Holding that picture, laying on his rented efficiency bed, he laughed, as he recanted the events of the day to her on the phone, not that he did that much. It wasn’t his day to teach, that would happen on day two. But he had heard that David Hawk made it through two days of classroom study during the course of one day with the help of alcohol.
Mindy, knowing Reese the way she did wondered how he’d handled that. Ken didn’t know, he told her, but he’d find out over dinner.
So what he would teach the class the next day was completely up in the air. It was NASA’s way of getting the lottery winners to know the crew even better.
“Speaking of crew, Ken,” Mindy said. “Do you know a Martin Burgess?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Ok, well, he called.”
This took Ken aback, he knew Martin was an eccentric scientist, more so a fatherly figure and best friend to David. “Min, are you sure he meant to call you?”
“Yeah, it was odd. He called to introduce himself and said to ask you to vouch for him in the event he needed to call me while you were in space.”
“I can vouch that he’s for real, a little whacked. Did he say why he would need to call you?”
“Not really, just said it was imperative that you vouch for him so I would take him seriously in the event he had to call.”
“Weird.” Ken shrugged, something obviously she couldn’t see. “He’s odd like that, Min, really. I met him once and he rattled on about how much the crackers at the party looked like Soylent Green. Then he went on to say how that wasn’t that farfetched. Don’t think too much about it. I’ll speak to David, I’m sure it was nothing.”
“OK, if you say so. Ken, on the subject of odd people, really, how is Reese handling everyone? I know what he put on us in the living room and on TV . . .”
“Yeah, his stock, if I need to be a tour guide line, I’ll be it.”
Mindy chuckled. “Yep, but we both know how he is. That’s why I’m wondering.”
“Good, I think.” Ken paused. “Yeah, he’s good. He’s handling it fine. I believe he’s just taking it all in stride and having fun. Yeah. I’m sure of it.”
<><><><>
Was it a tick? Yes, Jon Grant was certain he had a tick in his left eye. He held his index finger on it, keeping his eyelid closed, trying to stop the twitch. He brought his beer to his lips, trying not to face Reese, who stood by him at the bar.
“You are listening, right?” Reese asked.
“Can I buy you another whiskey?” Jon motioned for the bartender.
“No, I’m good.” Reese showed his glass.
“Down it,” Jon said. After a nod to the bartender that all but said, ‘ignore him’ Jon laid down more money.
Reese downed his drink and placed the glass on the bar. “Thanks.”
“Trust me, no problem.”
“What are you going do about it?”
“Reese, listen to me. Were you not the guy who said it didn’t matter in which capacity you went to space as long as you went?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you complaining?”
Reese grumbled. “You not only have a kid that’s stoned all the time, you have them learning vital information while heavily under the influence of alcohol.”
“They were relaxed. And the key word is learning. Maybe they learned it.”
“I doubt it.”
“Test them. Or have Ken test them tomorrow.”
“Oh, I will be there tomorrow during the test. No more trusting my crew with our lottery winners or Asshole Hawk and his unconventional way of teaching.”
“Then, again, test them. If they pass, drop it.”
“If they don’t pass, can you please at least reprimand Hawk for unethical behavior?”
A hard setting down of a glass caught their attention. “You two seem to forget I am right here,” David said.
“I didn’t forget,” Jon said.
“Sorry, didn’t see you.” Reese raised one eyebrow.
“Ha, ha, ha.” David nodded thanks to the bartender who refreshed his drink. “God that’s so funny.” He grabbed his drink and stood. “I’m going to grab a smoke before dinner.” He started to walk.
“Smoking stunts your growth, Hawk,” Reese said. “Whoops, too late.”
Hawk paused and peered up to him. “I’d come back with a great insult against your level of intelligence, but what fun would it be since I doubt you’d get it.” A flash of a smile and David, pulling out his cigarettes, walked from the bar.
“Why is he on this mission?” Reese asked Jon.
“He’s fucking brilliant, Gray, and you know it. Let it alone.”
“Fine, I will for now.” He took a drink. “Good thing I have patience.”
With a short chuckle and a scoff of sarcasm, Jon shook his head and dove into his own beer again.
<><><><>
David lit his cigarette the moment he was the desired distance from the side door of the hotel, a door located not far from the bar and near the restaurant. Dinner would be there for the crew, director and lottery winners, another step in the process of building a working relationship.
The flame was small and, blocking the wind from the lighter, David inhaled deeply on his cigarette. He blew out, when he heard her voice.
Lucy.
A few crinkles of his eyebrows and David wondered if she were talking to him.
“Come on,” she said in a near desperation voice.
Determining her voice came from his right, David peeked around the building. Lucy was there, phone to her ear.
“Hey, it’s me again. Yeah, uh, call me. Thanks.” She closed her phone.
David was going to back off, and readied to do so, but he watched what she did.
She paused, stared at the closed phone, and then with it still in her hand, folded her arms and stood there, head slightly down.
It wasn’t his business. Or was it? Really, the crew and lottery winners were supposed to get to know each other and if something was wrong, really, David needed to know.
He cleared his throat and stepped near her.
She didn’t react.
