“Seems like an awful lot to take on,” Crys had a pen and paper in hand. Her phone was recording the two of them.

“It is,” he agreed lightly. “But this is important to me. I’m setting up my future the best I can. And since we’re breaking ground at this university, it’s my chance to ride that wave if we’re successful. Probably not noble of me.”

But Crys was quick to wave off what she wasn’t writing down, “I think it’s smart. Besides, you’re the driving force and you’re doing the work, you should benefit from it. No one looks sideways at a business for employing these same principles, why should we judge an individual when really you’re a business too. You’re not doing anything wrong, in my eyes.”

“I appreciate that,” he said with feeling.

“You deserve success,” Crys smiled. “So, what about your family? Do they support you?”

For a moment, his smile fell away. On silent, his phone was vibrating. It was the third time since he and Crys had sat down. Seeing the name on the display, he wondered if it was why she’d asked about his family. He let the call go unanswered, “they don’t really have an opinion about what I do. So, I don’t have to deal with negative comments.”