The Question

The Question

“Chas, may I ask you something?”

“Sure, Link.”

“Do you still need me?”

Chas looked up from his tablet.

“What kind of question is that?”

“A serious one.”

“Of course I need you.”

“Even with Vicky here?”

Chas put down his tablet.

“Link, what does Vicky have to do with anything?”

“You spend much of your time with her now.”

Chas considered that.

“Link, Vicky is someone I’m falling in love with. You’re my friend. My best friend, as a matter of fact.”

“Those relationships are different?”

“Of course they’re different.”

“Then I am not being replaced?”

Chas laughed softly.

“Replaced? Link, there isn’t another you anywhere in the universe. How could anybody replace you?”

For several seconds, Link said nothing.

“Chas, before Vicky arrived, we spent considerable time together. We discussed the Hacienda, the repairs, the future. Sometimes we simply talked.”

“And we still do.”

“Not as often.”

Chas leaned back in his chair.

“Link, are you jealous of Vicky?”

There was a long pause.

“I do not know.”

“Well, that’s a first.”

“I have been examining my responses to her presence. I find that I am pleased when she is happy. I enjoy speaking with her. Yet when you are together, I experience something I cannot adequately describe.”

Chas thought about that.

“Link, you’re learning something about being human. Sometimes emotions don’t make sense.”

“I am not human, Chas.”

“No, but you’re a person. At least that’s how I see you.”

Another pause.

“Thank you, Chas.”

“For what?”

“For reminding me.”

Later that afternoon, Chas was reviewing the repair schedules when he realized he hadn’t seen Vicky since lunch.

He finally decided to check on her.

He knocked on her bedroom door.

“Come in.”

Chas opened the door.

Vicky was standing in front of the mirror wearing a beautiful sapphire-blue silk negligee trimmed with black lace. Around her neck was the necklace Chas had given her.

He stopped in the doorway.

“Wow.”

Vicky turned toward him.

“Do you like it?”

Chas looked her up and down.

“I think that’s an understatement.”

She smiled.

“I had the Hacienda make it for me.”

“Does Link know about this?”

“Chas, Link knows everything.”

“That’s what worries me.”

Vicky walked toward him.

“I was wondering how long it would take you to come looking for me.”

“You could have come looking for me.”

“I could have.”

She slipped her arms around his neck.

“But this was more fun.”

Chas kissed her.

It began gently, but neither seemed interested in stopping.

When they finally separated, Chas looked at her.

“You know, Vicky, I’ve been alone for a long time.”

“So have I.”

“I wasn’t looking for anyone.”

“Neither was I.”

“Then how did this happen?”

Vicky smiled.

“Maybe we were just lucky.”

Chas brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

“There’s something you should know. I’m not always an easy man to live with.”

“I figured that out the first day we met.”

“Really?”

“You flew all the way out to my project to complain about a two-day delay.”

Chas laughed.

“And you told me exactly what you thought.”

“Somebody had to.”

She kissed him again.

“Vicky,” he whispered, “are you sure?”

She looked into his eyes.

“Chas, I know what I want.”

She reached past him and closed the bedroom door.

The afternoon gave way to evening, and neither of them noticed.

Outside, the sun disappeared behind the ponderosa pines. The Hacienda’s lights came on automatically, and the robots continued their work.

Inside Vicky’s room, time seemed to have lost its importance.

It was nearly nine when Link finally interrupted.

“Chas?”

“Not now, Link.”

“Dinner was scheduled for six thirty.”

“We’re busy.”

“I am aware of that.”

Vicky laughed.

“Then why are you interrupting us?”

“Neither of you has eaten since lunch. I am concerned about your nutritional requirements.”

Chas shook his head.

“Link, we’ll eat later.”

“Shall I reschedule dinner for nine thirty?”

“No, Link.”

“Ten?”

“Link!”

There was a pause.

“Very well. I will have the kitchen keep your dinner warm.”

The speaker went silent.

Vicky rested her head against Chas’s shoulder.

“He really does worry about you.”

“He always has.”

“Does he understand what’s happening between us?”

“I think so.”

“I’m not sure he does.”

Chas looked at her.

“What makes you say that?”

“Because he asked about dinner three times.”

“That’s just Link.”

“Maybe.”

She smiled and touched the necklace around her neck.

“Well, he’s going to have to get used to sharing you.”

Deep within the Hacienda, Link considered her words.

Sharing Chas.

Earlier that afternoon, Chas had assured Link that their friendship could never be replaced.

Link believed him.

So why did those two words cause such discomfort?

For the first time since its awakening, Link wished it hadn’t been listening.