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A framed picture suddenly appeared on the left side of his desk, Jenna diving back to her chair just before Angela popped into the wide entry to their pod

Angela grinned “Well, howdy!”

Before Seth could process the new addition to his desk, he had to stand and rip Around fifty, she was petite and sliray pantsuit neatly pressed, a fuchsia scarf knotted around her throat Her earrings were delicate little silver Christmas trees decorated as probably Swarovski crystals or even diamonds

He said, “I’m Seth Marston”

Jenna shook Angela’s hand next “Jenna Derwood-Kim”

“Hiya,” Angela said “Not sure how o, I took over the faround up in the eighties, and as technology and the tied, so have we”

Seth wondered how many times she’d delivered the spiel Probably millions He said, “It’s wonderful to meet you, Ms Barker”

“Oh, I’aze went to Jenna’s colorful desk, and she neared it to peer at the photo frames “And who do we have here, Jenna?”

“That’s oes by Jun—and our two boys Ian’s five and Noah’s almost six months”

“Jun Is that Korean?” Angela asked

Jenna smiled “It is! His parents moved here just before he was born”

“Wonderful I hope you’re transitioning back to work all right after the baby?”

“Yes, I cao It’s been a much better transition with the extended maternity leave option you introduced Thank you”

“Oh,mom”

Jenna said, “Seth’s been carrying sodepartment would fall apart without him!”

He cringed internally as Jenna laid it on but kept a sela turned her attention back to him and his desk—with the new addition from Jenna

Angela leaned over the framed photo, which Seth realized was a new picture Jenna had put on her desk after Thanksgiving of her brother and his stepson It was fraan and the boy were barely s, their spines stiff as if they were lined up in front of a firing squad instead of posing for a family snap by the newly decorated Christmas tree