Aaron grinned, and lifted his cup. "Fellow aces! Now I see why Joy was so insistent."

"I didn't tell you?" Joy asked. "I could've sworn I told you."

Aaron heaved a sigh. "No, Joy. You didn't tell me."

She rolled her eyes, elbowed him in the side, and said, "That is some damned impressive work on the slide rule, Mort. I can't even work one of those things, and believe me, I tried to learn." She grinned, a little sheepishly. "My mom's an econ professor. I do believe she was a little disappointed."

Neither one of them commented on James's mother-- Joy already knew, and Aaron just gave him a sympathetic look.