Page 81 of In a Word, Yes

Thirty

simpatico(adj.): having shared attributes or interests; compatible

“You’ll sit here.” My son, who has apparently appointed himself host for this evening, directs Wyatt to my thrifted mid-century armchair. “Mom always sits there,” he adds matter-of-factly, pointing to the right end of the sofa. “And I sit”—Chase plops down in his usual spot at the left end of the sofa—“here.”

“Thank you, Chase.” Privately Wyatt shoots me an amused look, and I return one that’s gently apologetic. The poor guy barely crossed the threshold with his tray of hot drinks before Chase started in with all this stage direction. I’m just going to go with it.

At my raised brow, Chase knows what I’m about to ask. “I already finished my homework,” he says. “So we can start watching any time. Season 2, episode 20.”

“Chocolate chai for the lady of the house,” Wyatt says, handing me a cup of warmth that smells divine. “The no-caffeineversion.” He turns to Chase. “And I hope you like hot chocolate.”

“Obviously. All kids like hot chocolate.”

“Obviously,” Wyatt says, and again I get to enjoy the way Wyatt quirks his mouth when he’s amused. The man possesses a whole arsenal of great smiles, but this one ... this might top them all.

“So, Chase,” he says, settling into his assigned seat, “I hear you’re working on putting together a forestry expert costume. Are you thinking about becoming a forestry expert yourself?”

“Of course,” Chase says.

“Right. Who wouldn’t? ’Cause trees are so cool.”

“Pine trees especially.”

Wyatt shifts to face my son. “What is it you like about pine trees?”

“Well, there are one hundred and nineteen species. My favorites are bristlecone and ponderosa.”

“Why is that?”

“Well, the oldest tree in the whole world is a Great Basin bristlecone. They can live for, like, thousands of years. Like ...thousands. Have you heard of Methuselah?”

“In the Bible?”

“No, the tree named Methuselah. It’s practically five thousand years old. So that means it was growing when the Egyptians were building the pyramids.”

“Incredible.”

“Obviously it’s incredible. And experts found one that’s even older, but they’re keeping its location secret.”

“That would be cool to see.”

“They’re in California.”

“The world’s oldest trees are in California? What about Oregon?”

“The oldest tree in Oregon is in the Wallowa Mountains. You’d have to hike a huge mountain.”

“Oh, yeah? Hmm, well...” Wyatt gives Chase a quick once-over. “You look strong enough.”

The corners of Chase’s mouth tip up. “My mom says I’m strongfor my age,” he says, dropping to his knees in front of the TV stand. “I’ll cue up season 2, episode 20. Obviously, Mister Lieutenant Wyatt—”

“I’d like it if you called me Wyatt.”

“Obviously, if you want to watchallthe seasons, you have to have a subscription.”

“Obviously.”

Thirty minutes later, Captain Kirk, Spock, and a random female crew member with a 1960s bouffant find themselves again on an alien planet, again in mortal danger. Chase pauses the episode to question the crew’s wisdom in allowing the aliens to inhabit their bodies.