She said, “Max! For me?”
“All for you, baby,” I said, “I told you I had a little business to do. I wanted to surprise you.”
“Oh, Max, that’s sweet of you. I didn’t really mind. I was joking. Now you come right here to me.” She took off her coat.
“What about your date?” I said.
“I said I was joking,” she said.
“I’m coming,” I said faintly.
“With every single one of those credits now,” she said roguishly.
“With every single one,” I said.
I broke contact, stepped out of the booth, and now, finally, I was set—set—
I heard my name called. “Max! Max!” Someone was running toward me. “Rog Crinton said I would find you here. Mamma’s all right after all, so I got special passage on the Space Eater and what’s this about ten thousand credits?”
I didn’t turn. I said, “Hello, Hilda.”
And then I turned and did the hardest thing I ever succeeded in doing in all my good-for-nothing, space-hopping life.
I managed to smile.