March 19. Sunday Night.

Hi Journey.

Great trip. Percy drove in to LaGuardia on Friday to pick me up. The rest of the clan had ferried across to Connecticut from Port Jeff. We took the LIE most of the way to the Hilton Garden Inn over by Islip so I could drop my bags. The drive gave the two of us a chance to get caught up.

Percy looked a bit tired, like the moving battle was getting the better of him.

Or maybe it was a few too many corporate battles.

“I had a good time with Casey since she's been here,” Percy said. “She's grown up a bit since she graduated college.”

You two should get along--both smart, neither wise, I thought. Best not to let those types of thoughts grow, Journey. Before you know it I'll be giving a voice to them, and then there'll be no way to get the horse back in the barn.

“I was surprised when she caught the flight out here last night instead of jetting in this morning as she'd originally planned.”

Percy nodded. “She told us Mattie was really exhausted. Of course, she wouldn't let on to Casey that she was beat, but your little sister isn't blind. Case apparently was able to switch her ticket around without any extra fees.”

I smiled inwardly. “Casey's connected,” I said. A deep down part of me was proud of her. “So, they've all been at your parents up in Connecticut today, eh? How'd you get stuck with picking up the straggler?”

“SetCo has several clients in from Tokyo this week. They're staying at the Hilton in Midtown, so several of us had to drive into the city for a breakfast meeting at the Rhiga with them. Then we were stuck in meetings at the hotel all morning, and after that I choked down a nice sushi lunch. Why these guys come halfway around the world to sample what they could get in their own backyard is beyond me.”

“Better get used to that sushi, my friend,” I said.

Percy grimaced, but nodded in agreement. “Maybe it'll grow on me. Anyway, the short-straws had to tour them around Manhattan today. Me, I'm lucky. Since I'm moving I get to skate by with breakfast and lunch only. That's why I could scoot out here to gather you up.”

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