Elaine Chen arrived on a Tuesday, exactly one week after Eleanor had departed.
Unlike Eleanor—who had stormed in unannounced with a Tupperware container and a fur coat—Elaine sent a formal itinerary three days in advance, complete with flight numbers, baggage claim details, dietary restrictions, and a list of fourteen questions she expected Lucas to answer upon arrival. Lucas had printed the email, annotated it with responses to all fourteen questions, and prepared a seventeen-slide presentation that Sophie had described as "the most Lucas Grey thing I've ever seen, and I've seen him explain microwave functions with visual aids."
"She's your aunt," Sophie said, reviewing the presentation over Lucas's shoulder. "Not a board of directors."
"Board presentations require forty-seven slides minimum. This is a preliminary family meeting. Seventeen slides is appropriate for the context."
"You've color-coded the answers."
