Stacy sighed regret when the last bite was gone.“You know it,” Toni agreed.
“What do he and his clanmates do when he isn’t baking edible versions of heaven?”
“Feru is a psychologist.Imon is a computer programmer and tech wunderkind extraordinaire.Wovir does the security thing.They recently left the fleet for new vistas.”
“How serious have things gotten between you?”
Stacy expected a smart-ass comment.Perhaps even defensiveness, since Toni had made such a big deal of not entertaining a clan in the past.
Instead, her younger sister’s brow creased in consternation.“It might be more serious if they weren’t leaving on the Coydidak expedition.You’ve heard of it?”
“The never-ending tour of the universe, sponsored by Kalquor as a safeguard against extinction by the All.We’re keeping quiet where the public is concerned on how grim our chances currently appear.”
“I think most are getting the gist, seeing as how the call has gone out for experts we’d expect to keep close to help fight the enemy.”Toni’s gaze shifted toward the direction Clan Imon had gone, despite her inability to see them.“The guys have been hoping for a new and thrilling career.They’re excited to join the mission.”
“This is a temporary romance, then.Indulging your curiosity but no commitment.”Except Toni had said it might have been otherwise if Clan Imon stuck around.
“Something like that.”Toni licked her lips and met her gaze.“It has me thinking.”
“About?”
“About my own future.I never intended to remain in education.”
“I remember that was your attitude when you finished high school.You turned out to be really good at teaching and as an administrator.”To the point Stacy had made her the head of Earth II’s educational department.Putting her in charge had been a no-brainer.
“I might be good at it, but I wouldn’t call it a passion.In fact, I’d characterize it as a chore.I don’t enjoy it.”
“I had no idea.I thought you loved being in education.”
“I don’t hate it.It has its good points, the kids in particular...but I don’t get out of bed in the morning looking forward to teaching.Or even directing other teachers and figuring out budgets, which was what I ended up doing.”Toni hesitated, then visibly braced herself.“How upset would you be if I resigned as director of planetary education?”
Stacy’s jaw dropped.She hadn’t seen this sudden change coming.
Toni rushed on, leaning toward her.“I know you need me.Finding my replacement will be a major pain in the ass.You said as much when you asked me to take on the position.”
“I need my sister to be happy.If being Earth’s education director makes you miserable, then resign.”Though it would be difficult to find someone of her abilities to fill the post, Stacy wouldn’t dream of insisting she stay on, having learned how unhappy the work made her.
“I can wait until you hire someone else.I’ll be researching and training on my new focus, so I don’t have to leave you hanging right away.”
“Don’t delay your life, Toni.You have my full support.”Stacy set aside her disappointment.“Do you have any idea what this ‘new focus’ is?Or are you figuring it out?”
“Well, part of Feru’s job as a counselor was to administer career aptitude assessments.He gave me a test and...you’re going to laugh so hard...among my unrealized talents, my favorite is negotiating.”
“Negotiating?”
“I plan to learn to be a diplomat or mediator.Something along those lines.”
For an instant, Stacy nearly did laugh.Her prickly porcupine of a sister a diplomat?
Then again, she talks to me in my language, giving as good as she gets from me.And Etnil.But not everyone.Certainly not Mom.
No, when it came to their mother Rosa, Toni usually displayed sweet and dutiful respect.Stacy recalled how often while growing up Toni had gotten their mother to agree to letting her do things she’d never allowed her elder daughter.Stacy wouldn’t have ever accused Toni of being manipulative, but she was a masterful negotiator.
She smarts off to me to make me stop and think.She understands I respond best to thoughtful debate, which is what her jabs tend to set off.She gives Etnil hell because he gets a kick out of their back-and-forth.She speaks differently to Rihep and Kuran too, and they get along great with her.
How did I never notice this before?
Stunned, Stacy said, “I can see it.Now that I think about it, when it comes to getting things done, you always meet others on their turf, so to speak.But if you have to call them out on bullshit, you have no problem doing so.”
