Eloquent Divergence

Date

Lynn leaned back on the front steps, cement biting into her thighs through her robe. Free hand flicking an ant off her knee that had managed to escape detection till then, somehow.

The sun beat down, warming her. She could feel the late Spring heat baking into her hair, leaching through the cotton of her sleeves as she took another sip of her coffee. 

Looking.

Lynn's once bare, neglected front yard now held budding rose bushes, an evergreen hedge. The fence freshly painted, the gate fixed. An invisible improvement, but one that still glared at her.

Even out here she couldn't escape evidence of how deeply tye android had woven his way into her life.

Lynn tsked, palm slamming into her forehead.

Androids were supposed to integrate into the family. They were supposed to become a seamless piece of the machine that was daily life.

Lynn hissed out a breath.

She had fucked it up by somehow developing feelings. Like an idiot-

Laughter drifted through her thoughts, crashing into the spiral of self depreciation she had been visiting regularly since…

Guilt twisted in her chest tighter.

It had been two weeks. Two weeks. And still Lynn couldn't face Cider. Still she couldn't bring herself to laugh normally at his jokes, or look him in the eye, or even ask him to perform simple tasks.

Lynn groaned, burying her head in her hand as she curled in on herself.

She had kissed her android.

And worse. Lynn squeezed her eyes shut, trying to stop remembering the feel of his hand tight at her waist, burning through her clothes. The sensation of her blood catching fire as he had kissed her back.

"Fuck." Tight, small, desperate, leaked between grit teeth as Lynn inhaled, took another sip.

Cup nearly empty.

Lynn watched Mrs. Padton exit her front door, wanting suddenly to disappear as her elderly neighbor made her way to the mailbox, looked up.

A tense moment.

Lynn broke it by forcing a smile, waving.

Mrs. Padton nodded, "Lovely day, isn't it Dear?"

"Oh yeah." Lynn agreed, holding up her cup.

"Well," Mrs. Padton shifted, slippers scuffing on the sidewalk. "You enjoy this sunshine."

"You too." Lynn felt her shoulders tightening as Mrs. Padton turned away

As the door opened behind her. As footsteps announced company.

"Is that her?"

Lynn repressed the shivers, wishing her hair was down, covering the nape of her neck. Feeling too exposed, feeling too naked, feeling Cider watching her. Scrutinizing.

"Yes." Lynn answered, quick. Short.

Cider didn't move closer, didn’t speak. The silence felt as awkward as speaking did, and still Lynn felt like she had to explain, had to fill the stillness, had to bridge the gap.

"It's just-" Lynn felt her lips thin as she tried to explain. "I- I bought you." Still no response in the pause that followed. "You-you have no memories prior to-" Lynn turned, gestured. "Us. It's not… right. What I did. It's not d-"

"You didn't force me." Cider offered, looking down from the railing he leaned against. Gaze quickly flicking away though Lynn picked up the tense lines in his shoulders, his set jaw. "Sarah told me about your date." He offered after a beat.

And Lynn felt her heart quicken, her face flush with heat. Pressing cool fingers to her throat she turned back away. "Yes."

"When?" He stood, holding a hand out with a head shake as though to stop any untoward meanings. "For the girls. So I can plan accordingly."

Lynn froze for a moment as the words, the soft calm, sank in. And hated the dizzying plunge of disappointment at the lack of response from Cider.

"Tonight." Hands dropped, clutching the empty cup, thumb rubbing the ceramic handle for something to do. "I'll be leaving at seven-"

"Seven thirty." Cider butt in, "that was the appointment on your calendar. Do you need me to schedule a ride-?"

"Cider." Lynn sighed, anger and annoyance rising. "I am an adult." She grunted as she stood, dusting herself off as she climbed the steps. "I can manage transportation to my own dating life, thank you." And, to be mean, she paused as she passed him. "Besides, maybe I won't be back home tonight." Eyes searching for a response as the words slid from her like they held any truth. "Maybe I'll take advantage of having a sitter at home."

Cider blinked, head tilted. "Okay."

A moment longer Lynn searched him, finding nothing but calm in the rich browns and golds of his eyes.

Lynn huffed, more at herself, as she slipped inside. Unsure where that mean streak had come from. Cider had always been lovely to her and her kids. Lynn set the cup down on the counter, staring at the cheap faux marble.

She glanced up at the tv screen, the stills of broken windows and the unmistakably android arm - painted, held up, with A24 across the enclosed fist.

The news reporter sitting prettily in her red dress suit, face grave, hair in a strict bun.

"Turn it off." Lynn growled, hitting the coffee machine, listening to it growl to life.

"But Mom!" Ruby whined, head falling back as Sarah switched the channel to some garishly drawn animated garbage.

"What's this?" Lynn's face crumpled.

"A cartoon." Sarah offered. "This kid at school said it was pretty good."

"Mmhmm." Lynn's brows rose as her lips pressed together, gaze moving to the door as it opened.

As Cider finally reentered the house. Looked at her, away nearly as abruptly.

"What took you so long?" Ruby teased, twisting so her feet were hanging over the arm of the couch.

Cider smiled, pushing his bangs back.

Foolishly Lynn felt her heart flutter at the rare flash of forehead.

"Weeding." He held up a grimy, dirt and grass stained hand. "Just a little. Saw some under the rose bush by the gate."

Lynn grabbed the coffee pot, reminding herself to breathe as Cider pushed by, fingers light on her shoulder as he moved by, muttering an 'excuse me'.

She could deny her shaking hands as her coffee spilled, just a little, missing the cup for a moment. Half a second really, at the contact.

Water started as Cider began washing his hands.

Lynn frowned, taking a sip of the too hot coffee.

She needed this date.