

When Ajie finished with the sangria, she put it in the refrigerator. Then we put on our blanket coats and headed for the drive-in. Just the thought of a double cheeseburger with pickles, fries, and a ginger ale milkshake made me feel better.

As we sat at the drive-in, we listened to the university’s radio station. It was interesting that they were playing some antiwar protest songs. Such as – Eve of Destruction, Lyndon Told the Nation, Waste Deep in the Big Muddy. And a long version of one by Arlo Guthrie called Alice’s Restaurant Massacree.

“I’m surprised that the administration lets them play music like that.”, Ajie said.

“The station is student-run.”, I said. “And maybe the advisor is antiwar.”

When we were back home, I laid a fire in the big room’s fireplace and lit it. And Ajie got us each a glass of sangria. I had moved the couch so that it was facing the fireplace. We cuddled together on the couch, sipped on our sangrias, and watched the fire.

After our second glass of sangria, things became a little amorous and turned into much more.

As I was leaving to go to the university on Tuesday morning, I stopped at the safe and took something out. Then after my classes, I picked up Dr. Joe at his temporary office, and we went to lunch in the faculty dining room. When we finished, we walked back to our offices, and as we walked up to his office, I said, “I’ll call you if I need you.”

“I’ll be here.”, Dr. Joe said.

I smiled and said, “Thanks.”

Then I walked to my office. And waited.

At a couple of minutes to one, the phone rang. I answered it, “Hello, Dr. Oshie and Miss Nez’s office.”

And I heard Sara say, “Miss Nez, this is Sara. Your visitors are here.”

“Thank you, Sara. I’ll be right down.”

I hung up the phone, locked up the office, and went down the college’s office. As I walked in, the Dean was standing next to Sara’s desk. Sara, look at me and said, “Hello, Miss Nez.”

“Good afternoon, Sara. Dean Rutherford.”, I replied.

“Good afternoon, Miss Nez.”, Dean Rutherford.

As Sara said, “Your visitors are right over there, Miss Nez.” I thought, ‘I wonder if the Dean knows anything about this?’ and I answered my own question with, ‘I’ll bet dollars to donuts that he does.’

I looked to where Sara was looking and saw Dr. Fontheim, our liaison with Los Alamos, and Dr. Höllmann, the head of research for Los Alamos. As I walked over to where they were sitting, I said, “Thank you, Sara.”

I walked up to Dr. Fontheim and Dr. Höllmann, and said, “I’m glad you could make it.”

“You said we needed to talk.”, Dr. Fontheim said.

“Yes, I did. And we do. Shall we go to my office.”

The three of us walked to the elevator, took it to the third floor, and then walked to my office. I unlocked the door, cleared the alarm, turned on the lights, and said, “Gentlemen, if you’d like to take a seat.”

I’d place three chairs in front of the desk, one for Dr. Fontheim, one for Dr. Höllmann, and one, if need be, for Dr. Joe. Dr. Fontheim and Dr. Höllmann sat. I walked behind the desk and sat.

Dr. Fontheim looked at me and said, “Miss Nez, is there a problem?”

“Maybe, Dr. Fontheim.”, I replied. “It will be how you answer a couple of questions for me.”

“Questions, Miss Nez?”

“Yes, doesn’t Los Alamos and the University of New Mexico have an agreement that the University doesn’t do any type of military research for you?”

The two doctors looked at each other, then back at me, and Dr. Höllmann replied, “Yes, Miss Nez, the agreement does say that.”

“Then answer me this. Why am I working on this current project?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“Because, from what I’ve found, this is a military project.”

“Miss Nez.”, Dr. Fontheim. “We just found out yesterday morning that it was. Our people finally figured out what the input was and what the output would reveal.”

“So, you had no idea until yesterday.”

“No, Miss Nez, we didn’t.”, Dr. Höllmann said.

“I didn’t either. Then I figured out what this thing is and does.”

I picked up the phone, dialed Dr. Joe’s extension, and when he answered, I said, “Dr. Oshie, would you care to join us.”

