“I do, and I understand. I remember the first time I flew on a commercial airline. I was so excited. Mother, Dad, and I went to Disneyland in California. I recall it being a late-night flight. Of course, I was just a little thing, seven or eight. Mother let me sit in the window seat. I was so fascinated and felt sure we were in outer space. Of course, once we arrived, and I saw Disneyland, the flight and the mystery of it was temporarily forgotten, as there was nothing that compared to all the rides, the shows, Mickey Mouse; the whole atmosphere was like a giant birthday party. It was my first real adventure. We were there for a week or so, but despite all I’d seen in Disneyland, all I could think about was telling Maggie I’d been in outer space. Of course, she knew it wasn’t true, but it was fun pretending. My junior year of college, a group of us traveled to Europe—I’ve told you this before—and I was so excited, I didn’t care that the flight was ten hours long.” She removed her mug, blew on it, then took a sip. “I’m long-winded, I know, but my point is try thinking about the end result of your trip. Lauren, you’re doing something everyday people only dream about. And I don’t mean a trip to Seattle, though that is exciting. I mean why you’re going.”

Lauren motioned for her mother to sit.

“For the interview?” she asked.

“That, and the historic significance of what your book will mean. The first man, at least that I know of, who created a new and convenient way for people to buy anything from anywhere in the world. You’ve got this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide generation after generation a glimpse into what this powerful man accomplished, and he chose you to tell his story.” She took a sip of coffee. “I am so very, very proud of you.”

Tears filled Lauren’s eyes. “Mom, stop; you’re going to make me cry.” But she was smiling as she said this.

“Don’t you dare, you’ll get all puffy before the flight.”

“True,” Lauren said as she blew her nose into her paper napkin. “Though I still don’t know exactly what time I’m leaving. That makes me even more anxious. Brent is going to bring the kitties by this evening. I hope you don’t mind. I wasn’t thinking straight when I adopted them.” Lauren shook her head. “That didn’t come out right. Of course I want them; I just hadn’t planned on”—Dad booting me out of the store and having a private jet pick me up two days after I decided to adopt—“leaving so suddenly. Maybe you could ask Brent to stay for dinner? Or not.”