Keeley, you need to take the casserole out," Aaron reminded her, pulling her from her research-related thoughts.

She scrambled for the oven mitts and removed it just before the cheese began to burn. Getting lost in "Genetics Land" wasn't a good idea when she was supposed to be focusing on dinner.

"Sorry," Keeley said sheepishly. "I was thinking about a possible new research topic."

Aaron smiled. He knew how much she'd been struggling to find a new direction. "Oh? Do tell."

"After dinner. Will you get Violet for me?"

He nodded and went upstairs to tell Violet that dinner was ready. Keeley hummed a favorite song as she set the table and served the casserole. She was in an excellent mood now that she had a promising research idea.

Violet ate quickly, thanked her mother, and retreated to her room. She was still clearly embarrassed about earlier. Poor thing.

Keeley and Aaron enjoyed their dinner at a leisurely pace, then moved to the couch where she outlined her research plans. He listened intently, as always, even though the technical terms were still a bit confusing.

After being married to a geneticist for so long, he knew some of the lingo but wasn't as fluent as his wife. She frequently had to stop and explain terms when discussing her science.

Aaron didn't mind. He loved seeing her enthusiasm. Even if confused, he did his best to follow along, ask relevant questions, and keep the conversation flowing.

"I know it might seem silly," she said, finishing her explanation. "I really need to check the literature to see if it's even feasible. I haven't kept up with the reproductive side of genetics since I've been focused on gene therapy."

"It's still worth looking into. I haven't seen the movie you mentioned, though," he admitted. "Is it any good?"

"Yeah, it's one of my favorites! I can't believe I haven't shown it to you. Want to watch it now?"

Keeley's eagerness was irresistible, so Aaron found himself watching an old science fiction movie with his wife. The concept was intriguing, but even after years of watching movies for her sake, he wasn't as enthusiastic as she was.

He watched movies with his wife and children because they wanted him to, and it usually wasn't a chore, but he wasn't one to choose a movie on his own. This one wasn't nearly as bad as some his children had made him watch over the years; it was actually pretty decent.

Midway through the movie, his phone buzzed with a text from Gray. He groaned. It was time for another of their awkward brotherly dinners.

Given Keeley's excitement about her research idea, Aaron was sure she'd work late tomorrow and couldn't join them for dinner. He would survive, as he always had during those solo "prison visits," but it wouldn't be pleasant.

He texted Gray, saying he could go the day after tomorrow because he already had plans. Violet definitely outranked Gray in terms of preferred company, and he'd promised to help her look at apartments.

"Who was that?" Keeley asked, without looking up from the screen.

"Gray. He wants dinner tomorrow, but I told him I couldn't because I'm taking Violet apartment hunting."

She finally turned to him. "Oh. Do you want me to come?"

He did, but knew she wouldn't be much help; her mind would be miles away in the lab. It was better for her to focus on her literature review so she wouldn't obsess over it.

"No, you should focus on your literature review. I know you'll be busy until it's finished," he replied.

Keeley kissed him, a soft, loving look in her eyes. "You know me too well. But let me know if you change your mind."

That gentle gaze made the solo dinner with his least favorite person worthwhile. Aaron snuggled closer and tried to pay attention to the movie. He needed to be able to summarize it afterward so he could discuss it with her.

House hunting with Violet was an interesting experience. Aaron had never accompanied someone property shopping before, always having done it alone. He thought the first two apartments were fine, but she found fault with each.

Violet liked the third but thought it lacked space. How was four bedrooms insufficient for a single person? He supposed she was thinking long-term, but still. How many children did she intend to have?

The fourth lacked a sufficiently large terrace for a fire pit, grill, and table and chairs. The fifth met all her specifications, but she disliked the paint color.

Aaron was becoming exasperated. His mother had never been this picky! He tried to remain patient, knowing that making her feel guilty wouldn't help.

"Vi, I can hire a painter. If there's something you don't like about any of these places, I can get someone to fix it. But you need to make a choice," he urged gently.

She crossed her arms and circled the apartment again. It was a penthouse twelve blocks from the Hales' building, with two floors, a terrace on each, six bedrooms, and an entertainment room.

The building offered many of the same amenities as their building, including a convenience store. This place seemed perfect. So why the hesitation?

Buying his apartment had been much easier. He'd gone to a top-rated Manhattan real estate agency, gave his specifications, and liked the first option they suggested. No fuss at all.

(The final paragraph is a piracy notice and has been removed.)