“I’ll be right there, Kai.”, Dr. Joe said.

I hung up the phone, got up, walked to the door, unlocked it, and opened it just as Dr. Oshie walked up. Dr. Joe walked in, and I said, “Have a seat, Dr. Oshie.”

As Dr. Joe was sitting down, I walked over to the file cabinet, unlocked it, opened a drawer, and took the metal briefcase out of it. Then as I set the briefcase on the desk, I unlocked and opened it and said, “I’ve asked Dr. Oshie to witness me returning the project to you.”

“Miss Nez.” Dr. Höllmann said. “Are you telling us that you’ve finished the project?”

“No, sir.”, I said. “I haven’t completed everything that you asked me to do. But, since this is a military project, I’m finished with it.

“You will find in the briefcase, the original circuit, all the paperwork that you gave me, copies of a couple of technical papers on two of the integrated circuits, and all of my notes and drawings.”

Then as I reached into my briefcase and set a piece of paper on the desk, I said, “Now, if you’d both sign this receipt stating that you’d received all of this. Dr. Oshie will also sign it as a witness.”

The two doctors from Los Alamos looked over what was in the briefcase then they both signed the receipt. Then Dr. Joe and I signed it.

Then Dr. Höllmann looked at me and asked, “Does this mean that we’re through, Miss Nez.”

“What do you mean by through, Dr. Höllmann?”, I asked.

“That you will no longer do any research for us?”

“If you would have asked me that yesterday, I would have said that I was finished doing research for you.

“But, today, since I feel that you were sincere when you told me that you didn’t know that it was a military project until yesterday. I would be happy to continue doing research for you. Non-military research.”

I saw Dr. Fontheim relax a little and small smile on Dr. Joe’s face. And Dr. Höllmann said, “I’m happy to hear that, Miss Nez.”

“I am too.”, Dr. Fontheim said.

“Well, gentlemen.”, I said. “I think we’re finished here. And, if you’d like a copy of the receipt, we can go to the Dean’s office and make one for you.”

“That would be good, Miss Nez.”, Dr. Fontheim said.

As the four of us walked out of the office, I set the alarm and locked the door. Then we went down to the college’s office, and I had Sara make a copy of the receipt. As I handed the copy to Dr. Fontheim, we shook hands. Then I shook hands with Dr. Höllmann.

As Dr. Fontheim and Dr. Höllmann were walking out of the office, Dr. Joe and I heard, “Dr. Oshie. Miss Nez, would you come and see me.”

It was the Dean requesting our presence in his office. Dr. Joe and I walked over to the open door to the Dean’s office, and as we walked in, the Dean said, “Please close the door and have a seat.”

Dr. Joe closed the door, and he and I sat in front of the Dean’s desk. The Dean looked at me and asked, “Miss Nez, would you care to tell me what all of that was about?”

“I’ll tell you as much as I can, Dean.”, I said. “As I was working on the project, it became evident that it was a military item, a Russian military item, that I was working on. And I know that the University’s agreement to do research for Los Alamos expressly forbids doing research on any military projects.

“So I pulled the plug on it. I turned everything over to Los Alamos, including my notes and drawings. So, they wouldn’t have to start over from scratch.”

The Dean looked at Dr. Joe and asked, “How did she handle it?”

“Very professionally.”, Dr. Joe said. “But, as she’s known to do, it was right to the point.”

“Miss Nez.”, the Dean said. “You should have come to me about this.”

“Sir.”, I said. “I was told not to talk to anyone, but our people from Los Alamos about this project. And I broke that rule when I talked to Dr. Oshie. I needed his guidance.”

“Well, Miss Nez, I think you handled this properly.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“So, how did you leave it with them?”

“Sir?”, I asked.

“Are you still willing to do research for them?”, the Dean asked.

“Yes, sir. I believe that they were truthful when they gave me the project. And at that point, they didn’t know it was military.”

“Did you tell them that?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.”

Dr. Joe and I left the Dean’s office, and as we headed to the office, I said, “Well, you can move back into my office.”

