“I’m a nerd.”
“You’re a successful businesswoman. You’re passionate about what you do. You’re changing lives. None of that sounds nerdy to me, but even if it did, it wouldn’t matter.”
“Why not?”
“I like nerds.”
Her eyes widened.
“A lot.”
She blinked a few times.
“How could you not remember this?” Gil gave her a mock exasperated glare. “You were there. You saw Mom, always with her nose in a book and expecting all of us to do the same. And Dad. How many times did the two of you get so lost in a conversation about the physics of the curveball that Emily and I would leave the room until you finished? And let’s not leave Emily out of the mix. You weren’t around for this, but she made every assignment look like child’s play and grew up to know more about human anatomy than most doctors. By the time we were teenagers, our dinner conversations varied from sports to politics to science to journalism to literature, and there was no room for slacking. You said something stupid at the table, you’d get called out for it. Not in a mean way, but there was no room for weak arguments or logical fallacies.”
Her mouth had closed, and her eyes were filled with humor.
“Bottom line. I like nerds. I like brains. I like people who know what they’re talking about and know how to think through a problem to reach the right solution. I’m looking forward to you showing me around your office and explaining what you do, and I can’t wait to see this prototype of yours in production. I’ll also add that it’s okay if you call yourself a nerd, because there’s nothing wrong with being a nerd. But it’s not okay if you say it in away that makes me think you’re embarrassed by it, or you think it somehow makes you weird. Because there’s nothing wrong with having a brain and knowing how to use it. And if anyone ever made you feel like being smart was a liability, feel free to point them out to me. I’ll be happy to enlighten them regarding their idiocy.”
Ivy was full-on grinning now. “Gil, I really think you need to learn to open up and express how you feel.” They both laughed. Ivy wiped at her eyes and got control before she added, “Anyway, I didn’t know Dad planned to give me the money. And I’m glad I didn’t. I sacrificed a lot for a few years, and it helped me focus on what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it. If it had been handed to me on a silver platter? Maybe I would be where I am now, but maybe not. And that’s partly why I’m still going for grants, because that money won’t last forever. The other reason, specific to the pitch this week, is that the company offering the grant has some technology that could be critical to another prosthetic we’re developing. Winning the grant isn’t about the money. It’s also about access to the tech. That’s why we’re all going after it.”
“Who is we?”
“Everyone invited to the pitch.”
“Who, specifically, are you competing against?”
“There are two companies similar to mine. One out of New York, the other out of Texas. The other three are all professors at universities. Ab’s here to pitch for the bioengineering department at Georgia. Clemson and Texas A&M were also invited.”
“Ab?”
“Yes. That’s why he’s in town. He did some guest lectures this past week at NC State, and then he’s pitching on Tuesday.”
“Does he come to town often?”
“No.”
“But you talk?”
“Not a lot. He calls every couple of months.”
“Whose idea was dinner?”
“His. I told him no at first. He says we’re just friends now, but I’ve never been convinced that he means it. I’m very careful around him. I would never do anything to lead him on, but he insisted.”
16
“INSISTED?” GIL’S EXPRESSION had gone from open and delightedly curious to confused to something that resembled a thunderhead. “How did he insist?”
“He wouldn’t let it go. I said yes because it’s been a while since I’ve seen him in person, and I didn’t have a legitimate reason to say no.”
“Ab knows about the money.”
He didn’t phrase it as a question, but she confirmed. “Yes.”
“You were with him when your dad died?”
“No. We’d already broken up.”
