When Eleanor got home, Joy immediately sidled up, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “So? How far did things go?"


    Eleanor shook her head with a smile. "He said next time, he''ll invite you to dinner too."


    Joy shrugged. "Oh, leave me out of it! You''re the one who saved his grandmother.


    I just made a quick phone call-hardly worth calling it a favor."


    "If it hadn''t been for your call, the ambnce wouldn''t have arrived in time," Eleanor said.


    Joy nudged her yfully. "Just wait-once you marry him, I''ll have a friend who''s both loaded and a politician''s wife."


    Eleanor rolled her eyes and pretended to smack her. "So that''s your n, huh?”


    Joy ducked away,ughing. "Of course! Why else do you think I''m working so hard? Now hurry up and get Mr. Ellington to fall for you."


    The two of them teased andughed for a while, the house filled with bright, easy cheer. Eleanor never mentioned running inton that evening; honestly, there wasn''t much to say.


    Just then, Eleanor''s phone buzzed. She picked it up and saw a new message from Mansfield Ellington: "Home yet?"


    She realized she''d forgotten to text him back.


    "I''m home, thanks for checking in."


    "Good. Get some rest-see you next time."


    She replied, "You too. Good night."


    Later, after Joy had left, Eleanor sat in the living room, ying with her daughter. She tried bringing up the uing parent-child field day at school.


    "Mommy, will Daddy be there?" Evelyn asked, her eyes wide with hope.


    Eleanor smiled gently and ruffled her hair. "Daddy has to travel abroad that day, sweetheart. But I''ll be there with you, okay?"


    Evelyn''s face fell, her eyes filling with tears. "But... but I already told Vivian and Linda that both my mommy and daddy woulde..."


    Eleanor gathered her close, hugging her tight and kissing her forehead. "I know, honey. But I''ll do all the games with you, I promise."


    "But I want Daddy toe too..." Evelyn''s voice was muffled against Eleanor''s shoulder.


    Eleanor''s heart twisted, but she knew she had to help her daughter learn to live without her father. Life was long, and she couldn''t let Evelyn keep hoping forn.


    Monday morning, after dropping Evelyn off at school, Eleanor turned and ran into Xavier, who was walking Vivian in.


    "Willn make it to the field day on Wednesday?" he asked.


    Eleanor shook her head. "He''s not avable."


    "If you need a hand, just let me know," Xavier said with a warm smile. He''d be there with Vivian anyway.


    Eleanor''s eyes flickered. "Thanks, Mr. Vaughn. I might take you up on that." "Anytime," Xavier replied.


    "I''ll head to theb, then," Eleanor said, waving as she got into her car.


    In theb, Eleanor ran into Gwenda, who was carrying a stack of files into her office. Gwenda poked her head in, curiosity written all over her face. "Eleanor, I heard Faye applied for the master''s-to-PhD program with Professor Langley. I thought you were a shoo-in for that spot!"


    Eleanor blinked in surprise. "Really?"


    Gwenda nodded, cing the files on Eleanor''s desk. "Yesterday, Faye was in Professor Langley''s office for almost an hour, left looking over the moon, and then I heard she submitted her application."


    Gwenda watched Eleanor closely. "You''ve published more-and better-papers than anyone else in theb. Professor Langley is always praising you. I just assumed the spot was yours."


    Eleanor thought of hown had been helping the Yeatonstely. If Faye wanted the position, all Vanessa had to do was ask.


    Later, as Eleanor walked into the conference room, Faye nced up at her, a smug smile ying on her lips.


    Clearly, the spot was decided.


    Long-term, Eleanor''s research really needed that joint program, but for now, there was nothing she could do but wait.


    After the meeting, Simone called to her. "Eleanor, can I see you in my office for a minute?"