“Your office!”, Dr. Joe said.

“Yeah. My office.”

“Kai!”

I grinned and said, “I know. Our office. I’ve missed you.”

“So, where’s my key?”

“Key. What key?”

“Kai!”

I opened my purse, took out an envelope, tore it open, and handed Dr. Joe one of the two keys that were in it. Then I said, “I'll help you move back after my classes tomorrow. No, I can’t. We’re leaving right after classes for the resort.”

“No problem.”, Dr. Joe said. “We can do it on Monday.”

“Okay. I’ll see you Thursday morning.”

I went to the office and made sure everything was as it should be, as I wouldn’t be back here until Monday after classes. Then I headed home with a stop in the Dean’s office. As I walked into the college’s office, he was standing there talking to Sara. They both looked at me, and the Dean said, “Back so soon, Miss Nez?”

“I have something for you, Dean.”, I said.

“What’s that.”

As I handed him the key, I said, “The key to the office.”

“Thank you, Miss Nez.”

As I walked out of the office, I said, “Have a good weekend.”

Everyone wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. I guess one of these days, I’m going to have to explain why I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.

When I was home, I helped Ajie pack everything that we’d need for the long weekend and going to the gathering. As we packed, I filled Ajie in on what had happened with the project. And she said, “You do seem happier then you did last night.”

“I am.”, I replied.

“I’m glad.”

We then threw together dinner and spent the evening enjoying the fire in the fireplace. And tonight we even lit a small fire in the Kiva fireplace in the master suite.

Wednesday, the university closed at noon for the long holiday weekend. And when we come back, there’s only one more week of classes before finals week. And I’ve had only one of the students from my Independent Study in Electrical Engineering class turn in a paper. I’d read it and graded it, and he did a good job.

Right after my last class, I headed for home. When I got there, Charlie and Jackie’s car was already parked out front. I pulled into the garage and went into the house. Ajie and Jackie were just finishing up putting a light lunch together for us.

After we’d finished lunch, Charlie and I walked through the house making sure that everything was locked up and the fires were cold. When we’d finished, we loaded all the luggage into my car and headed for the resort.

On the way up, Ajie told us that she’d talked with Vickie, the Dean of the nursing school, about Jackie’s clinicals. And there wasn’t much that she could do as that’s when the hospital and the school of nursing had everything set up for. Then Ajie said that she’d told Vickie about what we’d come up with to help them. And that Vickie had said that it sounded like it was an excellent option to her.

The two in the backseat were quiet for a few minutes, then Charlie said, “Honey, we’ve talked about this. Should we do it?”

Jackie then said, “I hate to impose on Kai and Ajie, but it might be the only way to do what we need to do.”

“Jackie.”, Ajie said. “Please remember that you are not imposing on us. We both enjoy your company. And we asked you.”

“We know, Ajie. And I guess we are going to accept your offer.”

“I’m glad. We’ll miss seeing Charlie, but we’ll see him on weekends.”

“Kai and Ajie, you are coming up for the barbecues this summer. Aren’t you?”, Charlie said.

“Hopefully, if the twins are good travelers by then.”, Ajie replied.

A little while later, we were pulling up to my aunt and uncle’s house. We walked up to the door, and it was locked. I unlocked the door, and we went in, I placed the camera case on the kitchen table, and saw a note. I read the note, and my aunt and uncle had gone to Santa Fe and would be back for dinner. And I said, “They’re in Santa Fe and will be back for dinner. Think we should put dinner together for them?”

“Of course.”, I heard from Ajie. And Jackie agreed with her.

Then Ajie said, “What if they were going to take us to the restaurant?”

“We can just wait until they get here and then make it for them.”, I replied.

“Might be best.”

We brought all of our luggage into the house and to our rooms. Then I made a fire in the fireplace, and we all sat and enjoyed the fire.

A little over an hour later, my aunt and uncle walked into the house, and we greeted them. Of course, Uncle Paul said, “So, is dinner ready?”

“Uncle Paul.”, I said. “I thought that you were taking all of us to the restaurant for dinner.”

