An old Ford pickup truck drove into Long Island's wealthy neighborhood in New York.
There wasn't much traffic, but every car that passed Alvin honked in greeting. It left him a little baffled.
Ginny, in the passenger seat, was softly humming along to the car stereo. The little girl had a lovely voice, even if she couldn't quite remember the lyrics. As long as she got the tune right, that was good enough.
Alvin affectionately ruffled Ginny's little head, leaving her fluffy hair a bit mussed. The little girl didn't mind at all. She pushed the hair away from her face with both hands and gave Alvin a smile so sweet it warmed him to the core.
The truck drove down an empty, tree-lined lane and stopped in front of a manor. Before Alvin could contact Stark, the iron gates opened automatically.
Alvin followed the road through the manor grounds for another five minutes before stopping in front of an old-fashioned building.
Stark and Pepper were already waiting for Alvin at the foot of the steps.
Alvin parked, walked around the front of the truck, and opened Ginny's door for her. The little girl, dressed in work pants, hopped down from the passenger seat. Grabbing Alvin's right hand with both hands, she leaned back and pulled hard.
Alvin squeezed her hand and lifted Ginny into the air, swinging her around. The little girl laughed like a bell and called, "Daddy, higher!"
Hearing Ginny's cry, Alvin swung his right arm hard, sending little Ginny soaring into the air with a squeal. He caught her in his arms, and the excited little girl raised both hands to rub his face, giggling.
Stark approached, leading a big dog, with Pepper following, envy written in her eyes.
From a good distance away, Stark nudged