Chapter 62: The Sin Of The Parent, Part 17, Kirstie and Ben

CHARLOTTE

I'm scratching my head, writing a report for my next student assessment....

Analysis of corrosion fatigue fractures in a cyclic degradation environment....

The sample I'm supposed to analyse is the breechblock from the testbed in a proofing yard. It's not easy to examine because the damn thing weighs nearly twenty pounds and every time I try to move it, I end up nearly pulverising one finger or another....

.... when my office phone buzzes.

"Hello, is this Mrs Summerford? It's Kirstie down in Reception. Your brother-in-law's here for you."

"Thanks. I'll be there in a couple of minutes."

I can't say I'm sorry to leave the mysteries of corrosion fatigue behind. It's making my eyes water.

In the lobby, Ben's waiting for me, his ass parked on the reception desk next to the new girl I'd noticed over the last few days.

"Hi, Champ," he says, giving me one of those smiles of his that, when he delivers them, lights up the room and makes him look a lot more like his brother.