“In your dreams. Maybe tomorrow.”

“We’ll be at the gathering tomorrow.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“Okay, you two.”, Aunt Ruth said. “We’re having a taco casserole and cornbread for dinner.”

“We saw the frozen ice cream balls in the freezer.”, I said.

“Yes, we’re having fried ice cream for dessert.”

“With honey?”

“Yes, with honey and a cherry on top.”

While Uncle Paul and Charlie talked, Ajie, Jackie, Aunt Ruth, and I made dinner.

After one of Aunt Ruth’s wonderful dinners, we were eating the fried ice cream, and Charlie said, “You know, Uncle Paul, we came real close to not being able to work for you next summer.”

“What!?”, Uncle Paul said.

“Yeah. Jackie has four weeks of clinicals to do right after the end of the spring quarter.”

“We can work something out.”

“All ready have.”

“What?”

“Ajie came up with it. She’ll be here with me Friday evening thru Sunday night. On Monday morning, she’ll drive to the hospital, then the rest of the week, she’ll stay with Kai and Ajie.”

“That’ll be a very early morning drive on Monday.”, Uncle Paul said. “She’d probably have to leave here around five-thirty to be there by eight.

“You’re right.”, Ajie said. “That would be an early up. It might be best if you came down on Sunday evening.”

“No. Not another night away from Charlie!”, Jackie said.

“You’d be here Friday and Saturday night.”

Jackie and Charlie looked at each other. Then Jackie said, “I … I … I just don’t know.”

“Honey.”, Ajie said. “Think about it. Talk with Charlie. You have plenty of time to decide what you want to do. And I know that you want to be a nurse, and sometimes you have to sacrifice a few things.”

Jackie looked at Ajie and said, “You’re right. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to get what you want. But Charlie and I need to talk more.”

“Honey, you have plenty of time.”

“Charlie and Jackie.”, Uncle Paul said. “If push comes to shove, and you both decide to stay in Albuquerque for the four weeks that Jackie is doing her clinicals, you will be welcome here when they’re over.”

Jackie looked at Uncle Paul and said, “Really?”

“Yes, really. I’ll just make Charlie work twelve hour days to make up for missed time.”

“You wouldn’t really make him do that. Would you?”

“Of course not.”

Jackie got up, ran over to Uncle Paul, gave him a big hug, and said, “You are so wonderful.”

I think that flustered Uncle Paul a bit.

After we helped Aunt Ruth clean up the kitchen, I said, “Grab your swimsuits and robes, and let’s go soak.”

“It’s too cold.”, Jackie said.

“No, it's not. It’s just a quick run from the pools to the showers.”

“I’ll go.”, Charlie said.

“Me too.”, Ajie said.

“Okay. I’ll go.”, Jackie finally said.

We grabbed our suits and robes and headed to the thermal pools. We changed our clothes and met at the Soda Pool, and we were the only ones there. We settled into the pool and enjoyed the feeling of the warm waters.

We just quietly soaked for a little while, then Charlie said, “Kai, I can’t believe your uncle.”

“I can’t either.”, I said. “But I do know that he likes both of you. So, you have a lot of options open to you.”

“I’d feel better if Jackie didn’t have to drive those two hours that early in the morning.”

“Now that I think about it, I’d also feel better not doing it.”, Jackie said.

“Well, you’re also welcome to spend those four Sunday nights with us.”, Ajie said.

“Thank you, Ajie.”, Jackie said. “Now, let’s stop talking about this and do what we came here for. Have fun.” And she splashed Charlie.

Charlie splashed her back, which got both Ajie and me. And that started a water fight between the four of us that lasted a minute or two. And we were all laughing by the time we were finished.

Yes, the pools are supposed to be quiet areas, but we were the only ones there.

It wasn’t much later that we were out of the pool, running through the cold air to the showers, and then taking a hot shower. Once we were dry, we headed back to my aunt and uncle’s house. Then we sat in front of the fireplace with my aunt and uncle and talked for a while.