Charles looked at his watch. Five more minutes before the girls would appear to take their seats. Five minutes until they looked up at him expecting a miracle that would turn Harry Wong’s life right-side up. For the first time in his life, he wondered if he could make the desired result happen.

Charles’s gaze went to the wall of windows to see that it was totally dark outside. The summer storm was kicking up in intensity. Lightning ripped across the sky as thunder rumbled and cracked. It sounded like it was directly overhead. Since there was nothing he could do about the weather, he made his way back to the computers. His nerves were still twanging every which way.

He almost gagged in relief when he heard the door open and the women enter the room. They made a production of taking their seats, murmuring among themselves. The sound of the chairs scraping on the pine floors sounded to Charles’s ears as loud as the thunder overhead. He found himself watching them out of the corner of his eye. All expression seemed to be gone from their faces. Two days, he told himself, wasn’t all that long to put a plan into action. But to the girls it was an eternity. He could read them like a book.

He didn’t know how he knew, but he knew his position was hanging in the balance. All of them, Yoko in particular, wanted a miracle. Could he produce one? Only time would tell. He knew that he was being tested, tested as to whether he still belonged with them, whether they still needed him, whether they still wanted him.

Charles followed protocol and descended the steps that put him next to the round table. He allowed himself the luxury of one last look at the faces staring up at him. Surprisingly, it was Annie’s expression that told him he had only one option, and unless he exercised it, his job there was done.

The women were so polite, so blank, it was unnerving. He decided to take the bull by the horns and said in as neutral voice as he could manage, “I have something to tell all of you. When I’m finished, I never want to speak of it again.” He had their attention now, especially Annie’s. She gave a slight nod of her head.

Charles took a deep breath and said, “My son was a traitor to Her Majesty and to his family. The details are not to be spoken of, it is what it is. I found myself in a position where I had to…to make concessions, promises; promises that I’ve now broken. That means I can never go back across the pond. Never. I will never be able to see my daughter-in-law again. I will never be able to see my grandchildren. My relationship with…my childhood friend has come to an end because I refused to stay in England; the reason is that my life is here with all of you. Having said that, I expect you all to make up your minds at this precise moment and decide if we can get past this episode and get back on track.”