“Mom, we are having some logistical issues right now,” I said.

“Nonsense,” she said. “You always worry too much, Sarah.”

I heard the rustle of paper on her end of the line, followed by the clink of a glass.

“I told her that Derek is joining Solar Reach as the chief operating officer,” she said.

Derek and I exchanged a long look in the blue light of the laptop.

“You told her that?” Derek asked.

“Of course,” she said. “It is a wonderful story. The Stanford PhD and the Stanford MBA, brother and sister, saving the planet together.”

“Mom, we haven’t finalized anything,” I said.

“Well, you should,” she said. “Because I invited Carol Thorne from the *Bay Area Chronicle* to visit the office tomorrow morning.”

My breath caught in my throat.

“You did what?” I asked.

“Carol wants to write a feature on family-owned green tech startups,” she said. “I told her you would both be there to show her the laboratory.”

“The laboratory has no electricity, Mom,” I said, my voice dropping.

“Then turn it on,” she said, her voice tightening with a sudden edge. “This is a major press opportunity.”