“Lucy?” he called out.
Lucy jumped a little, her phone, falling from her hand. “Shit,” she said as she spun around.
David bent down for the phone—now in two pieces—and grabbed it first. “Just your battery, I got it.”
They stood at the same time. “Thanks.”
“You ok?” He asked, cigarette balancing between his lips as he fixed the phone.
“Me? Yeah sure.”
“Fixed. Here. Sorry I startled you.” David handed her the phone, looking at her. “You sure you’re OK?”
“Yeah . . . I’m . . .” she exhaled heavily. “No.” She lifted her hand and let it drop. “No one’s answering at my house, or Doug’s cell phone.”
“Are you worried about the kids?”
“Unfortunately they’re with my mother.”
“Is she bad with them?” David probed.
“No, they love her. She’s great with them.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Doug’s not answering.”
“Maybe he’s out. It is Friday. Maybe he went out with the guys.”
Lucy reacted as if he hit the nail on the head. “Exactly.”
David smirked. “I don’t get it. What’s so wrong with him going out with the guys?”
“Guy. Singular.”
“So he has a friend you don’t like?”
“Are you married, David?” she asked.
“Um, no. Never have been.”
“Then you don’t know.”
“I’m lost.”
Lucy shook her head. “I’m sorry. You don’t understand because I’m not telling you it all.”
“Do you need to talk?”
Lucy had a look of debate on her face. She bit her bottom lip. “Yeah, it’ll drive me nuts if I don’t. And you’re a stranger, you won’t judge.”
“My husband . . . he’s not home, because he’s probably out, which is why he isn’t answering his cell phone, which I have tried to call several times.” She inhaled. “I know where he is and it bothers me. He took the kids to my mother’s house. That was a sign. He . . . it’s been ongoing for years.”
He released a soft ‘ah,’ then nodded his head. “He’s having an affair.”
“Yeah, I found out right after the baby was born. I asked him to stop, he hasn’t.”
“I’m sorry.”
“But I understand it; a part of me lets it go on. Easier to stay quiet than fight it. We have a good family. We have a good friendship. We get a long so great. We do love each other. I don’t want to ruin that. Does that make sense?”
“No,” David replied. “Absolutely not. He’s having an affair. Uh, end of story.”
“But I can’t give him what he gives him.”
It was a brief skip of a pause, followed by a choking cough. “He?”
Lucy grabbed the cigarette, hit it, blew, and gave it back to David. “Yes. He.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah.”
“Your husband’s gay? Good thing that didn’t come out on the Ona show.”
Lucy chuckled at his sarcasm. “I just . . . for years, I ignored it, he told me it was over, but we never had a normal marriage after that, understand?”
“I don’t think I could.”
“So, physically, I wasn’t giving him what he needed, actually . . .” She fluttered her lips. “I can’t give him what he needs.”
“Let me ask you this.” David ran his finger over his top lip. “If you know about it, and you pretend it doesn’t exist, why can’t you pretend right now and have a good time?”
“Because, this is silly, I feel like he’s using my good luck to have fun with his friend.”
“Could be, couldn’t be. I don’t know. The guy has helped you get nearly five grand in tickets. I think . . .” David stepped to Lucy and whispered, “Put this out of your mind. Call and check on the kids, that’s it. This is your moment, Lucy, enjoy it and let nothing ruin it.”
She could only nod, at that moment it was her only response, that and facially convey to David that he was correct.
<><><><>
“Take the goddamn phone from her,” Gene had told Thaddeus after the insidiously bleeping phone began to drive him nuts.
He told Thaddeus that the dinner and after-event was a way to relax and ever since they had arrived at the bar to watch the Friday night band, Lucy had had her phone in her hand, text messaging as badly as David. In fact, Thaddeus thought, that’s who she was text messaging, because they both seemed in sync.
Gene commented that he hadn’t a clue how both she and David were going to succeed in space without the constant movement of their thumbs on the phone.
The difference was, whomever David was texting didn’t hinder his mood; Lucy’s text messenger definitely was dampening hers. Thaddeus hoped after her second evening drink and a few more upbeat country songs, she’d feel better.
Having been the only one who brought his spouse, Jon Grant excused himself from the after event of drinks, chat and fun, and left shortly after dinner. Ken Kelly returned to his room as well, since he wanted to get to the center early.
Reese, Lockhart, and Hawk, however, had to escort the lottery winners home, so they would stay as late as their guests wanted to stay.
Gene returned with another round of drinks, setting them on the table.
“You people are alcoholics,” Reese commented. “I never seen anyone drink that much.”
David laughed. “This is coming from you.”
The distinctive bleeping caught Gene’s attention, and just as he was about to gripe, he stopped. “Wait a second.” Gene sat down. “Lucy left to go to the bathroom and she didn’t take her phone?”
“Dude,” Kip replied. “You said to take it from her.”
“I told Thad to take it from her so she could enjoy the night.”
“He wouldn’t do it, so I did, should have asked me first, guy.” Kip reached into his pocket, pulled out the phone, looked at it and put it back in the pocket.
David looked up. “Does she know you took the phone?”
