On an ordinary winter day, three years after she returned to the country, Mia Grant went to Hanford on a business trip.
Her flight landed safely. Once she was in the company car, Mia Grant sent her location to Hayes Hughes, who was far away in Jynsia, letting him know she was on her way to the hotel.
It was already nearly midnight, but Hayes Hughes was still up, waiting at home for her message.
He called her the moment he received it, reminding her of a few things.
She didn't know if it was a sign of him getting older, but Mia Grant had noticed Hayes Hughes getting increasingly "fussy" over the last two years.
Even when she just went out shopping, he would go on and on with a long list of reminders.
Even though she was nearly thirty, it was as if she'd never grown up in his eyes.
At first, she'd protested.
Hayes Hughes would just give her an indulgent, helpless smile every time.
Eventually, Mia Grant just let him be. She got so used to it that it didn't bother her anymore.
