Sam Mullins

When she got home to Ron, she launched into it.

As the words left her mouth, she could hear how it sounded. An American stranger who thinks I'm special wants to start a business with me.

As the words left her mouth, she could hear how it sounded. An American stranger who thinks I'm special wants to start a business with me.

As they talked it through a bit more that night, Elaine safely drifted all the way back to Earth. Of course, she thought, this was probably just an eccentric having a laugh. Yeah, it was nothing.

As they talked it through a bit more that night, Elaine safely drifted all the way back to Earth. Of course, she thought, this was probably just an eccentric having a laugh. Yeah, it was nothing.

A week went by, then two.

A week went by, then two.

So on the Thursday, Elaine meets up with Davis in a cafe, not really knowing what to expect.

So on the Thursday, Elaine meets up with Davis in a cafe, not really knowing what to expect.

David Davis was self-aware enough that he could totally appreciate how his offer must look through the eyes of her significant other. It made perfect sense for Ron to be skeptical. How it must sound. So Davis proposed a solution.

David Davis was self-aware enough that he could totally appreciate how his offer must look through the eyes of her significant other. It made perfect sense for Ron to be skeptical. How it must sound. So Davis proposed a solution.

So the three of them went out to dinner. And when he walked in, Davis seemed genuinely thrilled to meet Ron.

So the three of them went out to dinner. And when he walked in, Davis seemed genuinely thrilled to meet Ron.

If you were to glance at their table that night, you might assume that the two were brothers. They were the same height, same build, same hair color, age. Even their dialects seemed to be winking to each other over the mid-Atlantic somewhere. Once they'd made fast friends, Davis turned the conversation to the business at hand.

If you were to glance at their table that night, you might assume that the two were brothers. They were the same height, same build, same hair color, age. Even their dialects seemed to be winking to each other over the mid-Atlantic somewhere. Once they'd made fast friends, Davis turned the conversation to the business at hand.

Classic Ron.

Classic Ron.

So the three of them raised a glass and they had a deal. And almost immediately to Elaine and Ron, the door to a more exciting life seemed to swing open.

So the three of them raised a glass and they had a deal. And almost immediately to Elaine and Ron, the door to a more exciting life seemed to swing open.

Elaine and Ron met up with David and his teenage daughter, Noelle. The story was that Davis had been a high-powered finance guy in New York and then later all over Europe. But now he was all but retired and was in the midst of what sounded like a very messy divorce. He had other children too, but Noelle chose to live with her dad instead of with her mom and siblings back in the US.