“Probably.” Kip shrugged. “She’s not saying anything. Took it about 30 minutes ago when she went to the bar and did that shot with the big guy.”
“Oh, really?” David turned to look at Reese. “You can’t call people alcoholics, if you encourage.”
Reese was nonchalant. “She looked like she needed it.”
“She does,” Kip said. “Man, if . . . I had some weed . . . and if I dared to indulge in the illegal substance, I would so give her some. Man.” He shook his head. “Her husband is like, having an affair. She was like, ‘I thought you ended it’ and he was like, ‘dudette, no way. I never lied. You just stopped asking. Why are you asking now?’ He said he thought she was cool with it. She isn’t you know. All the babe wants is her family. And this is all blowing up before she goes into space. Dude is like cats away I will play kinda stuff.”
Silence entailed around the table. David stared at him. “I can’t believe you opened your mouth.”
“I can,” said Gene. “I can’t believe she told you all this.”
“She didn’t,” Kip replied.
“How do you know then?” Gene questioned further.
Before Kip could answer, Reese groaned. “You didn’t.”
“No, I didn’t, whatever that means.” Kip shrugged. “I read her texts.”
Thad shirked a ‘you what?’ and said, “That . . . is personal private stuff.”
Kip chuckled. “Ok. But like none of you wanted to know what she was texting with her mood and all?”
David cleared his throat as he stood with an empty glass. “I didn’t. I knew.” He flashed a smile and walked from the table.
Reese lifted his empty bottle. “Did he just go to the bar without seeing if we wanted anything?”
“I believe he . . .” Kip stopped talking when Lucy returned. “Hey, babe.”
“I lost my phone. I thought it was in the bathroom, but . . . it wasn’t.”
“No, you didn’t.” Kip handed it to her. “It was on the floor.”
“Aw thank you.” Lucy smiled.
Reese’s mouth opened slightly in offense. “Look at you lying to her.”
“Dude, I don’t lie. It was there.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Lucy tossed out her hand. Just as she went to open her phone, Thaddeus laid his hand over hers.
“Can you not text anymore tonight? Unless there’s a family emergency, in which they’ll call. Hang out full minded with us, ok? Forget the texts.”
“Ok.” Lucy nearly sang the word. “Did I miss something?”
“Yeah,” Kip interjected. “Rich guy is hitting on you. Dude, so not right. Ground is still cold on that one.”
“I am not.” Thaddeus defended.
“Are, too.”
“Christ.” Reese snapped. “Can you go an hour without starting trouble?”
“Yes,” Kip nodded. “Are you mad he’s hitting on her or do you want to? Oh, wait, that’s not your thing.”
“No, it’s not my thing,” Reese said.
Returning to the table, David sat down. “What’s not your thing?”
“Hitting on a woman,” Kip said sarcastically.
“Hitting on married women,” Reese corrected.
“Hitting on any women,” David joked.
“Oh! Dude!” Kip pointed. “Can’t believe you outed your coworker at the table, dude.”
Reese’s lip curled and formed the word ‘what’ as he turned with a crinkled facial expression of disgust to Kip. “What are you talking …”
“Ok, enough.” Gene held up his hand. “The whole point of this night is to get to know e
ach other under a relaxed environment. So let’s do that and let nothing get in the way of that.”
Bleep-Bleep.
Gene’s eyes shifted to Lucy who lifted her phone. He reached over, took it and winked. “Nothing gets in the way.” He placed the phone in his shirt pocket. No sooner did he do that than David’s phone bleeped. And before David could even look, Gene snatched it from his hand. “High-ended scientist or not, that goes for you, too.” He put that phone in his shirt pocket, as well.
Pushing the empty beer bottle aside, Reese grabbed David’s fresh drink and held it to Gene. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”
<><><><>
She didn’t think to bring a laptop, for some reason it didn’t even cross her mind. That was until she commented at dinner about how much she missed the internet and she had only been away from it for two days.
Thaddeus loaned her his.
Sitting in her spot on the window ledge, Lucy occasionally drifted to staring out the window. More than the view, it was the odd flashing that kept drawing her attention. She couldn’t figure out what it was.
Eventually it stopped.
It was freaky.
Just as she hit ‘send’ on her email, there was a knock on the door. She turned her head. Thaddeus stood there. “Oh, I’m sorry,” Lucy said, “I’ve had this too long.”
“No, that’s ok.” Thaddeus waved out his hand. “You can use it, I have another.”
“You brought two laptops?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“In case someone didn’t bring one.”
“Ah.” Lucy smiled. “So what’s up?”
“Am I bothering you?”
“No, not at all.”
“I was trying to get your attention, but you didn’t notice.”
“Huh?” Lucy tilted her head, confused.
“I was flicking a flashlight off and on from my room.”
Eyes bright, Lucy laughed. “That was you?’
“Yeah, my room is right across the court yard. What . . .” Thaddeus stepped further into the room? “What did you think the flash was?”
“Aliens.”
“What?” Thaddeus laughed his response.
“Ok, did you read on the science fiction board, end of times dot com?” Lucy gave a flick of her hand. “Probably not, why would you . . .”
The Last Mile Trilogy Page 38