Page 38 of Any Given Lifetime

“Aren’t you going to get that?” Chris asked.

“It’s my mother,” Neil said.

Chris slapped him upside the head softly. “Like I said,aren’t you going to get that?”

Neil connected the call and said, “Hey, I’m okay. Gotta go.”

“Are you sure?” Alice asked.

“I’ll call you later,” and he said firmly, and hung up on Alice again.

Chris frowned at him. “So, are you rude to your mother like that all the time?”

“Do you hit strange men over the head all the time? First, that’s assault. Second, neurological damage could result from that kind of behavior over the long term.”

Chris grinned again. “Aw, that’s cute. You think you’re a man.” He patted Neil’s knee in an over-fond way. “Keep eating your vegetables and maybe you will be one day.” Neil shot him a look, and Chris laughed. “What’s your name?”

He let the corner of his lips turn up. “Green,” he said. “Neil Green.”

Chris’s expression changed, and he grew serious. “Are you… I don’t suppose you’re any relation to Dr. Neil Russell?”

Neil nearly said, “I’m his son,” just to see the reaction, but instead he shook his head.

“No, of course not,” Chris said a bit absently, studying his face. “You do look so much like him. It’s so odd that you’d have the same name. But no, of course you’re not related.”

“Coincidence,” Neil said softly. “Never heard of the guy.”

“Right. Of course.” Chris seemed to get himself together, and he smiled brightly again. “So, you’re lost. How can I help ya?”

“You can’t. I just…need to get to Nashville so I can get back home.”

“And where’s ‘home?’”

“Atlanta,” Neil said, though his mind supplied him with a compellingly fresh memory of Joshua’s brown eyes studying him with earnest concern.

“And how did you end up here?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Try me.”

Neil rubbed his fingers over his eyes and considered blurting out, “Well, it all started when I died beneath a semi truck about twenty years ago.” But instead he just said, “I’m a scientist. I was here for an interview with a potential investor.” Keeping it simple, if inaccurate.

“No way!” Chris said, staring at him suspiciously. “Are you sure? You look a little young.”

“Uh, yes, I’m sure. Graduated early. Yadda yadda.”

“It’s just so strange how much you’re like—”

“Life’s strange,” Neil said, cutting him off.

“It really is.”

“Speaking of, what are you doing here?”

Chris blinked hard. “Working? I’m the office manager.”

“I mean here. In Scottsville.”