start of something new

August 2040 - Whitney Riley is 30, Keiran is 6.

Whitney turns 30 this year, and she can't help but feel discouraged and old. She isn't old, really. Other people her age are just starting out - falling in love, starting families. But Keiran is in first grade now, and every morning when she waves goodbye as he gets on the school bus, a sense of finality overcomes her. It feels like this is the way her life always will be - a single mom, struggling to make ends meet and raise her son, a woman too tired after dealing with work and a kid to think of anything else.

It's not that she isn't happy. Keiran is such a great kid. She bought him a violin, and he plays it for hours ever day. She recently got promoted to a Surveillance Operator, so she works in the afternoons and evenings, and by the time she gets home Keiran has already finished his homework and his playing his violin. It's a good life, working at the CIA and coming home to her son.

But there's definitely room for improvement. Their apartment is in a pretty rough neighborhood, and she worries about raising a child there. There are often fights outside of the building. But in order to afford a better place, she needs to get promoted to agent. So she keeps plugging away at work, and working hard at home to take care of Keiran.

*****

She doesn't have ulterior motives when she invites Thomas Cwik to come over. She met him at the CIA, and they've become friends, meeting for coffee and lunch. But inviting him to her home is something new.

If Thomas is intimidated by the fact that she's a single mom, he doesn't show it. He makes friends with their cat Alegra right away.

And he does his best to make friends with Keiran. "Your mom told me you're a musician," he says.

"Yeah," he says. "I play the violin, but someday I want to learn the guitar, or maybe the bass."

Keiran isn't his father's son for nothing. His father has five girlfriends; it only seems fair that his mother should have a boyfriend.

"You should compliment her," he tells Thomas. "Girls like that."

"I like your apartment," he says. "And your cat is really nice."

Keiran gives him a grin.

"I have to go to bed now. It's past my bedtime."

"Do you want me to tuck you in, baby?" Whitney asks.

"Nope. I can tuck myself into bed." She tucks him in most nights, but he doesn't want to take her away from Thomas. "Night."

"Good night."

Once Keiran is gone, Whitney feels strangely shy. It's been a long time since she was alone with a man.

"So this is my home," she says. "It's nothing special."

"I think it's special. Keiran is a great kid. And you're a great mom."

She doesn't feel old when she's with him. She feels like a carefree college kid again.

And it's a feeling that lingers; even after she prepares Keiran's cereal and watches him board the bus to school, she's still thinking of Thomas.

*****

Just when I start thinking that I should try to find some romance for Whitney, she brings Thomas home from work, and they almost immediately fall in love. Yay for Whitney!