Page 57 of Derivation

“Sarai, that’s just for the four of you. It’s your business, not mine.”

“You’re going to be working with us on the hardware.”

“Not really. I’m doing it in my free time, which I won’t have this weekend if I go with you to check out some office.”

“Oh, come on,” Arlowe added, appearing behind Sarai. “We’re all going. Just hop in Violet’s car with me and help me annoy her for fun. We’ll be back after lunch. You can nerd out on the hardware then if you want. Plus, I’ll be available to go over the software specs with you, too, which are pretty important for what you’re doing.”

Sarai wasn’t a fan of being interrupted by Arlowe, of all people, trying to convince Gabi to go with them, but at least she was on message.

“You’ll probably be coming in at least a few times since you’re a contractor,” Sarai suggested.

“Not a real one, just on paper.”

“You can have your own desk for when you do,” Sarai offered.

“She can?” Arlowe asked. “Do we even know how many desks there are?”

“No, but we will learn that in about twenty minutes,” Violet stated, and Sarai turned to see her standing at the end of the hallway, with her arms crossed over her chest. “Let’s go. In the car.”

“Mom is on one today,” Arlowe joked and headed back down the hallway.

“Gabi, come on!” Violet yelled.

“Me?” Gabi asked, looking surprised.

“Yes, let’s go. Lunch is on the company,” Violet replied.

“I haven’t even had breakfast yet,” Gabi said, looking down at her crackers before she rolled up the plastic.

“Violet yells at you to go, and suddenly, you’re on the move? I invite you, and you can’t make the time?” Sarai asked.

“She has a scary yell.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

“Sarai! Now! Even Enya is in the car already.”

“Enya doesn’t even know where you’re taking her. She just got in because you told her to,” Sarai argued as she walked past Violet.

“Yes, she’s easy like that. It’s why she’s my favorite.”

“When can I be your favorite again?” Arlowe asked as she finished putting on her shoes and stood up.

“Again?” Violet joked.

Sarai turned to hear Gabi laughing, and it made her smile because she hadn’t heard that sound all week.

◆◆◆

“Hello, everyone. It’s nice to finally meet you all,” the agent whom Violet had been working with said when they got out of Violet’s car in the small parking lot.

“Finally?” Arlowe muttered through her gritted teeth. “How long have you been looking for an office exactly, Violet?”

“Oh, shut up,” Violet said and put on her forced smile before adding, “Hello, Nancy. It’s nice to see you again.”

Sarai was still too busy thinking about the fact that Violet’s car could fit four people comfortably, but five was a bit of a stretch, which meant that she’d had Enya on one side of her and Gabi right up against her other side in the back seat. She’d tried to lean a little closer to Enya, but there hadn’t been enough space for their legs to sit there without touching, so she’d stared straight ahead out the windshield and had tried to focus on Violet and Arlowe’s argument.

“Is this everyone?” Nancy asked.