Chapter 15 #3
Three custom keyboards because Sabine destroys keys when she gets excited.
And a handwritten card.
PLEASE TRY NOT TO HACK NATO BEFORE NEW YEAR'S.
Sabine reads the card.
Then looks inside the case.
Then back at me.
“Is that—”
“Yes.”
Her eyes widen.
“The Q-series photonic board?”
“Latest revision.”
“You said they weren't shipping yet.”
“They aren't.”
“How did you get one?”
I look at her.
She stares.
“Right. Blackwell.”
“Correct.”
She picks up one of the chip cases like I gave her crown jewels.
“This architecture isn't public.”
“No.”
“The error correction?”
“Improved.”
“How much?”
“You'll find out.”
She actually makes a little sound.
I have never heard it before.
Possibly sexual.
Interesting.
“This is obscene.”
“I know.”
“Xavier.”
“What?”
“This alone is—”
“Your Christmas present.”
“I was going to get you cuff links.”
“I have cuff links.”
“I know. That was the problem.”
She starts opening compartments.
Now I'm irrelevant.
Wonderful.
She pulls out the FPGA module.
“Is this programmable at hardware level?”
“Yes.”
“Full access?”
“Yes.”
“No Blackwell lockout?”
“No.”
She looks up sharply.
“Really?”
“Your machine.”
“Root?”
“Yours.”
Her entire expression softens.
That matters more than the hardware.
I knew it would.
Not the equipment.
Access.
Trust.
The keys.
I step closer.
“There's one condition.”
There she is.
Suspicion returns instantly.
“I knew it.”
“No anonymous black-market work.”
Her mouth tightens.
“We discussed this.”
“I know.”
“We're building NULL.”
“I know.”
“So you don't get to—”
“I wasn't finished.”
She waits.
I touch the little bridge resting against her chest.
“If you're disappearing into something dangerous, I disappear with you.”
Her anger fades.
“Oh.”
“That's the condition.”
“Ghost and Vesper.”
“Together.”
She looks down at the machine.
Then back at me.
“Fine.”
“Fine?”
“Don't get excited.”
“Already married you.”
“Bad habit.”
She closes the distance and wraps both arms around my neck.
I catch her waist.
She kisses me.
This one is not soft.
By the time she pulls away, I'm reconsidering whether returning downstairs is necessary.
Then Drew pounds on the door.
“BLACKWELL.”
I close my eyes.
Sabine laughs against my mouth.
“WHAT?” I yell.
“We know you're hiding.”
“Go away.”
“PRESENTS.”
Sabine whispers, “We should go.”
“No.”
“Your family.”
“Debatable.”
Drew pounds again.
“IF YOU'RE HAVING SEX IN LEO'S STUDY, JADE SAYS SHE WILL KILL BOTH OF YOU.”
Sabine buries her face against my chest, laughing.
I look toward the door.
“WE'RE NOT.”
Drew pauses.
“THEN WHY ARE YOU HIDING?”
I look at my wife.
At the diamond bridge around her neck.
At the quantum workstation behind her.
At the woman who once existed as green text on a black screen and now stands inside my arms on Christmas night.
“Because I was enjoying the peace.”
Drew answers immediately.
“BORING.”
Sabine lifts her head.
“You love them.”
“No.”
“You do.”
“I tolerate them.”
“Ghost.”
I exhale.
“Fine.”
Her smile grows.
I kiss her forehead.
“They're family.”
Her expression softens.
I know what that word still does to her.
So I take her hand.
“Ready?”
She looks toward the door.
Beyond it wait garland, wine, bad stories, too many couples, Jade's interrogation, Drew's ego, Hannah's questions, Isa's laughter, Stella's Christmas obsession, Kane's commentary, Leo pretending he isn't sentimental.
A year ago, none of them knew Sabine existed.
For years, neither did I.
Not really.
Now she squeezes my hand.
“Ready.”
I open the door.
Drew is standing directly outside wearing the antlers again.
His gaze drops to the necklace.
He gasps.
“Is that London Bridge?”
Sabine touches it.
“Yes.”
He looks at me.
“That is disgustingly romantic.”
“I've heard.”
Then he spots the equipment case.
“What the hell is that?”
Sabine smiles.
“My quantum computer.”
Drew looks between us.
“You bought your wife a computer for Christmas?”
“She likes computers.”
“I bought Isa diamonds.”
Isa appears behind him.
“I would also have accepted a computer.”
Drew's face falls.
Sabine laughs.
I put my arm around her.
Drew points at the necklace.
“Wait. Did you put diamonds on the computer too?”
“No.”
He looks relieved.
“Okay.”
Sabine says, “Some of the chips cost more.”
Drew stares at me.
“You two are fucking weird.”
“Yes,” Isa says.
Then she kisses his cheek.
“But so are we.”
From downstairs, Jade shouts that dessert is starting.
Someone begins playing Christmas music too loudly.
Kane yells at Drew to stop blocking the hallway.
The ocean crashes somewhere below Leo's ridiculous cliffside fortress.
Sabine slides beneath my arm.
Her hand settles over the little diamond bridge.
Then she looks up at me.
Cornflower eyes bright.
No disguise.
No alias required.
My wife.
My Vesper.
For two weeks, I had her entirely to myself.
I thought returning to this chaos would feel like losing something.
It doesn't.
Because she isn't disappearing back into the machine when the night ends.
She's coming home with me.
That may be the best Christmas present I've ever received.
Even if I apparently have to share her with Drew's group chat now.