Page 1 of Collin: Episodes 10-12
Episode 10
The Mexican restaurant Mr. Reevesworth’s virtual assistant had suggested was casual and not too loud, at least not up on the rooftop patio. There was a view of the ocean under moonlight in the distance. Collin held a chair out for his mother, and she sat first. Mr. Reevesworth offered Alice a hand, but she laughed and waved him off with a thank you.
“I think I’ve been here once.” Dr. Ryker cast a glance over the space. “Last year, maybe, for some university function.”
“I never realized growing up how important the university was to the town’s economy.” Collin flipped over his menu. “Are you still doing any local research, Mom?”
Dr. Ryker shook her head, eyes on the menu. “Funding dried up. Honestly, it’s an uphill slog for any kind of money these days. Enrollment is up, but everything else is down. Except, of course, sports. They’re fully funded.”
Collin and Alice exchanged looks. This again.
“Where are you getting funding these days?” Alice tried. “My professor just got a grant from a business out of Dublin.”
Dr. Ryker made a face. “Let’s order, then talk.”
Collin cast a look toward Mr. Reevesworth. The man had his polite face on, smooth, not disinterested, not particularly animated. He repressed a sigh and ran his eye over the dinner options. Enchiladas sounded good.
He put his menu to the side and crossed his arms in front of him, leaning toward Alice. “Tacos or burrito?”
She made a face. “Tacos! Of course. I’m just deciding between beef and chicken.”
“Get the beef. You always complain the chicken is boring.”
“Fine, you’re right. Why can no one cook chicken right?”
“Probably because they actually like the taste of chicken.”
Alice’s nose scrunched up. “I like chicken, sometimes.”
Collin chuckled. “You like chicken smothered in curry or soaked in sweet and sour sauce.”
Dr. Ryker sighed loudly and put down her menu. “Are you two finished?”
Collin and Alice immediately went quiet. Collin’s stomach tied itself in a knot.
“Well, are you?”
Alice and Collin nodded. Collin glanced toward Mr. Reevesworth.
Mr. Reevesworth inclined his head. Collin raised his hand and summoned a waiter.
With ordering out of the way, an unsettled quiet wrapped itself around the table again. Alice made a stab at breaking it. She turned to Mr. Reevesworth. “So, dogs or cats?”
“Hmm.” Mr. Reevesworth shot Collin a smile. “That’s a difficult decision. We have a cat named Artemis, but I enjoy both. My sister Linda has a German Shepherd. Do you have a preference?”
Alice giggled. “Maine Coon cats. A cat the size of a dog.”
“A beautiful breed.” Mr. Reevesworth inclined his head. “Collin tells me you’re studying human resources and communications?”
Alice huffed. “Once the prerequisites are out of the way. This semester, I’m stuck in European History, Advanced Algebra, Econ 103, and Intercultural Communications, which is the only thing keeping me sane.”
“So, you enjoy that class?”
Alice sat up straighter, eyes bright. “I love it! The professor is this super young guy from Mexico who speaks like five languages and has lived all over. So, he’s always illustrating the textbook with stories. Last week we did a section on non-verbal communication. I want an entire class on just that.”
“There are people who spend their entire careers on that.”
Dr. Ryker gestured at her daughter with the fork she was unwrapping from the napkin. “You are not changing your major again.”
