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"Ready to go back in?" I asked.

"Into the madness?" She laughed, and I realized I liked the sound. Not the practiced Hollywood laugh from dinner, but this real one. "Lead the way."

Tyler nearly knocked us over as we opened the door.

"Ms. Lord! Ms. Lord!" His face was bright red with excitement. "You're Natasha Blade! From Quantum Strike!"

Katherine's Hollywood smile snapped back into place. "That's right."

"That's my favorite movie! Do you really know how to fight like that? And the motorcycle chase, was that really you? And in the sequel when you jumped off the building?"

"Some of it was me. But I had Helen. She was an excellent stunt double for the really dangerous parts."

"Do you play the game? Quantum Strike Online? I'm really good at it. I'm ranked in the top thousand!"

"I've played a few times."

That was clearly an understatement based on the slight smirk she tried to hide.

"Can we play? Please? I live right next door. I can get my PlayStation in like two minutes!"

"Tyler," Bonnie warned. "Ms. Lord is a guest, not your personal entertainment."

"It's fine." Katherine glanced at me, mischief in her eyes. "I could use some mindless fun."

Tyler was out the door before Bonnie could object. He returned in what seemed like ninety seconds, PlayStation and controllers clutched to his chest like treasure.

Fifteen minutes later, the living room had transformed into a gaming arena. Tyler, Amber, and Lachlan sat on the floor in front of the TV. Katherine had claimed the ottoman, controller in hand, that Hollywood facade completely gone. She looked relaxed for the first time all day.

"Best of three," Tyler announced. "Me first!"

The game loaded. Some first-person shooter with graphics that hurt my eyes. Katherine selected her character, same one from the movie apparently, based on Tyler's excited squealing.

The match started. Tyler came out aggressive, all offense. Katherine played defense, learning his patterns. He got first blood, started talking trash. Amateur mistake.

She picked him apart methodically after that. Headshot from across the map. Grenade around a corner he thought was safe. A knife kill when he got cocky and rushed her position.

"How?" Tyler stared at the screen showing his defeat. "I'm ranked top thousand!"

"Lucky, I guess." Katherine's innocent tone didn't match her satisfied expression.

Lachlan went next. Lost faster than Tyler but laughed about it.

Amber took the controller like she was accepting a challenge to single combat. She'd been watching, learning. Lasted almost ten minutes before Katherine ended it with a spectacular aerial attack.

"Again!" Tyler grabbed his controller. "Best of five!"

They played three more rounds. Katherine won every time, but barely. Just enough to keep it interesting, to let them think they had a chance. She was playing them as much as the game, maintaining their engagement without crushing their spirits.

"You're really good," Amber said with grudging respect. "Like, really good."

"One more?" Tyler begged.

"School tomorrow," Bonnie said firmly. "Tyler, your mom's probably wondering where you are."

The kids groaned but started cleaning up. Tyler reverently packed his PlayStation, still staring at Katherine with hero worship.

"This was the best night ever," he told her solemnly. "Will you be here tomorrow?"